Saracens fear Gloucester backlash

By Jason Harris
January 24 2003

Saracens travel to Kingsholm on Saturday with hopes that they can finally break their duck there after Gloucester were dismantled by a rampant Munster in the Heineken Cup last weekend. But the Cherry and Whites will be in the mood to put things right in front of their home fans at Castle Grim.

Quite a few rugby fans watched in disbelief as the English champions-elect were put to the sword by a team whose passion and never-say-die attitude took them to an improbable victory.

Gloucester, for once, didn't know what hit them and the result at Thomond Park throws up the usual two scenarios. Either Gloucester will be all-out to straighen the record and demolish Sarries with a huge backlash, or they'll continue to look as lost as they did when they were swept away by the red Irish tide.

Even though Henry Paul had a nightmare against Munster, he is included in Nigel Melville's squad to face Sarries at the weekend. Whether the former New Zealand RL star will start and if so, where, remains to be seen.Should Gloucester not go with the ex Wigan and Bradford Bulls man, the permutations behind the scrum are interesting.

The probable answer would be to play Thinus Delport at fullback, but it won't become clear until kick-off just who will take the poison chalice that goes along with the Glaws no15 jersey. Other possiblities are Simon Amor, Terry Fanolua and Tom Beim. I think that Melville and his merry men could be regretting loaning specialst Chris Catling to neighbours Worcester.

Captain Phil Vickery and forwards coach Dean Ryan will no doubt have run their pack into the ground in training this week after their very second-best performance in Limerick. But that doesn't mean to say that they'll be a pushover for a Sarries pack that was taken apart in last October's league meeting.

It will be necessary for the Sarries forwards to make do without the unparalelled Richard Hill in the back row. The England and Lions stalwart is benched for this game which many see as less important than the return match at Vicarage Road where league points will be at stake, rather than a semi-final place.

The back row will be made up of Chesney, Roques and Ben Russell and they will find it tough to contain their Glaws counterparts Boer, Paramore and company.

In the second row, normal service is maintained courtesy of Hooper and Yandell and the front row sees the return of Kiwi Mike Storey at tight head, while Christian Califano continues his excellent work at no1.

This week's big news is the return to the starting lineup of two players out long-term with injuries. Kilted Queenslander Robbie Russell starts at hooker for the first time in nine months and Fijian outside half Niki Little returns after being sidelined with a broken arm.

Partnering Little - in to replace groin injury victim Andy Goode - at half back will be captain Kyran bracken, who will be keen to prove a point against his England squad usurper Andy Gomarsall.

The threequarters have a familiar look about them; Messrs O'Mahony, Horan, Johnston and Shanklin wearing 11-14 respectively. Adryan Winnan returns at the back for Thomas Castaignede who won't be risking his groin strain in this one, but should be back in time for the quest to pick up four league points agasinst the same opposition next week.

It seems that Shelford is concentrating upon the Zurich Premiership match rather than taking a punt at the Powergen given the changes is pivotal positions this week.

For all the reasons for the changes to the line-up, one can't help thinking that this game (and therfore the competition as a whole) is a wirte-off as Sarries look for european qualification via the Parker Pen Challenge Cup and the Zurich Premiership.

Add to that a riled Gloucester team out to prove to their supporters that they are a better side than the one that crashed out of the Heineken Cup, I believe a safe passage to the semi-finals awaits the home side.