NO SIXWAYS ABOUT IT

That strength in depth of the whole squad was more than apparent last November when the side's last met in the London (?) double header at Twickenham. A modified line up saw Ben Ransom, Ben Spencer (both of whom scored tries), Alistair Hargreaves, Kelly Brown and Ernst Joubert all start, and prove their undoubted quality in a 48-18 bonus point win which featured six tries. With top spot secured, and a semi-final home clash with Leicester Tigers all but certain, and, of course Lyon looming just a week away, we should see a similar experimental side, particularly as there are no issues remaining for the hosts either. Last week was a good build up as Newcastle took a surprise 14-3 lead in the first half, but Saracens didn't panic, began to play the game in the right areas of the pitch, and used the power of the rolling maul to set up a trio of tries, as Jackson Wray demonstrated his enduring versatility by slotting in at 8 this week and helping himself to a pair of tries, as they won 23-14 in a match which saw them only make two line breaks but adapt their style and find a way to win. Once again, it was an adjusted starting line up with Ransom, Jacques Burger and Jim Hamilton all stating, and a new look front row of Richard Barrington, Jared Saunders and Titi Lamositele all performing well.

 

In the aftermath of the match at HQ, Worcester had a string of disappointing results, most notably going 17-0 up against Leicester Tigers at Sixways, but collapsing to a 29-20 loss, as Donncha O'Callaghan was sent off for a second yellow car in the second half. The Challenge Cup double header with Gliucester failed to yield a single point, but the year did end with a losing bonus pointr in a 21-14 loss at Bath. A miserable January saw the Warriors lose all five games, as the European pool ended with further defeats at home to Zebre and at La Rochellais, but a stirring comeback brought a losing bonus point at home to Harlequins, only for Wasps to give them the same treatment as the Coventry side came from 22-13 down to win 32-22 at Sixways, whilst the month concluded with a 30-15 home reverse to Exeter Chiefs. The relegation battle seemed to have taken a turn for the worse as they were beaten 13-6 at London Irish at the start of February, and then collected another solitary point at home to Worcester. The visit of Sale Sharks broke a winless run of 13 matches, as Hougaard scored a try on debut, alongside Carl Kirwan and Chris Pennell.This started a sequence of five wins from six, the odd game out being the 38-18 loss at Northampton Saints. They bounced back with a crucial 15-14 win at Newcastle Falcons, ahead of a 28-20 win at home to Gloucester as the influence of scrum half Hougaard in unleashing the potential of an exciting backline to play an attractive running game, alongside the testing kicking of centre or fly half Ryan Mills, was felt again, whilst they claimed another win by recording a rare 21-15 success at Harlequins. Survival was effectively assured in a 12-6 home win over London Irish at the end of March, and after that, results trailed off, as Warriors lost 50-12 at Exeter, ahead of a bizarre 54-35 home loss to Wasps and last Saturday's 31-17 defeat at Leicester. 

 

It should be a strange day at Sixways, as, in scenes perhaps reminiscent of Saracens in 2009, Dean Ryan has released no less than twelve players from his squad at the end of a solid, if unspectacular, campaign in which survival was comfortably achieved, although only one or two will probablt feature in this match, as the Warriors strive towards emulating the Exeter Chiefs blueprint of gradually establishing themselves at this level. The three year deal handed to Hougaard after a successful loan spell shows the club's intent to build the side around the influential scrum half, who was a key factor in their avoidance of relegation, and they have begun their summer recruitment early by acquiring a new centre partnership of Ben Te'o and Jackson Willison from Leinster and Grenoble respectively, with further reinforcements in the pack too. The starting line up will presumably be fairly similar to that seen at Welford Road, Pennell should continue at full back, with Bryce Heem and Cooper Vuna occupying the wings, and Andy Symons (bound for London Irish) alongside Mills in the centre, as Tom Heathcote combines with Hougaard in the half back combination. Forwards-wise, Val Rapava Ruskin, Niall Annett and James Johnston could make up the front row, with Tevita Cavubati alongside O'Callaghan at lock, and a back row of Phil Dowson, Kirwan and GJ van Velze. For Saracens, Ransom may continue at full back, with Mile Ellery and Chris Wyles on the wings, and Nick Tompkins alongside Duncan Taylor in the centres. Charlie Hodgson and Ben Spencer are the probable half backs. A possible pack has Barrington, Saunders and Juan Figallo in the front row, with Hamilton and Hayden Smith at lock, and a back row of Michael Rhodes, Will Fraser and Wray