Preview: Saracens v Gloucester

By Jason Harris
January 31 2003

Wayne Shelford has made three changes to the Saracens team hammered by Gloucester at Kingsholm last weekend. Richard Hill, Christian Califano and Kevin Sorrell return to the starting line-up and Thomas Castaignede is fit enough to take a place on the substitues bench. Can Sarries turn things around?

Shelford admitted that there were problems with Saracens' defence and scrummaging during the 50-21 Powergen Cup quarter-final defeat, but he is confident that the team will have put right the malaise so much in evidence at Kingsholm.

To send an experimental line up to Castle Grim expecting a win was at best hopeful, at worst naive and even with the return of the superstars at prop and flanker, it could be another long day at the office for the Men in Black.

Gloucester, meanwhile, have put the wheels back on the wagon after their less-than-poetic display in Limerick and have the luxury of calling upon captain Phil Vickery, wily veteran Junior Paramore and teenage wing sensation Marcel Garvey to a squad that, despite their on-the-record respect this week for their well-beaten opponents, will itching to continue where they left off last weekend.

The big question about the Gloucester selection will be who will play in the centre. Tood and Fanolua, so long the trusted combination in midfield, have shown their limitation in that they are too similar in style.

Henry Paul replaced Todd last week and opened up the Sarries defence with tactics other than the expected crash ball. However, Paul is away in Australia on England 7s duty and it will be fascinating to see whether Melville will stick with his trusted (if somewhat predictable) partnership, or if he will present an opportunity to James Simpson-Daniel to show what he can do.

Things up front can only get better for the Glaws pack with the returns of Vickery and Paramore. Without two of their main influences, the forwards still demolished Sarries with something to spare last time out and will start with a huge psychological advantage on Sunday to add to the physical one already gained.

Saracens lacked scrummaging technique and power, concentration (they were easily niggled by Olivier Azam and went looking to settle scores rather than looking for the ball) and control (at least three Glaws tries came from turnovers)at Kingsholm and if they play the same way, the same result is almost inevitable.

Should Saracens show the improvement proclaimed by Shelford during the week they may be able to keep Gloucester within their sights. But to claim a victory against a side eight points clear in the league just eight days after shipping a half century against the same opposition is hopeful. Not naive, but hopeful. Glaws to win with some ease, I think.