AHOY ME HEARTIES

And so it begins. After months of wondering whether there would be a league to play in and weeks of friendlies, the real thing starts on Saturday, away to Cornish Pirates in Penzance. The Cornish Riviera was on my bucket list to visit (and I’m sure I’m not alone) before COVID put paid to travel plans so sadly it will be streamed pay per view (£10 I believe).

The Trailfinders’ Cup and the games against Coventry over the past few weeks have at least given our lads a bit of game time even if performances have been somewhat underwhelming, but rehearsals are over now and the curtain rises on an abbreviated season. The reduction in matches means that every single game is vital, there is no room for complacency, we need to start as we mean to go on.

Pirates have played just 1 warm-up, with their “neighbours” Jersey Reds last Saturday winning 27/13. Having just read through the match report on Pirates’ site, it sounds like it was an excellent debut for Luke Scully, the 20 year old loanee from Cardiff Blues, who was brought in a short notice to replace Argentinian Javier Rojas Alvarez. Scully scored a try of his own and converted 2 others. There was another try from No 8 Tom Duncan and the interestingly named Antonio Kiri Kiri seems to have set up some good moves.

Sarries on the other hand have had 5 live games to get up to speed. Only in the final work-out against Coventry does it appear that the team were starting to play to the level that will be required if Sarries are going to get back to the top flight, I don’t think anyone believes this is a forgone conclusion. Playing Saracens will be a Cup Final for every Championship Team and we must expect each and every one of them to raise their game when the former European Champions are in town. If we have learned anything from these friendly games it is that Sarries can not take a victory for granted. Those wins will need to be hard earned. Those wins are also vital – with just 10 games to play, every available point needs to be gathered if Sarries are to qualify for the play-offs.

So which team will Mark McCall select?  Not an easy one to call. One would hope we will field our strongest 15 – we can’t afford not to! But after the warm-ups, do we know what that is?

I’ll make a stab:-  Obatoyinbo, Maitland, Socino, Taylor, Lewington, Vunipola, Davies; Barrington, Woolstencroft,  Koch, Kpoku, Swinson, Rhodes, Reffell, Wray.

Let’s hope we start in this league as we mean to go on – with a win!