QUINTESSENTIALLY SARACENS

By The Saracens
October 27 2021

This Sunday sees Saracens take on reigning Premiership Champions Harlequins at the Stoop. One can’t help but feel some of the gloss has been taken off this encounter with the absence of the England players but for once both teams will be equally impacted. Sarries will be without Owen Farrell, Jamie George, Max Malins and Maro Itoje while Quins will be missing Alex Dombrandt, Joe Marler, Marcus Smith & Joe Marchant. I suspect the winner of this encounter will be the team who adjusts best! Eddie’s decision to ignore Lewis Lynagh at least means we should have the pleasure of watching the young man (before he becomes an Aussie!)

It’s a shame we will be denied some mouthwatering match-ups: Farrell v Smith – the master against the upstart; Dombrandt v Billy – the newcomer against the discarded one; Mako v Marler – tasty; Max v Lynagh - explosive ! One is also tempted to wonder where our tries will come from given that between them, Max and Jamie have scored 10 of our last 18! Time for someone else to step up.

Both teams will be missing their first choice 10. Quins will probably go with Tommaso Allen (assuming he has recovered from his bang on the head) who deputized for the golden boy earlier in the season. As I see it Mark McCall has 3 options: Alex Goode (in which case either Maitland or Obatoyinbo would presumably cover full back); Loz (in which case Dom Morris would continue in the centres) or Manu – and leave Goodey and Loz where they are. I think he might go with Loz but it’s a tricky one as I thought Loz added something last weekend when he replaced Morris.

Maro is of course irreplaceable. His contribution has been immense over the past 2 games – I am tempted to say his has been the biggest influence in Sarries’ phenomenal performances. He is an absolute menace in the loose and a rock to our lineout. With Woolfie’s dodgy throwing McCall may like another line-out option and perhaps move Nick Isiekwe to the back row however injuries to Joel Kpoku and Callum Hunter-Hill probably means Nick will remain at lock with Swinson.

Quins’ club captain Stephan Lewies has not featured this season and stand-in Alex Dombrandt is deservedly away with England. I assume Quins will be led, officially or unofficially, by Danny Care. Love him or hate him he is still, for me, the best of the older generation of 9’s. I would pick him ahead of Ben Youngs any day. Aled Davies or Ivan Van Zyl, whoever gets the 9 shirt (I assume that may depend on who starts at 10), will need to keep their wits about them.

Both teams have had a pretty good start to the season winning 4 out of 5 games and sit in 2^nd and 3^rd place. Quins are just ahead of Sarries with one extra bonus point. History tells us that generally the home team wins although overall Sarries have a better head-to-head record with 32 wins v 16 for Quins. Interestingly, despite the recent try-fest, Quins have scored more tries this season than Sarries (25 v 22). Quins full-back Tyrone Green leads the stats for most metres gained and most defenders beaten.

Quins like to play an open game. They generally succeed because they score more tries than they concede so the renowned Sarries’ defence will need to be firing on all cylinders. Stop Quins scoring and you’re half way there! I think this will be close but I back Sarries to buck the trend of home advantage and get the win. I’m not putting money on it though!

This week's whistle blower is Craig Maxwell-Keys assisted by George Selwood and Simon Harding. Andrew Jackson is in the truck

QUINTESSENTIALLY SARACENS

Posted by: TheSaracens.com (IP Logged)

Date: 27/10/2021 18:44

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:11:07:12:35:03 by Darraghgirl.