SCRAPING THE BOTTOM OF THE BARRELL

First things first, is anyone free on Sunday afternoon? If you own a pair of rugby boots and don’t mind who you play for or where you play, get yourselves along to The Coventry Building Society Arena (what a mouthful – honestly the Ricoh was much easier) because Mark McCall or Lee Blackett might just need you to make up the numbers!

As we stand on the threshold of the 2022 6 Nations, both sides have been denuded by injury and International call-ups. Which means Sarries have lost Jamie, Maro, Daly, Malins & Isiekwe to England, Maitland and Christie to Scotland and Tompkins to Wales. In addition Faz, Riccione, Taylor,  & Wray are definitely out with injury and Clarey, Davies & Adams-Hale on the mend but probably not fixed yet. I am not sure whether we are able to call upon our non-England Internationals this weekend. In general McCall doesn’t tend to do this (presumably because they haven’t trained all week) but he might have to this time if he’s allowed.

Wasps have been able to welcome back some of their longer term injured in recent weeks and they may be able to utilise Joe Launchbury (who has been out for 9 months) and Malakai Fekitoa who are both said to have an “outside chance” of being fit for Sunday. Wasps are quite upbeat about the chances of Jimmy Gopperth, Vaea Fifita and Jeremy Toomaga-Allen, all of whom were recently missing through “illness” and may also have Robin Hislop, Ryan Mills and Tom West available. Wasps are definitely without Jacob Umaga (suspended) Tom Willis, Francis Hougaard, Dan Frost and Thomas Young. Alfie Barbeary is the only Wasp away on International duty. So all in all a lot of ifs, buts and maybes!

The International call-ups make something of a mockery of recent form. Sarries had a good win against Irish on Sunday whereas Wasps were hammered by Munster. However only a week previously, 14 man Wasps produced a magnificent performance to beat Toulouse. Wasps have won just 2 of their last 6 Gallagher Premiership games – but both were at home and they overcame London Irish & Leicester.

I am not even going to attempt to second guess Lee Blackett and the Wasps side – but if even half of those he hopes might be available turn out to be so, I would rate Wasps as strong favourites. But as we know, Sarries are often a better team when they have their backs against the wall. Let us not forget the win over Gloucester back in 2020 with effectively a Championship team.

The big decision is probably who plays 10? Loz has to play in the centres given the lack of alternatives (although it sounds like Dom Morris should be fit). I would be tempted to use Tompkins though if allowed. That leaves Manu or Goodey? Alex has been playing brilliantly at Fly half but can we afford to risk Obatoyinbo at 15? Might we use Maitland there (again if allowed?) Or will McCall stick with Manu and play Goodey at full back? These decisions are what he gets paid for.

For what its worth I’d go with something like:

Obatoyinbo/Maitland, Lewington, Lozowski, Morris/Tompkins, Harris (or Segun if fit), Goode, Van Zyl; Mako, Woostencroft, Koch, Hunter-Hall, Swinson, McFarland, Earle, Billy.

Wayne Barnes has the whistle, so hopefully no complaints there, assisted by Karl Dickson & Anthony Woodthorpe with Stuart Teerheege in the TV van. I’m expecting a Wasps’ win, especially if they get a couple of their big names back, but in this game you never know.