SARACENS v BATH please post match related comment here

Perhaps shell-shocked is the word. A failure in attitude and performance, short of the passion and standards expected at Saracens. While our England stars prepare for a World Cup semi-final in Paris, those remaining to start the season in north London will, no doubt, be working tirelessly to put right the failures of last weekends humbling at Sandy Park. Visitors Bath Rugby travel to the Stonex stadium this weekend, looking to condemn hosts Saracens to back-to-back losses to start the season.

This time last year, a rampaging Ollie Lawrence almost saw the visitors overhaul Saracens’ dominant early display. Tries from Alex Goode, Max Malins, Elliot Daly and Alex Lewington were enough to hold out for a 37-31 victory, aided by a last minute interception from captain - and now England’s all-time leading points scorer - Owen Farrell. Now, a little over a year later, both sides have enjoyed rather different opening weekends to the 23/24 season. Bath’s winless start to their previous campaign was quickly overshadowed by a 34-26 win against Newcastle falcons last Saturday, while, about 80 miles down the road, Saracens fell to a record defeat against Sandy Park’s Exeter Chiefs. The results see this weekend’s fixture billed as 10th vs 2nd in the league - a near 180 reverse to recent seasons past. Wholesale changes are a rarity at Saracens, even following a defeat of last week’s scale. One of the few positives will have been the return of Andy Christie from long-term injury and he will surely return to the starting line-up this coming weekend. Charlie Bracken too, in a rare run out, staked his claim for another appearance in the match day 23. Alex Goode and Manu Vunipola have traded the 10 shirt during the opening few weeks of the season, neither showing particular verve, and with the former steering the ship recklessly last time out, another switch at 10 would be unsurprising. Additionally, Tom Parton’s head injury substitution could keep him out of this weekends fixture, requiring Alex’s return to his regular job at fullback Alternatively, a returning Nick Tompkins from international duty would open the door for Alex Lozowski to make a rare start at Fly-half, with 21-year-old Olly Hartley continuing in the centres. Following an impressive World Cup campaign, Nick, an integral Saracen, could rival Lozowski for captain duties, until Owen Farrell’s return in November. Like Tompkins, loose-head Eroni Mawi returns to North London following quarter final defeat in France - and an arm injury to the beleaguered Ralph Adams-Hale should see him return to the match day 23 imminently. Ex-Saracens Ben Spencer and Matt Gallagher will surely return to the Stonex this weekend. The former, following last weeks hat trick, wears the blue, black and white captains armband for a second consecutive season. Most likely, he’s set to line-up alongside high-profile summer signing Finn Russell, in what would be his first start in the 10 jersey for the club. Elsewhere, back-rowers Chris Cloete, Alfie Barbeary and Ted Hill enter their second seasons with Bath and should present a fearsome challenge for the likes of Theo McFarland and Tom Willis. The fixture promises much intrigue, regardless of allegiance, but should Saracens again fail to play to their exceptional potential, it could continue to set the tone for both clubs polar starts to the season