LOWDOWN ON THE SHOWDOWN
By The Saracens
March 13 2025
Sarries have a tradition of big games held at big name venues going back to the loathsome double headers at Twickenham. These games are a bit marmite: some fans love them, others hate them. Does the additional hassle of going somewhere new, the high prices of food and drink and the football-like security make up for the “big game experience”. Sarries obviously think it’s worth it as their deal with Spurs has been extended for another 5 years. Presumably they make money even though many of the tickets are discounted and the costs of staging the game must be enormous! For me there’s no place like home although I suppose Spurs is the least-worst option, at least it’s easy to get to!
Back in 2009 several games were played at the new Wembley Stadium (including a famous victory over South Africa), the big game then moved to the London Stadium although that stadium really didn’t work so well.
In 2019, Sarries announced a 5 year agreement with Tottenham Hotspur to play an annual big game (THE SHOWDOWN) at their new Stadium. Then of course the walls came tumbling down! First there was COVID which meant rugby was played behind closed doors so Showdown 1 turned into a bit of a damp squib as it was played at Allianz without spectators! The opponents were Quins and Sarries won 38-24.
The following season, not only was COVID still dictating things, but Sarries were playing in the Championship so Showdown 2, the first proper showdown, didn’t take place until March 22 when the opponents were Bristol Bears (the only occasion since 2014 when the opposition hasn’t been Quins). This was one of the closest of the big games, Sarries winning 28-23 (with a Max Malins brace) but only after a Bristol try at the death was disallowed because of a rather careless forward pass. It was my first visit to the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and I remember being pretty impressed!
2023 saw things back to normal with Quins once more the opponents. Sarries produced a clinical performance of free-flowing rugby winning 36-24 and securing a home premiership semi-final with 3 games left to play.
In 2024 we saw one of the best performances from Sarries with a 52-7 dismantling of Quins. An 8 try fest versus a single Quins score. Utter dominance, unexpected I think but none the less welcome! Owen comprehensively out-playing Smith (M) the young pretender.
Sarries have never lost a Showdown and have only lost one of the “Big Games”, in 2012, when Quins managed a 24-19 victory.
Interestingly Christophe Ridley has reffed 3 of the 4 Showdowns (Luke Pearce was in charge for the other one). Will he get the whistle again next Saturday?
And so to Showdown 5. Full preview to come next week but I for one am looking forward to watching my team play rugby again, hopefully healed, happy and revitalised from a few weeks break and ready to go for the last few games of the season. I’d rather be going to StoneX (Rock Choir, dancing children, fireworks, DJ’s playing music I don’t like and Pop acts I’ve never heard of do nothing to enhance my enjoyment - quite the contrary). I always seem to sit in the same row as guys with limited bladder capacity and even more limited rugby knowledge but it is what it is and hopefully the rugby will make it an enjoyable afternoon.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:03:28:13:37:46 by Darraghgirl.
To a try from a sneaky forward pass from Danny Care.
That's why the club puts effort into the marketing from the start of the season. It's a good opportunity for supporters to bring family and friends along for a big match at an iconic stadium.
I upgrade my seats and buy extra tickets, so the club gets more out of me!
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Empower and enable them to play beyond the constraints of a limited game plan and with those coming through both the present and future seem very bright.
Channel the Showdown last season and the confident wins v Bristol this and don't allow a lack of ambition to be the lament at 80 minutes.
Cannot see this being a sell out, maybe 50K if we’re lucky
Quote:nicsue
I know some at my Club chose the Ladies final today over Tottenham next week.
Care to explain?
I don’t understand the logic? They would have gone to Tottenham if they didn’t go to the women’s final? Even though the price points are completely different?
Transport is far better than StoneX, wider range of food and drinks. More expensive yes but StoneX is not exactly cheap this days either.
I went to the 2022 (Showdown 2) and 2024 (Showdown 4) editions and enjoyed it on both occasions. Didn't have an issue with the security (which is football-esque unfortunately) too which was great
at least 5 trains an hour from Broxbourne - 14m journey to Northumberland Park - £10.60 return (contactless price)
upto 10 trains per hour from Cheshunt - from 8 minutes - £6.20 return (contactless price)
Locations affected
Audley End / Stansted Airport / Hertford East and Broxbourne
Dates
Saturday, 22 March 2025 to Sunday, 23 March 2025
Buses replace trains between Audley End / Stansted Airport / Hertford East and Broxbourne
Trains will continue between Cambridge and Audley End as well as between Broxbourne and London-direction
To be honest pretty much the only issue I repeatedly heard last year was the pain it was because there were also travel issues then.
Unfortunately I wonder if that was enough top put quite a few people off.
Quote:Stumpy7780Quote:nicsue
I know some at my Club chose the Ladies final today over Tottenham next week.
Care to explain?
I don’t understand the logic? They would have gone to Tottenham if they didn’t go to the women’s final? Even though the price points are completely different?
For some people (families especially) they choose their outings - on this occasion some chose to go to the Ladies final rather than the trip to Tottenham. Funds are not limitless. Some families like their rugby, but have other interests or calls on their time, so pick and choose which match to attend.
As it happens our Club ran a trip to Tottenham last year. This year they are running trips to both the Ladies final and the Tottenham game.
Quote:PaulHerox
Hopefully they still get a good crowd.
To be honest pretty much the only issue I repeatedly heard last year was the pain it was because there were also travel issues then.
Unfortunately I wonder if that was enough top put quite a few people off.
Getting to Tottenham is a complete pain and the reason we will watch on the TV with friends!
From what Sarries have posted on social, looks like Ben and potentially Tommo are taking a break as well?
Honestly it's pathetic by both Quins players and the club if true.
This is one of the big "London" games and a chance to play in front of, almost certainly, a bigger Quins group of supporters than ours and their big players will be a no show.
I also think it gives further credence to the idea Marcus Smith just isn't the type of player you need at the very top level.
He's seen his prospects as a starting International 10 and likely Lion tank and would have an opportunity in front of 50K+ to prove the doubters wrong but he's off on his holi-bobs instead. Can you imagine Farrell doing the same.
For what it's worth whilst I would understand resting the likes of Itoje and Earl who have the legitimate reason of having played all or most of the 6 Nations I would still prefer, if possible, that be delayed for Tigers away and we go full strength v Quins at the Showdown.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:03:19:16:38:14 by PaulHerox.
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Everything must be this way
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Quote:Which makes the whole concept of the Premiere League a farce with no thought for the paying club supporters! I will probably give up my season ticket after nearly 30 years as I am so disillusioned with how the season now operates.AP
Don't the internationals have to be rested soon after the 6N? It will be as much the club's decision as the player's.
Quote:AP
Don't the internationals have to be rested soon after the 6N? It will be as much the club's decision as the player's.
They have to be rested within four weeks of the 6N if they played 65% of minutes. I think only Maro and Ben would qualify, but we can allow others rest to and Jamie and Elliot would seem obvious candidates. For those not in Europe they have that rest weekend built in, for us the Tigers game makes sense as it’s an away match and before the Toulon one.
Quote:KevettyQuote:Which makes the whole concept of the Premiere League a farce with no thought for the paying club supporters! I will probably give up my season ticket after nearly 30 years as I am so disillusioned with how the season now operates.AP
Don't the internationals have to be rested soon after the 6N? It will be as much the club's decision as the player's.
Yes. let's go back to having a few Premiership matches during the 6N and AIs. It's simply fair and right to even up things for those clubs that don't have international players.
Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade
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Quote:I am probably going to give up my season ticket for the same reasons. Paying top price for Cup matches and Prem games where Saracens sell their players to England does not sit right with me.KevettyQuote:Which makes the whole concept of the Premiere League a farce with no thought for the paying club supporters! I will probably give up my season ticket after nearly 30 years as I am so disillusioned with how the season now operates.AP
Don't the internationals have to be rested soon after the 6N? It will be as much the club's decision as the player's.
This season, two rounds have been affected (the ones coinciding with the training camps at the start of the international windows).
Players being rested would happen anyway.
For me, the turn off is that the club season is fragmented and there is no feeling of continuity to it. The last Premiership round was two months ago!
I guess we are stuck with the AIs and the 6N timings (but no fourth AI please and perhaps just one break in the 6N after the third round) and that then rather shapes the season unless something radical can be done with the European competitions.
Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade
🌻🌻🌻