Saracens strive for the ultimate prize

By Jason Harris
May 14 2003

Who'd have thought it? Saracens, deep in trouble at the wrong end of the table less than two weeks ago, challenging for a place in the Heineken Cup. Well, thanks to the new-fangled Zurich Wildcard playoffs, the Men in Black have a chance to end their season on the highest of highs.

Saracens have hit form in recent weeks. After dogging out a victory against Bristol, nearly overhauling Newcstle and then beating Sale Sharks easily, the Men in Black seem to be hitting the heights when most of the rugby world will be hitting the beach.

But recent form will count for nothing at all when the teams kick-off at 7.45. Leeds are still overjoyed with their progress this season after being let off the hook last - they finished 12th but stayed in the league after Rotherham were denied promotion - and fifth place is just reward for a side as tenacious as the Tykes.

Saracens will have to make do without Abdel Benazzi. The great Frenchman, who thought his final appearance would be last Saturday against Sale, could still figure in the second leg according to coach Wayne Shelford. But his cut eye, swollen knee and sling on the arm are conclusive proof that he'll be watching game one from the East Stand.

Leeds welcome back top try scorer Dan Scarbrough, though he will start on the bench, and will be hoping that the form that took them to two good wins against the Men in Black last season will return for this tie.

The two league games between the sides this year really should have been won by Saracens. The first up at Headingley looked a foregone conclusion as Sarries surged ahead, but a spirited Tykes comeback allied to some sloppy Saracens play in the second half meant that Sarries left Yorkshire with nothing.

The return match at Vicarage Road just after Christmas was almost as terrible as the weather. Sarries just about held on in a forgettable encounter that yielded just the one try.

Even though Sarries' path into the Wildcard final could be guaranteed by London Wasps beating Bath in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup final on 25 May, Wayne Shelford is adamant that his side will be out to win - and win well - at Vicarage Road and that they'll make doubly sure by taking a first victory at Headingley in the return match on 18 May.

With Quins and Leicester showing patchy form in their final few games, the lottery of the Wildcard Competition could well turn up a winning ticket for Sarries.

But as the old cliche goes, it'll be one game at a time. And I think game one will yield the first two of those six priceless jackpot numbers. Anyway, enough analogies. I'll take Sarries to win.