Saracens v Bath preview

By Jason Harris (filed: 26/12/03)
December 26 2003

Saracens go into Saturday's must-win game with table topping Bath knowing that if they take less than four points from this Zurich Premiership encounter, they will find it very difficult to stay in contention for a Zurich Wildcard playoff spot.

Sarries couldn't have a more difficult fixture to follow their 41-0 drubbing by London Wasps in Wycombe as Bath have lost just one game all season; a 19-17 reverse at Newcastle in October.

Since a huge recruitment drive in the summer the side form the Rec have swept away nearly all before them; including Wasps at the Causeway Stadium and Gloucester at Kingshom and they will be out to complete the double over the Men in Black after their comfortable 25-3 victory at the Rec the week before their loss at Kingston Park.

Coach John Connolly has assembled a squad with quality in all positions and it will be difficult for a Saracens team rock-bottom on confidence to overturn their opponents.

Sarries coach Rod Kafer has made seven changes from the side that slumped at Wasps; moving Richard Haughton to fullback in place of Adryan Winnan and recalling Paul Bailey, Kyran Bracken, Taine Randell, Steve Sparks and Raphael Ibanez to the starting line-up.

Despite trying hard at Wasps, Sarries were outplayed completely by the league's second-placed team and but confidence among the travelling Fez after the Causeway cock-up is nevertheless very high. They think that Bath could go into the match with a complacent attitude given the teams' respective positions and Sarries could well nick a vitally important win.

However, I will disagree and think that it could be another long, hard day at the office for the Men in Black as Bath are not top of the league and ahead by 10 points by accident. They are a very good side indeed, just like the famous Bath sides of the 80s and 90s.

As usual, Sarries have the talent, but do they have the determination and confidence to reverse their fortunes in the league and head the upwards in the standings?

We will know come 4.40 on Saturday afternoon.


Saracens: Haughton; Cech, Johnston, Bailey, O'Mahony; Castaignede, Bracken; Sparks, Ibanez, Visagie; Raiwalui, Codling; Chesney, B.Russell, Randell.

Bath Rugby: Perry; Human, Higgins, Tindall, Danielly; Barkley, Wood; Flatman, Humphreys, Bell; Borthwick, Grewcock, Beattie, Lipman Feaunati.