Sarries-Gloucester Preview

By Kooga (Not The New Kit Sponser)
April 3 2004

With Sarries physio room doing an impression of an M25 traffic jam with more players joining the queue by the day, Saturday sees the first return to Vicarage Road of the enigmatic Duncan McRae.

Though Sarries do also welcome back from 6 Nations duties the Elvis Presley of Rugby ‘The King’ Richard Hill, Robbie Russell, Ben Russell and Ben Skirving. Nicki Little returns from suspension. This will allow young Donald Barrell to concentrate on his studies back at Watford Grammar School.

A great piece on Rod Kafer coming out of retirement for the game because of the injury crisis appeared on the official website on Thursday explaining how he was going to adhere to the tunnel and touchline ban that he is still serving. For the ladies reading he will be changing in the members bar before the game as he has to be on the pitch and remain there over 30 minutes before the start of the game. Girls get there early, the bar that is!

The head to head stats show to the two sides evenly matched, with Gloucester shading the lineouts and Sarries the scrums. This is a game Gloucester must to win, after their poor showing at Sale last Friday, to give themselves any chance of closing the gap on Saints, who themselves have a tough away fixture at Wasps at the Causeway Stadium! Gloucester are currently 6 points adrift and running out of games.

This should give Sarries the edge, playing for pride and respect [and possibly for some a new contract] in front of their home support, but not a lot else as the Wildcard Playoffs appear to get further away. Sarries will be without the mercurial Frenchman Thomas Castaignede, who limped off with a suspected hamstring strain against Saints last Saturday, so we will see Nicki Little partner Morgan Williams at halfback.

As for McRae, I see him getting very small beer from Hill in the set pieces and Little and Sorrell in open play. If Sarries can stifle distribution to Gloucester’s undoubtedly talented backline it will be a very close run game.

The team announcement includes the surprise inclusion of Adrian Winnan on the left wing in place of Denis Cech, who drops to the bench. Kafer has a full front row on the bench in anticipation of a war of attrition up front, with James Parkes keeping his place at hooker.

Saturday Zurich Premiership games at Vicarage Road are normally poorly attended and with Sky broadcasting the game ‘live’ it is even less incentive to leave the house. Now is the time to show the guys on the pitch that they have our wholehearted support by putting your bums on the seats at the ground and cheering the guys to 4 more points!

The team: 15 Robbie Kydd, 14 Paul Bailey, 13 Ben Johnston, 12 Kevin Sorrell, 11 Adrian Winnan, 10 Nicki Little, 9 Morgan Williams, 1 Steven Sparks, 2 James Parkes, 3 Cobus Visagie, 4 Simon Raiwalui (c), 5 Craig Yandell, 6 Richard Hill, 7 Ben Russell, 8 Kris Chesney

On the bench: Robbie Russell, Ben Broster, Emilio Bergamaschi, Ben Skirving,Ryan Peacey, Kyran Bracken, Denis Cech.