Aviron Bayonnais v Saracens preview

By Jason Harris
October 21 2004

Sarries head for the Basque country for their opening 2004-05 European Challenge Cup tie away at Bayonne on Saturday night, kick off 6pm BST.

The Men in Black have an even 3 win, 3 loss, 1 draw record in the Zurich Premiership and the two-leg tie against the newly-promoted Basque side is sure to provide a stern test.

Promoted from Pro D2 last season after losing to Auch in the playoff final, Bayonne, though not as affluent as neighbouring Biarritz Olympique, have one or two familiar names in their squad.

Argentinian international captain Lisandro Arbizu is an influential figure at Stade Jean Dauger - renamed in 2001 after the Bayonne and France centre who passed away in 1999 - as is former French International Christophe "Titou" Lamaison and Scottish threequarter James McLaren.

Despite wins over Clermont-Auvergne (formerly AS Montferrand) and, most impressively, Biarritz, they have yet to register any further victories so far this season. Bayonne's record from the 10 league games played so far is two wins, two draws and six defeats, leaving them one place off the bottom with just the team that pipped them to the second division title, Auch (who, incidentally, play London Irish this weekend), below them in the ladder.

Aviron Bayonnais - as their official title goes - are celebrating their centenary this year and see this, their first game in Europe, as a very important one. Sarries, although having the knowledge that French teams rarely travel well and knowing this could assist them in the second leg at Vicarage Road, will certainly feel the passion so legendary in the basque region.

The contest will, no doubt, be a fiery one and Italian referee Giulio De Santis will have his work cut out to keep a lid things.

Rod Kafer, meanwhile has found out today that Thomas Csataignede will be out for up to six weeks after sustaining ligament damage in a collision with Newcastle's Epi Taione last weekend and his place will be taken by Ben Johnston. Also missing are Kyran Bracken, Cobus Visagie, Iain Fullarton, Alex Sanderson and Morgan Williams. Nick Lloyd makes his first Sarries start in place of Kevin Yates and Raphael Ibanez, veteran of many a match in the basque country, comes in at hooker for Matt Cairns.


There will be a match preview on Friday night on BBC 3 Counties Sports programme between 6pm and 8pm on FM, AM and the Internet and team news, half time and full time updates on the night of the game from approximately 5.45pm, again on all frequencies and the Internet.

Saracens: Robbie Kydd; Ricahrd Haughton, Ben Johnston, Dan Harris, Paul Bailey; Mark Bartholomeusz, Mosese Rauluni; Nick Lloyd, Raphael Ibanez, Ben Broster; Kris Chesney, Simon Raiwalui; Taine Randell, David Seymour, Hugh Vyvyan (c).
Replacements: Matt Cairns, Kevin Yates, Ben T. Russell, Ben Skirving, Nicky Little, Kevin Sorrell, Dan Scarbrough.