The Return of Trips to the Mem

Bristol Rugby
By Nev
October 13 2005

Nev gives us his views on this weekend's encounter with Bristol at the Memorial Ground, suggesting that we aren't anywhere near out of the woods yet in terms of performance and success.

At the start of the season most Saracens supporters were confidently expecting their best season since Adam was a lad. So far, expectation has once again floundered.

I must confess that I was concerned about the promotion of Mike Ford. Why change head coach if it ain't broken? I was also concerned, though I speak as a forward at heart, by the proposed more expansive game plan. If you're Brazil 1970 or for that matter Wales 1970 then OK. Doubtless this plan was devised with Farrell in mind but he's crocked. We've gone ahead with it anyway and look what's happened.

There are two ways of looking at it. I choose to say that we've won one league game out of four and are trying to play a game to a set plan with which the team simply don't look comfortable.

Others would doubtless say that we are one sandwich short of a hamper and that when we get it right as we did against Leeds, watch out.

On Sunday, Sarries will be watching out anxiously. Yet again, in October, we come to a must win game. If we lose, as lose we might, we will go into the game against Biarritz with as much chance of success as, well, Sarries of 2003 or 2 etc. Lose a Heineken home game and Bob's your uncle. I suspect it is anyway.

There will be those who say that last Sunday's home match was a step in the right direction and it was, but the improvement came about entirely as a result of Cobus being fit for 60 minutes and Popo being able to play at loosehead. I daresay the return of Simon made a difference generally in the tight as well.

We are no further on than we were at the end of last year except that we've got a game plan that we are still learning. On last Sunday's showing, we will finish no higher than we did last year if we're lucky.

Our respected opponents have made a modest start to their promotion year and are just one point in front of us. Unlike us, they got slaughtered last week and will presumably wish to bounce back. They will have targeted us as a fixture that they must win.

In effect, both teams are in the same position but being a one-eyed dyed in the wool Sarrie, I take us to cruise past them and begin to put in place the game plan that the coaches clearly desire. I just hope we don't lose.