Match Preview - Sunday Special
By Ed Scott
November 17 2010
This week we make a welcome return to the Aviva Premiership when 'something special' arrives at The Rec. Or, as they're also known, Saracens.
Before we get into the preview, I have to have a final moan about television changing match dates and times. I know I've already done this, but I just have to go again because it makes me so livid. Why should many of us, who travel from over 100 miles away to watch our club, have to suffer because of TV? A Sunday KO at 4:15pm is completely unfeasible for me (and I'm sure many others) as I will just get home far too late. I can't stay in Bath as the next day is a Monday. Lots of people like to have a drink at the game (and after) and I'm also sure that a late Sunday kick off (when people are less likely to drink with work the following day) effects bar takings. So now, not only do I have to pay for my season ticket, I also have to pay for ESPN if I want to see a home game!! And.......breathe.
Right, crunch time. No Moody, Hape, Wilson, Watson, Banahan, Williams, James, McMillan or Cuthbert (both in the Scotland A squad apparently). Saracens missing, well, no one I don't think! This is going to have to be one hell of a performance, no question. Clearly the ill discipline of the Wasps game and the lack of penetration against Quins must be abolished. Borthwick will undoubtedly give us trouble in the line out, Brits will be highly destructive in the loose, and their backs will run hard at us, with Barritt and Strettle bound to be a handful.
Sarries have had a strange season so far. They started off by being mullered by London Irish at Twickenham, but then followed up with four straight wins, including victories over Northampton and Leicester. Of late they have slumped again, losing both their Heineken cups games, on the wrong end of a 23-9 scoreline at home to Exeter, and only just scraping past Newcastle away. Last weekend they were comprehensively thrashed by Gloucester in the LV, all with a near full side out.
Sarries and Bath have both had their moments, but neither decent momentum in any competition this season. A win would put us ahead of them in the table (providing they didn't get a losing BP) but a loss would widen the gap between the two teams to a minimum of six points, thus putting us further from the top four. In fact, defeat would most likely put us into the bottom half of the table - not a place we want to be at Christmas.
Home wins are vital if we want to mount any sort of challenge for the Premiership this season. We have already embarrassed ourselves in one home game, which I think we thought was won before it kicked off. Surely Smee should be aiming for a minimum of 8 points from the next two games? Not easy, but without it we will spend the second half of the season playing catch up to the rest of the field (again!).
Finally I'll move to team selection. We look light both in the centres and in the back row. Simon Taylor will surely play, but where? My guess is that he will play openside with Skirving at 8 and Beattie at 6. For me, this would be predictable, slow and a step back. I would play him at 8 alongside Ovens and Mercer, who have really proved themselves in the last couple of weeks. Sadly, I can't see it - happy to be proved wrong on this one though.
Without Hape, Banners and Williams there is very little choice in the middle. Olly will return at 12 with Carraro at 13. Abendanon will come straight back in and Biggs retain his wing spot. The other wing now becomes the biggest issue. If Cuthbert is indeed made unavailable by Scotland A, then Jacques will make his Premiership debut. Lots of speed, but not a lot of defence against a very physical backline. If Jack is free to play then I can see him at 15 and Bendy on the other wing.
A big game this Sunday no doubt. Yes, we've got players missing, but I really think Saracens are lacking in confidence and structure right now. If we can get into the face of Goode and match them up front, then we could just sneak it. A win would definitely give me that 'special' feeling