Saracens vs London Irish - Match Preview


Away to the Fez Boys
By Billy Hamilton
April 3 2003

After the distractions of the last two weeks the Zurich Premiership enters the final furlongs. London Irish now has five games in which to fight for survival in the premiership.

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Saracens vs London Irish
Sun 06 Apr at Vicarage Road - KO 15:00

Preview by

Billy Hamilton

When I started this series of previews at the beginning of the season I made it clear that it was just thus – previews not predictions.  How could anyone have predicted the results in the inconsistent season we have had?  Our last league win was a magnificent 22-10 result against Northampton in January.  The following week we lost a game we had almost sewn up in Edinburgh. We have beaten Toulouse this year then suffered badly at the hands of Northampton, Sale, Wasps and Quins.  So no crystal ball this week.

The only comfort we can take is that Saracens have lost their last two home games, to Gloucester and Wasps and we have beaten them on our last three meetings.

I do not have to remind you that all our games are “must win” ones if we are not to flounder on the rocks at the bottom of the Premiership.  (Yes I know that “rocks” is an “R” word, boys and girls, but it is one we can use).  

Zurich Premiership (Wrong End!!!)

 

P

W

D

L

F

A

TB

LB

PTS

Harlequins

17

7

0

10

367

447

3

4

35

Bristol

17

6

1

10

405

478

3

2

31

Saracens

18

6

0

12

414

512

4

3

30

Newcastle

18

6

0

12

305

454

2

4

30

Bath

18

5

2

11

306

397

1

3

28

London Irish

17

5

1

11

328

389

1

3

26

 
Summary of meetings between the teams in the Premiership
Played                              15
Saracens Won                  9                       60.0%
London Irish Won           6                       40.0%
Drawn                               0                       0%
Biggest Win for Saracens            45 - 0                  30 Apr 1997
Biggest Win for London Irish      55 - 13                 22 Nov 2001
 
 Saracens top try scorer vs London Irish                      Richard Wallace         4 tries
 Saracens top points scorer vs London Irish                Gavin Johnson           52 points
 London Irish top try scorer vs Saracens                      Paul Sackey             4 tries
 London Irish top points scorer vs Saracens                 Barry Everitt           69 points

 Previous Meetings

 Date                   Teams            Result  Venue           
 15 Sep 2002  Saracens vs London Irish   10 - 32 Madejski Stadium
 23 Dec 2001  Saracens vs London Irish   23 - 30 Madejski Stadium
 22 Nov 2001  Saracens vs London Irish   13 - 55 Vicarage Road   
 11 Mar 2001  Saracens vs London Irish   35 - 22 Vicarage Road   
 02 Sep 2000  Saracens vs London Irish   22 - 27 Madejski Stadium
 29 Apr 2000  Saracens vs London Irish   41 - 27 The Stoop       
 12 Sep 1999  Saracens vs London Irish   23 - 28 Vicarage Road   
 01 May 1999  Saracens vs London Irish   26 - 21 The Avenue      
 13 Dec 1998  Saracens vs London Irish   40 - 26 Vicarage Road   
 03 May 1998  Saracens vs London Irish   29 - 21 Vicarage Road