Can they beat us or are they just being saucy?

By BrianC
November 3 2004

Yet another crunch game this time against newly promoted Worcester. It's a big game for both clubs, each has something to prove both to themselves and their supporters.

Worcester have taken many people, including this author, by surprise this season. Teams promoted from National Division One have generally struggled to keep up with their premiership opposition both on field and in attracting crowds off. Not so our opponents next weekend.

Of their seven ZP games thus far Worcester have recorded only one victory, an impressive 33 – 7 one over Harlequins. Their losses however have often been by very narrow margins. They have picked up losing bonuses away at Leeds and Saracens and at home to Bath and, most recently, Gloucester. They suffered only one serious beating thus far this season, 57 – 3 away at Sale, and are currently 11th in the Premiership with 9 points.

This is a crunch game for both clubs. Worcester are still the bookies favorites for the bottom place in the premiership – nobody seriously thinks there will be relegation this year - and will be very keen to prove the punters wrong. If London Irish are to have any hope of achieving their stated aim of Heineken Cup qualification this season, let alone avoiding a nightmare season, then this is a must win game.

Rumor has it that Worcester has targeted this Sunday’s game as their first away win. If this is the case who can blame them? Frankly our record at the Madejski has been poor with only one ZP win at home, against Saracens a month ago, in the last 11 months. A catalogue of injuries further weakens our cause.

Having said that we do appear to be the stronger team. My guess is that we’ll win this, though not by a wide margin. Whilst I’d love to be proved wrong I just can’t see our team picking up a try bonus on current form.

Worcester supporters have thus far filled three coaches for their first trip to the Madejski. They will be with us in numbers. Let’s make sure we give them the heartiest of London Irish welcomes, off the field anyway.