Premiership Preview - Saracens v Leicester Tigers

There are certain fixtures that leap out at you at the start of any season and grab your attention like a slap in the face from Scarlett Johansson (now there's a pleasant thought) – Tigers v Saints, Bath v Gloucester, and more recently, it's Saracens v Leicester as well.  But why is that?  In recent years the East Midland and West Country derbies have produced try-fests, tension or glorious punch-ups, and more often than not a combination of all three.  The Leicester v Saracens games haven't always lived up to those standards though – in fact the 'spectacle' of the 9-9 draw at Wembley between these 2 last season was so eye-bleedingly bad that I preferred the thought of studying a close-up of Graham Rowntree's ears at half time than subjecting myself to another 40 minutes of that bile.  So why does it remain one of the Premiership's most eye-catching fixtures?  The reason is that these two sides are now the pure heavyweights of the division.  The powerhouses with the capacity to strike at lightning speed; and even when they play out a game as bad as that draw at Wembley, you get the feeling that they are still just circling each other in the ring, sizing each other up.

Of course, Saturday's fixture has had some of the sting taken out of it by the loss of a host of big names – through injury and rotation – on both sides.  Leicester's injury problems have been well documented but when you consider that Saracens are missing the likes of Rhys Gill, Jacques Burger, Will Fraser, Brad Barritt, Joel Tomkins and Dave Strettle, you realise that there is some genuine class on the sidelines.  That said, the nucleus of this season's title favourites are still there.  The Vunipola brothers (with one starting and one on the bench) are still there to cause mayhem around the fringes, and likewise Joubert in the wider channels.  Chris Ashton is still a class poacher when he is in the mood, Steve Borthwick remains a tour-de-force in the lineout and Owen Farrell is deadly from 50 metres with the boot.  This is still very much a side that can hurt you.  Looking down the team sheet, though, there does seem to be a real focus on power as opposed to mobility and speed.  Playing two number 8s and a blindside in the backrow tells you something, as does the real lack of out-and-out pace out wide – although Chris Ashton and Jack Wilson are no slouches.  Yes, this a brutal, snorting rhinoceros of a side, with the likes of Vunipola and the impressive Jamie George charging around the corners and Owen Farrell pinning the opposition back in their own territory.  They will look to bully the Tigers on Saturday.

"Bully the Tigers" is not something you expect to hear in rugby terms, but that has to be the gameplan.  With Leicester resting their first choice front row and several other key individuals in the pack, there is a potential weakness in experience and physicality for the hosts to exploit.  Throw in the untimely injury of Toby Flood – with a strained bumcheek (or 'glute', to be technical) – and you may suspect that Leicester are in damage limitation mode.  But not so.  Although it is very disappointing not to see Flood attempt to show Farrell – and Stuart Lancaster – who is the number one fly half in England (especially with all the speculation on his future taking place), Tigers do welcome back Mathew Tait for his first game since the Premiership final in May.  That he only has 40 minutes of loan rugby at Nottingham under his belt from last week shows the high regard he is held in, and now Leicester have real pace out wide, with Goneva a magician in the middle, and Miles Benjamin and Niall Morris two very handy wingers indeed.  Goneva, in particular, must be looking forward to playing on the artificial pitch at Allianz Park.  In the pack too, exciting prospects Fraser Balmain and Pablo Matera both have chances to advance claims whilst the second row pairing of Graham Kitchener and Ed Slater is considered by many to be one of the most promising in England.  This is a fast and explosive Tigers side.  They won't like the rough stuff around the fringes, but if they get quick ball and go wide, there could be some real fireworks.

Two mixed sides, two different styles, same ferocious rivalry.  The gloves are off once again for this season.  Seconds out, round one.

Saracens Team News

Saracens are without wing David Strettle, but his England international colleague Alex Goode returns to the side at full-back.  Duncan Taylor is injured so Chris Wyles comes in at inside centre.

Starting Line-up:  Goode; Ashton, Bosch, Wyles, Wilson; Farrell, Widdlesworth; Barrington, George, Stevens; Borthwick (capt), Hargreaves; B. Vunipola, Brown, Joubert.

Subs: Brits, M. Vunipola, Johnston, Kruis, Wray, De Kock, Hodgson, Ransom.

Key Player

Billy Vunipola.  The gargantuan number 8-cum-flanker may lack the dexterity or subtlety of his senior, Ernst Joubert, but who gives two twigs about subtlety when you're the size of a small moon?  The powerhouse England international is still learning his trade but boy is he coming on in leaps and bounds.  With an improved work rate, Vunipola junior is getting his hands on the ball more and more often and consistently makes big metres in the tight.  I'd still like to see him occasionally get a head of steam up in the wider channels, but on Saturday his focus will be on doing what he does best – carrying hard and carrying again.  Leicester's pack – without the likes of Ayerza, Youngs, Cole, Deacon and Mafi – lacks the aura of a 'brick wall' defence, and Vunipola will be told to get out and exploit any lack of physicality.  Once this Sarries machine gets going, Leicester may find themselves in real trouble.

Leicester Tigers Team News

Full-back Matthew Tait makes his first Leicester appearance since May's Premiership final win over Northampton.   Matt Smith and Ryan Lamb also come into the backs, while Argentina flanker Pablo Matera makes his first start for the Tigers.  Dan Cole, Tom Youngs, Marcos Ayerza and Julian Salvi are all rested whilst Toby Flood recovers from a strained glute.

Starting Line-up: Tait; Morris, Goneva, Smith, Benjamin; Lamb, B. Youngs; Stankovich, Briggs, Balmain; Slater, Kitchener; Gibson, Matera, Crane (capt).

Subs: T. Youngs, Ayerza, Schuster, De Chaves, Waldrom, Mele, Hepetema, Thompstone.

Key Player

Pablo Matera.  The Argentine finally makes his full debut for Leicester after what seems like an age, following international call ups, injury and lack of registration papers for European Cup games.  One thing is for sure then – Matera should be champing at the bit to get stuck in.  And what a contest he's got first up – against Kelly Brown, the Scotland captain complete with the pair of pet slugs he keeps above his eyes.  But Matera looks to have all the raw attributes, to such an extent that Cockerill praised him as the best flanker in last year's under 20 World Cup…and he wasn't alone in that assertion.  The youngster is big, athletic, fast, powerful and very aggressive – the only question remains how much fine-tuning the Leicester coaching staff have been able to do in limited time.  Saracens have a powerful backrow, but not the quickest – if Matera can run his opposite number off the park, the Tigers do have a chance.  Keep an eye out as well for the welcome return of Mathew Tait – here's hoping to an incident free game for the full-back!

Key Battle

Richard Barrington v Fraser Balmain.  This is one heck of a heavyweight clash, although perhaps not in terms of reputations.  Both young props making their names as real prospects for the future – Barrington has come into the Saracens side during the international window and performed with a real energy and superb technique, whilst Balmain (of the 'Balmain train' as he's known by Leicester fans) has had the role of supersub over the last 2 years, making big impressions with some blockbusting carries.  With Stevens hoping to get the better of Stankovic on the other side, the victor in this contest at scrumtime may hold the key to set piece dominance and thus the game.  Keep an eye as well on the battle between the second rows – Graham Kitchener has been tipped for England honours in the Six Nations but he will have to prove his lineout calling ability against one of the best in the business, Steve Borthwick,.

Prediction

This fixture goes down in recent years as one that is guaranteed to cause more than a few bruises, even if it occasionally also cures insomnia amongst spectators, and I expect this game to be no different.  Saracens have picked a virtually first-choice team (from players available) for this one, and I think the added experience and power up front – mainly in the front row – will prove to be crucial.  Elsewhere, there is not too much to call between the sides, but it looks to be a classic showdown between a side built for bludgeoning, bulldozing power and another hoping for a more open, fast game.  The pitch at Allianz Park may suit the visitors slightly, with their quicker backline and mobile backrow, but I can’t see Sarries losing at home, given their exceptional domestic form.  That advantage in the scrum will be key, I feel.  Sarries by 7.

 

What else is happening in the Premiership this week?

Sale Sharks v London Irish:  Danny Cipriani is suddenly the flavour of the month again and he should be expected to lead his side to a win over a struggling London Irish side on Friday night.  Sale by 10.

Bath v Harlequins:  In what promises to be an entertaining and explosive spectacle, there is pace and power – and tries – throughout both teams.  This one will be tight between two form sides, but I'll lean with the visitors who really have their tails up at the moment.  Quins by 3.

London Wasps v Northampton Saints:  Wasps at Adams Park are always a tough prospect but Saints won't be worried, having just stuffed Leinster in their own back yard.  The Saints have too much class here.  Saints by 9.

Exeter Chiefs v Newcastle Falcons:  The Chiefs will have a lot of frustration to unleash after two gutsy displays against Toulon, and Dean Richards' men will bare the brunt of it.  Chiefs by 14.

Gloucester Rugby v Worcester Warriors:  Two woefully out of form sides meet in what is arguably the most important clash of the weekend.  Despite their troubles at home, though, I cannot see the Cherry and Whites letting the Warriors pick up their first win of the season at Kingsholm.  Gloucester by 6.