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The Saracens team to face Munster at Thomond Park this Saturday confirms the theory that has been posited over the past few weeks that the reigning Champions Cup winners will focus their attentions on the Gallagher Premiership this season.
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Sitting at the bottom of the league after being docked 35 points following their recent salary cap saga, they are 22 points behind eleventh place Leicester Tigers and face a battle to survive in England’s top flight this season.
Not only that but after a World Cup where a large portion of the squad played right until the end, they will be used sparingly throughout the year.
While they won the domestic and European double last season, that seems to be nigh on an impossibility this season and the team that faces Munster shows that they are not taking their European exploits that seriously.
England stars Jamie George, George Kruis, Billy Vunipola, Owen Farrell and Elliot Daly are all rested, as are Scotland internationals Sean Maitland and Duncan Taylor after they all faced Bath in the Premiership last weekend. However, Munster fans are still wary of the threat posed by Saracens.
There’s enough in that team that could do some serious damage to our set piece/ground work though..
and that centre partnership is dangerous— Ben L (@purplebenny) December 6, 2019
But there is an itoje who could do massive damage to our set piece.
— Norris Kevin (@kingdomman66) December 6, 2019
Interesting Saracens team. Half back combo looks exciting with Vunipola at ten. Big pack with Skelton and Itoje in the mix. Earl is an excellent back row. Pace to burn out wide. Munster Rugby must be on their game to get a result tomorrow. Massive tussle awaits!
— Hawkeye Sidekick (@hawkeyesidekick) December 6, 2019
A pack that still contains two of the leading locks in Europe, Maro Itoje and Will Skelton, cannot be taken lightly. With emerging stars Nick Isiekwe and Ben Earl complementing the consistently high-class Jackson Wray in the back row, this is still a formidable pack.
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With three England internationals in their backline – Ben Spencer, Brad Barritt and Alex Lozowski – there is still danger, but it is certainly the weaker half of the team.
However, the inexperienced bench is perhaps what distinguishes this from a usual Saracens team, as Nick Tompkins is the only player to bring on with a decent number of appearances under his belt.
Mark McCall usually has the luxury of bringing on another contingent of internationals from the bench but will have to make do without in Limerick.
This is an entirely winnable game for Munster. They have to take the opportunity. https://t.co/3qS5udmDhi
— Hugo Gordon (@HugoGordon1) December 6, 2019
One Vunipola ?
Great experience for the less experienced Saracens players to play at Thomond Park.
5 points to come from the Ospreys game, making the home matches v Munster & Racing the critical ones. Could still be very interesting. https://t.co/iD5C364MbL
— Simon Gleave (@SimonGleave) December 6, 2019
I think that will depend on the result of this game, and CC league standings after this round.
— Neil Aris (@NeilAris) December 6, 2019
While Saracens will still be dangerous, Munster fans also feel this game is winnable and, more importantly, should be won. A loss would leave the men in red in a precarious position in the competition, but a Munster team loaded with their big names should be too strong at home.
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WATCH: Joe Schmidt’s not-so-fond farewell as IRFU blame him for Ireland’s World Cup failure
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
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