Saracens
Founded:
1876
Years in Top
Tier: 22
Last Year: 1st
in Prem (77 Points, Lost in Semi Finals), Semi Finals in Heineken Cup &
Anglo-Welsh Cup
Europe:
Heineken Cup
Director of
Rugby: Mark McCall
Transfers:
In: Billy
Vunipola (Wasps), James Johnstone (Harlequins), Michael Tagicakibau (Bristol),
Tim Streather (Nottingham), Richard Barrington (Jersey), Marcelo Bosch
(Biarritz)
Out: Adam Powell (Newcastle), John Smit (Retiring
– Natal CEO), Andy Saull (Newcastle), Carlos Nieto (Retiring), Joe Maddock (Retiring)
Ins: 6
Outs: 5
The haters from the other “London” clubs have been out in
force following Saracen’s summer transfers.
Big name signings are England’s new cap Billy Vunipola, who joins
brother Mako from Wasps, and James Johnstone who returns to his first English
club after impressing so much in Quins title charge in ’11.
With other big splashes in recent years like Chris Ashton
from Northampton, David Strettle, from Quins, and Charlie Hodgson, from Sale,
people are obviously going to question how that can fit all that under the
salary cap.
However if you look at their squad in the round they don’t
exactly have amazing depth compared to other clubs. The strongest squad in the league probably
but it’s not massively different to others.
They use players like Jacques Burger or Chris Wyles who are perhaps not
as well rewarded as their talent deserves and pick up some gems from the Championship
like Duncan Taylor or Petrus Du Plessis.
Saracen’s have a settled squad and are not really losing any
first choice players, they dealt with an increase in international call ups
with little difficulty and that should stabilise now as I can’t see many more
players being required by England.
The signings of Vunipola and Johnstone should add more
aggressive ball carriers to the Saracens pack, the Sarries coaches will
probably consider a stronger carrying game tight to the ruck essential to
create space further out wide for the likes of Ashton and Tompkins to
exploit. Heavy duty forwards are also
essential to win the battle of the gainline in Europe and against teams like
Northampton.
Last year’s Semi Final defeats in both Europe and the Prem
exposed this lack of power at the very highest level. The coaches must have already known this
potential weakness as they had recruited Johnstone and Vunipola before either
game.
With a brains trust featuring Alex Sanderson and former
Tigers favourite Paul Gustard Saracens are sure to feature heavily in the
season’s final reckonings.
Prediction: 1st
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