Saracens set for LV=Cup semi final clash
12 Mar 2010 - 11:55
Saracens travel to Northampton Saints on Sunday in the semi-final of the LV=Cup and Director of Rugby Brendan Venter has called on his team to rediscover the fighting spirit that served them so well in the first half of the season.
“We haven’t been good enough and haven’t shown the fight that we had in the first half of the season and we need to get that back,” said Venter ahead of the match.
“We’ve really played ourselves into the position as underdogs on Sunday with our form in the past few weeks but that’s a position that we don’t mind being in.”
In team news ahead of the game, Wikus van Heerden misses the game with a shoulder injury so Ernst Joubert captains the side. Kas Lealamanua returns to the front row with Andy Saull also returning to the starting line-up.
“Northampton are a good side and a very well rounded team,” added Venter. “They like to run the ball up and play multi-phase rugby so we know what to expect from them. The match is a great opportunity to get to a final and to have the chance to secure Heineken Cup rugby at this stage of the season is a big carrot – just as it is to face Northampton Saints.”
Carlos Nieto, Hugh Vyvyan, Kevin Barrett and Michael Owen miss out through injury while Matias Aguero, Rhys Gill, Fabio Ongaro and Steve Borthwick are all away on international duty.
Saracens team vs Northampton Saints
15 Alex Goode
14 Rodd Penney
13 Kameli Ratuvou
12 Brad Barritt
11 Chris Wyles
10 Derick Hougaard
9 Neil de Kock
1 Kasiano Lealamanua
2 Schalk Brits
3 Richard Skuse
4 Hayden Smith
5 Mouritz Botha
6 Jacques Burger
7 Andy Saull
8 Ernst Joubert ©
16 Ethienne Reynecke
17 Alex Brown
18 Tom Mercey
19 Tom Ryder
20 Justin Melck
21 Justin Marshall
22 Glen Jackson
23 Richard Haughton
Aviva Premiership Rugby Table
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | London Wasps | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Newcastle Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Northampton Saints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Sale Sharks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Saracens | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Comments
Steve Roy says:
Good line up here, so let's get behind our lads and cheer them on to a great win
12 Mar 2010 - 12:48 - (Report this post)
Steve Roy says:
This is what the Saints website says about Sarries for Sundays game - "Saracens are a good team," Mallinder said. "They know how they want to play and they've had a lot of success with it. They've got some very good players and we'll have to be at our best this weekend to beat them. "They are very strong in the contact area in attack and defence and put a lot of pressure on you. They've also got some pacy backs out wide who are good on the counter-attack and half-backs who can put a good, structured kicking game together so we've got to be aware of those threats as well."
12 Mar 2010 - 13:02 - (Report this post)
Malcolm Denton says:
Everything to play for. We are 100% behind the boys and will be cheering you on.Make our Day
12 Mar 2010 - 13:30 - (Report this post)
Steve-The-Sarrie says:
I will have to sky plus the match unfortunately as im at a rugby festival all day with my club, which will mean it is the 1st time since 2006 i have missed a televised sarries match unless i have been there, i shall be wearing My saracens Socks and my Away shirt under my playing shirt so they will be close to my heart whilst i wish for the best.... and as for team selection, it is a good one, although personally i would have started Jacko and Haughton
12 Mar 2010 - 14:04 - (Report this post)
The Warrior says:
I work for a Northampton based born and bred company who sponsor the Saints and have been taking lots of stick and banter all week from most of the staff, Senior Managers and Directors about being a Sarries Supporter, who incidentally all seem to be going on Sunday. Pleeeeeease make us proud and win so I haven’t got to go through it all again next week. Gooooo Sarries!!
12 Mar 2010 - 15:47 - (Report this post)
Bynesey says:
I always watch and record the games that are televised and I cannot get too. Although this one Im not looking forward to and am almost frightened to watch, as last time I did against the Saints away it was in Challenge Cup and I thought we played well but every 50-50 decision was given Saints way!!!!
12 Mar 2010 - 15:48 - (Report this post)
bigmal50 says:
Come on Sarries its a one off so we need to play an all out attacking game and get some credibility back into our game. Nothing to lose so give us fans something to cheer about, you only get one chance!!
12 Mar 2010 - 16:06 - (Report this post)
brighty1 says:
great to see brits back in the starting line up thou id like to see glenda playing and wheres noah again this weekend? c'mon u sarries like make the ticket office staff actually do some work on monday morning
12 Mar 2010 - 17:14 - (Report this post)
MichaelDobson says:
Joubert has lead by example in every game he's played this season. Glas he's skippering, not taking anything away from Wikus or Borths though. Good luck boys! Smash the Saints!
12 Mar 2010 - 17:27 - (Report this post)
thomas a becket says:
THOMAS A BECKET PUBLIC HOUSE. THE PLACE TO BE BEFORE AND AFTER THE MATCH AGAINST THE NORTHAMPTON SAINTS. 2 MINUTE WALK FROM THE TRAIN STATION TOWARDS THE RUGBY GROUND. SUNDAY EVENING STRAIGHT AFTER THE MATCH THE "GERRY PATRICKS" WILL BE PLAYING LIVE- NORTHAMPTONS ANSWER TO THE POGUES. GREAT ENTERTAINMENT! GREAT CRACK!
12 Mar 2010 - 18:07 - (Report this post)
Bynesey says:
GO SARRIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Make us proud and Make all us mums happy by beating the Saints on Mothers Day!!!
14 Mar 2010 - 10:42 - (Report this post)