Ospreys v Saracens 1th January 2018

[ExAviator]

Saracens have named their side for their round five Champions Cup clash away to Ospreys this Saturday, kick off 19H45.

Saracens team to face Ospreys (Saracens appearances)

15 Alex Goode (248)
14 Sean Maitland (32)
13 Marcelo Bosch (109)
12 Brad Barritt (209)
11 Liam Williams (7)
10 Owen Farrell (165)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (200)
1 Mako Vunipola (134)
2 Jamie George (186)
3 Vincent Koch (32)
4 Maro Itoje (85)
5 Will Skelton (18)
6 Michael Rhodes (63)
7 Jackson Wray (189)
8 Billy Vunipola (81)

16 Christopher Tolofua (13)
17 Richard Barrington (123)
18 Juan Figallo (75)
19 George Kruis (149)
20 Calum Clark (13)
21 Ben Spencer (119)
22 Alex Lozowski (46)
23 Chris Wyles (242)

Not a bad lineup!

[Banquo]

Saracens have named their side for their round five Champions Cup clash away to Ospreys this Saturday, kick off 19H45.

Saracens team to face Ospreys (Saracens appearances)

15 Alex Goode (248)
14 Sean Maitland (32)
13 Marcelo Bosch (109)
12 Brad Barritt (209)
11 Liam Williams (7)
10 Owen Farrell (165)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (200)
1 Mako Vunipola (134)
2 Jamie George (186)
3 Vincent Koch (32)
4 Maro Itoje (85)
5 Will Skelton (18)
6 Michael Rhodes (63)
7 Jackson Wray (189)
8 Billy Vunipola (81)

16 Christopher Tolofua (13)
17 Richard Barrington (123)
18 Juan Figallo (75)
19 George Kruis (149)
20 Calum Clark (13)
21 Ben Spencer (119)
22 Alex Lozowski (46)
23 Chris Wyles (242)

Not a bad lineup!

Is Burger crocked? Skelton ahead of Kruis (has he been crocked) might feel a bit insulting!

[Timbo]

Kruis has sat out the last 2 games, the suggestion being that he was being rested, although I’ve also heard he has been carrying an ankle knock.

No idea about Burger but wouldn’t be surprised if Clarke has been picked ahead of him.

[fivepointer]

Saracens back in form and with a few returning players at exactly the right time. I take them to get the win, though maybe not 5 points.

[Timbo]

I must have missed when it was legal to commando crawl out of a ruck so your team retain the ball.

[Mellsblue]

Big d from Ospreys.

[Mellsblue]

All pretty turgid.

[Mellsblue]

Koch is some player.

[16th man]

Lacey seems to be content to let the Osprey's scrum do what it likes now.

[Mellsblue]

I think Ben Kay fancies Farrell.

[Mellsblue]

I wonder if that’ll be the moment a poor Farrell pass garners some attention.

[Timbo]

Sarries scrum is seriously costing them. They’ve dropped 4 points through last minute scrum penalties, 2 against Clermont and 2 against Ospreys. They’d be top of the group without those penalties.

[p/d]

Sarries scrum is seriously costing them. They’ve dropped 4 points through last minute scrum penalties, 2 against Clermont and 2 against Ospreys. They’d be top of the group without those penalties.

Sarries need Kruis to refind his mojo. All the talk has been about the return of BV (which is v important) & Itoje but Kruis' form is something they desperately need.

[Buggaluggs]

Ospreys should have had that. Still, beats the way they were getting humped a month ago.

[p/d]

Can't believe Sarries waited until the 73rd min to bring Lozowski on and left Spencer getting splinters

[fivepointer]

Thats that for Saracens. They really had to get a win to keep alive their chances of progressing to the quarters. In truth they never really got on top and struggled for long periods. Their scrum, which has been traditionally so secure, is becoming a major issue.
Mako's struggles in the scrum is a concern, as is Billy's latest injury.
Why Spencer didnt get on and we had to endure the ultra pedestrian Wiggy is a bit of a mystery.

[Banquo]

Thats that for Saracens. They really had to get a win to keep alive their chances of progressing to the quarters. In truth they never really got on top and struggled for long periods. Their scrum, which has been traditionally so secure, is becoming a major issue.
Mako's struggles in the scrum is a concern, as is Billy's latest injury.
Why Spencer didnt get on and we had to endure the ultra pedestrian Wiggy is a bit of a mystery.

Losing Rhodes and Billy at half time really screwed them up; it seemed to me that Koch was in a bit more trouble than Mako, and indeed Mako was scrummaging really well at the end, despite playing the full 80 and doing a ton of work....mind, I didnt pay attention to who gave away the final penalty.

As p/d points out, the Kruis/Itoje combo has generally been Sarries best for set piece. I agree on Wiggy, and Sarries box kicking plan A isn't too clever against a side who are good under the high ball, where the likes of Biggar are really excellent.....but yet they kept on and on.

[ExAviator]

"Saracens have confirmed that Billy Vunipola fractured his forearm during their 15-15 draw with the Ospreys in Saturday’s Champions Cup encounter.

The number eight was replaced at half-time after a collision late in the opening period and had an x-ray on Sunday to verify the injury.

Vunipola, who recently returned from a knee issue, will now see a specialist and is a significant doubt for the Six Nations, although a timeframe has not yet been set."

EDIT

Sorry this has been partially covered on "EPS Watch / Player Form Thread"

[Mellsblue]

Currently watching the Leicester players running around like they’ve never meet each other and it’s reminded me of something from this match.
When Sarries were down to 14 men and had just gone 3 points ahead, their kick off receipt was an absolute shambles. Not a huge thing but for Sarries it’s, for me, a big pointer to where they are mentally. Regardless of anything else, they are always immaculately drilled and seem totally in control. It’s funny how quickly the aura of invincibility and the confidence of winning can desert you.