Time to Get a Bit Saucy
The first home game of the season is always a time to get excited, and more so this year after an awesome display at HQ against Leeds on the Saturday just gone. Worcester are the visitors for yet another important match for the exiles and will go along way in answering any questions as how we will fair for the season. The truth after the Leeds game will not be realised until we have completed this months fixtures and can assess the points won and lost along the way.London Irish played the Warriors on 3 occasions last season and all 3 games presented very dour offerings for the two excellent set of fans. LI shaded the trilogy 2-1, but the 1 that got away was the league encounter on New Years day. For all those that witnessed this match, we must never be privy to such utter crap again. Happy New Year my arse! Still, lest we forget and look forward.
The Wuss team will bring in a combative forward dominated game to fortress Madstad, or thoughtless Madstad! In the second row, they have the hugely impressive pairing of Collier and Gillies, the latter leading the premiership in line out takes AND steals last season. Van Niekerk at 2 will hit his jumpers, but has an abrasive and able replacement in former Glaws boy Chris Fortey. The pack and indeed the entire team are well led by Pat Sanderson, a man so under-capped by England it is criminal.
So what can Irish offer to beat this side. Well, the evidence at the Leeds game shows that the forwards will not take a step backwards and actually love the conflict. We also have a second row to be proud of, and Big Bad Bob, plus Rochey coped well and with Ryan coming off the bench, we should have at least parity. The front row will have to work their socks off to steady the ship at scrum time, and the back row will have to compete at every break down.
If the forwards perform well enough, the girls will prove to be the difference. Catt pulling the strings at Leeds proved to be back to his playmaking best, and the speed from the back 3 will ask questions of all opposition this time around.
The opening home game will also see the 3Gs offering itself as the alternative to the Cow Shed Craic, with a band and AG to be had all night long. There is hope that the band will be helping celebrate another fantastic win in the AG Premiership. Giles Can't Drink must now step up to the plate and prove otherwise in respect of being unable to drink.
-- Master Scribe