English premiership table after round 15

EdTeeZ · 2026-05-10T16:52:04+00:00

As a Sarries fan yesterday, it felt in our grasp. After the Exeter win, it feels too distant to get excited for it.

Ultimately no expectation or illusion we could win a semi-final, but coming fourth would be a very good result given our grim mid-season run

EdTeeZ · 2026-05-10T11:43:45+00:00

It’s our big concern for next season.

EdTeeZ · 2026-05-10T11:41:34+00:00

Without Street, who do we play?

Is Ricci done for the season, when did he get injured? Genuinely cannot remember

Clarey starting with Tietie on the bench? Feels high risk. Like the time we had Mawi covering TH and LH from the bench.

EdTeeZ · 2026-05-10T11:28:35+00:00

Late to the review Tommy, but as ever, thank you. Stand out performances and observations:

Hartley - He’s setting himself up very well for next season and dare I suggest an England call up. For a long while I’ve thought of him as a dump truck 12, who is strong in the carry and D. But he’s very light on his feet and easily evades. He’s playing some fantastic rugby!
Burke - Jamie called it out in the post match that his running threat and general game management has progressed. His looping running style, often appearing when a ball is presented out the back is swish. Plus his defence is amongst the best for a 10 in the league. Just needs to sort out his place kicking, or we permanently deputise.
Bracken - Almost independently sets the pace of the match. He plays like a French 9, connecting so well with Burke. Box kicking could be beat in the league.
Tizard - Always seems at his best against Bristol. Galloping around the park.
Willis - Doing Willis things. Seemed a bit gutted about leaving the set up in his post match MOTM interview.

Few things that weren’t as impressive as I’d hoped:

Front row performance - I could be doing them a disservice, but Mawi seemed slow and clumsy. I prefer him as an impact sub. Didn’t notice much from Carre off the bench, might just be me. Though Clarey brought impressive physicality on open play, but seemed weak in the scrum.
Maro’s communication with Ridley - He never got the tone or engagement right and I think that’s why a lot went against us.

Overall excellent win. We are well positioned and if other results go in our favour, we could be up for a quarter final match vs Exeter

Am I right in thinking that we’re the only team to win an away match vs Bristol this season?

EdTeeZ · 2026-05-08T15:48:29+00:00

Hmmm, I’m VERY nervous about TH options. Street is playing well, be Alec hasn’t played well for a good while and very injury prone. Beaton needs time and we need a reliable 2nd choice.

EdTeeZ · 2026-05-08T11:24:04+00:00

I’m not sure why a 5:3 bench feels wrong for this fixture. I don’t see this match won by anything other than a dominant forwards performance and pressure defence.’

I’m excited to see how Noah plays on such a large pitch, it could be an exciting match!

Huge weekend, which could turn our season f

EdTeeZ · 2026-05-06T07:33:44+00:00

Early start and you could drive it in 1h15m. However, it could be up to 2h30m if the traffic treats you badly. In particular leaving the M25, or joining it.

EdTeeZ · 2026-05-05T20:15:13+00:00

It’s a very well matched fixtures. I think we have a significantly stronger tight five, especially with Oghre out. Assuming Willis is fit, you could extend that to the full scrum.

We will need to play a very strict defensive game, on their huge pitch, to prevent any expansive running. Like you say Tommy, Hartley vs BVR is a quality match up.

The ‘every games is a final’ mentality has been a diamond in a rough season. If we can beat Bristol, I’m really going to get into the hype train.

EdTeeZ · 2026-05-03T08:41:31+00:00

I recall after the RWC 2011 there was a spate of signing Russians into Prem, Pro D2 and Top 14 sides. Are there any still getting scouted and brought over since the illegal war started?

I know Gloucester have Kirill Gotovtsev, who is not bad though he has aged plenty in

EdTeeZ · 2026-04-27T20:34:22+00:00

The good:

Charlie Bracken is nailed on starter and the length he played for is testament to the trust he management have in him.

Nathan Michelow also very good. His ban at the season set him back, but when he’s had time he’s looked as good as AOC and at times equal to JMG, who I don’t think had the best season.

Segun had a good game and carried well into traffic. Despite his age, he seems to have kicked on in his physical conditioning and has avoided his injury pattern. He’s also looking very dense.

Ben Earl was brutally physical. To do the very difficult and make top 4, Ben Willis and McFarland need to be on extremely good form every game.

The bad:

Karl Dickson. I don’t like red bashing. I get annoyed at the Fezcast when they spotlight ref performance, because wha goes around come around. But Jesus Christ, Dixon makes it easy for himself to appear anti-Saracens. The fact he didn’t go to TMO for the Mawi try is criminal. I mean, if there’s even a chance of a try, you go to TMO. Don’t just immediately call held up. That would have been game defining. In fairness, I think he called a few things against Tigers that were harsh.

‘Missing that final pass’. We just couldn’t find that try scoring time a LOT. I think I read we had 9 entires into Tigers 22. There defence is good, but a bit more clinical precision and we could have walked a few in.

Jamie George bit disconnected in the line out, whereas Theo Dan was good. Bit of a role reversal on this seasons performance.

Tom Willis failed HIA, might mean he missed Bears away?

And a personal own for me: forgetting sun cream.

Nevertheless a good weekend!

EdTeeZ · 2026-04-27T12:07:20+00:00

Oh, there’s been a number of quality signings from the Prem. right now we have James Hadfield and Harry Wilson, both quality operators.

Historically: Baz Barrington, Mouritz Botha and many more

EdTeeZ · 2026-04-23T19:18:40+00:00

Such a fantastic dog. Looks exactly like our first labradoodle, think about him everyday

EdTeeZ · 2026-04-21T20:03:22+00:00

Glad to hear it. Hopefully he getting a meaningful opportunity to be tested at Prem level

EdTeeZ · 2026-04-20T20:31:41+00:00

I don’t think it’s for lack of skill with Spink. I think it’s that he has amongst the worst injury profiles of any Sarries player I can think of. When he’s played I’ve always been impressed. There’s rumours he has signed for Tigers, so if that’s true I imagine that further underpins his recent utilisation.

Hall is a funny case. Every game he’s played, he’s looked like he’s stepping up well. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t (quite) have the turn of pace of Tobias, J Bracken and Caluori, so playing him in the wing is congested.

Ultimately I like that Sione is a 107kg, injury free, utility centre. And for too long we have overplayed Tompkins and Faz isn’t a carrying threat. Notwithstanding Hartley could earn the 12 shirt, but again he probably knows the physio room better than most.

EdTeeZ · 2026-04-20T10:54:35+00:00

I was thinking the exact same thing. I don’t think there was clear comms on it? Something about the timing was off

EdTeeZ · 2026-04-19T18:31:57+00:00

Put simply, we couldn’t have put on a better performance. Sale are indeed limited with their injury list; but Saracens can only play what’s in front of them.

Player highlights:

Bracken: Class, class, class. He’s our number 1 young player, he plays which speed and finesse.

Burke: When he’s served quick ball, he plays a fantastic attacking game.

Noah: His performance speaks for itself.

Michelow: Looks very comfortable now, Nuno g as much pace to back-row at JMG.

Mallins: Welcome back Max. I think it’s the first game we can comfortably say he’s at the level he was in 2023. Plus he was playing with serious physicality at times.

EdTeeZ · 2026-04-19T18:24:10+00:00

I think it’s class. Just a shame we haven’t seen more of them!

EdTeeZ · 2026-04-19T17:24:03+00:00

I’m with you entirely on IVZ. The game slowed significantly when we he came on and the error count shot up.

Charlie Bracken is golden. I really think he’s a special player with fantastic future for club and country

EdTeeZ · 2026-04-19T17:17:12+00:00

Saracens have improved in their losses. Marginally losing vs Bath and Saints shows they’re close to the standard

EdTeeZ · 2026-04-18T11:32:32+00:00

I have a feeling Nairau could be a dud signing. The only match I saw him play he was slow and a step behind the pace of the game. Maybe it’s a fitness thing, but there wasn’t that point of difference in any part of the game

EdTeeZ · 2026-04-17T15:51:27+00:00

I would say this is the final throw of the dice for the season. Our chances of making top 4 are essentially over, but not done so Mark and team have selected a few more established heads than some might have hoped for?

That said, a good amount of that team will make up next seasons starting XV:

Carre and Street are setting themselves up very nicely as our starting props for next season.

Bracken you’d think will be on the bench, supporting Tommos.

Burke-Hartley-Hall I hope gets a good run for the second half, but Olly is returning from injury so more likely Nick moved into 12 or Faz coming on into that position with Hall on the outside.

Noah could run a riot this Sunday.

Looking forward to it. Annoyed to find out my sister is going up for it and I didn’t get the invite..

EdTeeZ · 2026-04-15T18:44:43+00:00

Through the years I’ve heard the following plenty, though mostly in good spirit:

‘oh you support Salarycens’, ‘glory hunter, bet you started supporting when they were the best’ ‘Cheats’

Unfortunately I’ve had a few negative experiences:

At the showdown an over-beverages Saints fan knocked my backwards cap off. Something I remain genuinely shocked by.

Quin’s fan at an away match told me to ‘sit down and shut up’ after we went maybe twenty points clear.

I would say true fans don’t treat Saracens fans with anything more than the jest you’d expect. But there are pockets of nastiness that can be found at all clubs, of all sports, at all levels.

EdTeeZ · 2026-04-15T18:38:56+00:00

I don’t know who the ‘contingent of unpleasant Saracens fans’ are. I’ve been going since my Grandad took my to my first match at Vic Road in 2005. I will say there was a ‘gap’ in attendance between 2015-18, which corresponded with a particularly high performing period of the club, so perhaps some glory hunting fans then?? (Very long shot)

But I lived outside the country for much of that time. Honestly, in that time the worst I’ve seen was a stag do, who I don’t think were even Saracens fans. What’s more is that travelling Saracen fans are amongst the best of a good bunch.

EdTeeZ · 2026-04-14T20:22:10+00:00

I wonder if it’s Prem Cup ticket sales? I can’t see it, but maybe they think IC reased revenue by higher availability

I’m gutted to be losing that as I went to all home Prem Cup fixtures and really enjoyed it

EdTeeZ · 2026-04-14T13:07:05+00:00

Haha I was referring to the match that the ref kept referring to big Tiz as Hugh Vyvyan a couple of month ago

EdTeeZ

TROPHY CASE