The last time Saracens finished a Premiership season outside of the top four was in 2009 but after a sluggish start to this campaign, Ugo Monye says this weekend’s encounter with high flyers Exeter Chiefs could have huge implications for the champions.
Saracens come into this weekend in sixth having suffered five defeats from their 11 games, which is as many as they suffered across their 20 regular season domestic matches last season.
The StoneX Stadium hasn’t been the fortress it was for them in previous years, with Northampton Saints and Bath coming away victorious from north London.
Sarries are only four points off the top four and will move past Exeter with a bonus point win but in a congested table where just 14 points split first to eighth, time is running out for a play-off push considering the increased competition around them.
TNT Sports pundit Monye believes Saracens have blown hot and cold this year, with distractions like Owen Farrell’s much publicised move to Racing 92 not helping but expects a reaction from Mark McCall’s side.
Monye told The Rugby Paper: “It’s a huge match. The characteristics that you associate with Saracens have been around consistency as that’s always been their separating difference for a number of years. Mark McCall says they are a team in transition and with the news Owen Farrell is off to Racing, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola and perhaps a few others will move on.
“The one thing they are good at is responding well. They had the most points ever put on them away at Bordeaux Begles and even though in the first half they weren’t perfect against Lyon, they found a way to win.
“They are coming up against a team in Exeter that are similar to Northampton in so many respects as they are young, full of motivation, massively enthusiastic. It’ll be interesting to see how Saracens respond and if Exeter can continue their momentum that they’ve built this year.”
For the first time ever, TNT Sports will be showing every league game live over the course of this weekend.
With just one round of action before a pause for the Six Nations, it’s a vital time for teams to gather some much needed momentum.
The action kicks off at the Stoop on Friday night where second place Harlequins entertain seventh spot Leicester Tigers (KO 7.45pm).
On Saturday, league leaders Northampton host winless bottom side Newcastle Falcons (KO 2pm), who will be boosted by their first win of the season against Perpignan last Sunday, before a West Country derby at Ashton Gate sees Bristol Bears welcome Bath (KO 3.05pm), while Saracens vs Exeter rounds off the day’s action.
Last season’s finalists Sale Sharks travel to ninth place Gloucester on Sunday (3pm KO) to complete round 12.
Monye said: “When you look at the table it’s probably never being tighter. Eight points are separating first and sixth which is wild. As a fan and someone who works in it, all you want is jeopardy in sport and you want that to last as long as possible. If the competition is going to pause for the Six Nations then what better way to sign off than by getting a win and jostling for those top four positions?
“A team like Northampton probably don’t want the break to come. They were fantastic in the Champions Cup. I’m really proud of what they’ve been able to do. Phil Dowson, Sam Vesty and the rest of the coaching staff have been brilliant and I’ve got a lot of admiration for them.
“They are a young group of vastly English qualified players that play a great brand of rugby, that’s so pleasing to watch and have got a real maturity about them. Their result away at Thomond Park was extraordinary with 14 men, Finn Smith, Alex Mitchell stood up, so that 9-10 axis works really well.
“I’m thinking of putting together a petition to get Courtney Lawes out of retirement! He’s done so much and served his country by becoming a Test centurion, captained the team and now he’s taking deserved time away but when you’re playing as well as he is, from a Northampton Saints perspective having his sole focus on the club is fantastic.
“When Northampton play there’s plenty of tries involved, so they’ll fancy themselves on Saturday.”
The much-anticipated Bristol versus Bath clash will see a Bears player wear a microphone that will capture sounds from the field of play – giving fans an insight into the physicality of the sport while also showing viewers how players lead and influence their teammates.
Meanwhile, Refcam makes a return to live rugby broadcasts on Sunday when Gloucester entertain Sale at Kingsholm.
To be worn by the man-in-the-middle Luke Pearce, Refcam will offer viewers an up-close-and-personal angle of the game’s key incidents and the general run of play.
The same camera will be worn by a selected player in the build-up to the game, offering a unique storytelling tool and giving viewers a players’ view of the warm up.
Watch all five Gallagher Premiership Rugby fixtures this weekend exclusively live on TNT Sports and discovery+. For more info visit: tntsports.co.uk/rugby.
Written by Ben Jaycock
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