Guinness Premiership Preview: Saracens

At one point last season, it wasn't Leeds who looked like they were going to limp their way out of the Premiership.  A simply dire run of form had put Saracens on the edge of a precipice, and they had taken out a rock hammer and were merrily chipping away at their foothold.  Steve Diamond was fired, Eddie Jones came in as acting director of rugby, and things improved as Sarries put together a few wins.  But it will have been to their eternal relief that while that was happening, Leeds were holding a Colt 45 in front of their own face, looking down the barrel, and wondering why it wouldn't fire already.

(Thanks to Chuck Jones for the metaphor imagery in the above paragraph.  We're keeping the flame alive, Chuck.)

COACH:  New director of rugby Alan Gaffney inherits a team that looks to be in much better shape than even a few months ago.  Very shortly, he'll have Andy Farrell to play with, and in the meantime he's set about making the squad speedier and more powerful.  On occasion last year, Sarries looked like a strong gust of wind could probably have beaten them in a 15-a-side game, even if it would have found kicks at goal problematic.  This season they'll be ready for that gust of wind, you just see if they're not.  They'll also probably beat a few Premiership teams.

KEY MAN:  All the talk is about Andy Farrell.  In the 13-man game he was one of the world's best, an all-action loose forward who defended as well as he attacked, and kicked goals into the bargain.  Rugby Union is a different game entirely, especially for a forward, and Gaffney has chosen the role of blind-side flanker for the former Wigan man.  He's had 16 months to get an idea of what is expected of him, and we'll soon know how he'll handle it.  Andy Robinson's obviously convinced it'll be no problem - he's already selected Farrell in his elite squad.  Aside from Farrell, Thomas Castaignede returns for his final season.  He played well enough last year to earn a recall to the French national team, and will want to go out on a high.

NEW BLOOD:  Did we mention Andy Farrell?  Also making the move to Vicarage Road are Italian hooker Fabio Ongaro, adding his scrummaging power to that of Cobus Visagie, as well as some interesting unknowns.  Samoan lock Pelu Pavihi will add line-out height and power, and backs Kameli Ratuvou (Fiji, centre) and Tomas de Vedia (Argentina, wing) will bring pace to the backs.  Also signing, from Heineken finalists Biarritz, is the man with the best name in rugby:  Census Johnson.  Should he impress, his brothers Survey and Yearlong-Study may follow.

PROGNOSIS:  Again, the importance of a good start cannot be overstated.  If they can get on a roll, Sarries are worth a punt to get a Heineken place, be it via the Premiership or the Anglo-Welsh Cup.  It might be over-doing it to put them in the play-off spots, but they'll give a lot of teams a lot of problems.