Charlie Hodgson and Mouritz Botha start for Saracens vs Bedford

http://www.saracens.com/news/view.php?Id=6496

Charlie Hodgson and Mouritz Botha will start for the current Aviva Premiership Champions in their 2nd pre-season friendly against Bedford.

I presume this means they definitely won't be in the final England squad 30 as expected.

Saracens line-up- vs Bedford Blues

15 Alex Goode
14 David Strettle
13 Adam Powell
12 Brad Barritt
11 Joe Maddock
10 Charlie Hodgson
9 Ben Spencer
1 Rhys Gill
2 Schalk Brits
3 Carlos Nieto
4 Steve Borthwick ©
5 Mouritz Botha
6 Justin Melck
7 Andy Saull
8 Jackson Wray

16 Harry Allen
17 Mako Vunipola
18 Petrus du Plessis
19 George Kruis
20 Jamie Bache
21 Jean-Baptiste Bruzulier
22 Duncan Taylor
23 Marcus Watson

Looks like a really strong team with the bench pretty much full of youngsters bar Du Plessis. Will be great to see what they can do.

Good to see Wray starting. Hopefully he'll have a good season as England could certainly do with more options at 8.

But the big question is can Hodgson get the backline moving?

Joubert went off injured in Toulon, hence why he's not playing. Looks like a good team, played very well in Toulon. Ben Spencer looks a very good player.

That is a strong side. It's no surprise to see them both back, although I do feel Hodgson is a victim of squad options. Personally, I'd have him there as he is one of the few English backs capable of lighting up a game. But then again, I suppose his 30 second substitue appearance showed Johnno he wasn;t good enough...

The problem is that Hodgson has never cut it for England. If he can play as well at Saracens as he did at Sale we'll be laughing though!

Matty how long is Joubert out for?

Interesting to see you've got Everard on trial for the game against Escher. He failed to make an impact at Tigers but looked half decent during the JWC. He's not the most physical but he is a good workhorse at the breakdown.

I do think part of the reason Hodgson hasn't excelled for England is that typically they play differently to how Sale have and where he has been successful. He has been villified for the missed tackle on Nonu, but a cursory glance at YouTube will show many others who Nonu has smashed!

HKC when it comes to Hodgson I thought he played poorly for England before the missed tackled on Nonu.

Do you think Hodgson will suit Saracens?

Sam do you think he's any good?

I heard the starting 9 Ben Spencer played well vs Toulon. He's a young guy from Cambridge.

I thought he had potential and he was a real star when coming up through the academy but he seems to have pateaued a bit recently. Has struggled to make an impact away at Nottingham in the same way Tom Armes has (he is a very promising ball carrying all action 7) and with Hamish Watson coming through as a more physical openside in the academy I think there wasn't room for him at Tigers.

The law variations haven't helped as he is really a fetcher style openside but he seems to have lost his way and maybe having to continually re-adapt hasn't helped him. If he signs for Sarries I'd expect to spend the season at Bedford. If he doesn't sign for Sarries Backie is a big fan so he might end up at Rugby or maybe another Championship club.

I think Hodgson will offer Sarries something different, but will he fit into their style our will they accomodate to meet his style? Either way, he'll be a very good mentor to Farrell and Goode, which can only be good for Sarries and England.

I am sure Richard Hill would be happy to give Matt Everard some tips.

I will probably go to the Bedford game tonight. If I do I will give my opinion on what goes on.

Everard has been given plenty of tips over the years, namely from Back, Moody, Herring and Jennings. Hill might see something in him and if that's the case I hope he does well. England are short on scavenging 7s.

Was disappointed by Saracens. They looked really rusty and the England management have absolutely ruined Mouritz Botha. I saw him drop the ball at least 3 times and miss a tackle.

I think the England management ruin all the players.

I am a lot more worried about the Wasps game than I was. We played particularly badly in last season's double header too.

End score of 45-20 hugely flattered us.

How can you blaim England management for players dropping the ball? Or even missing tackles?

I wouldn't worry too much Beshocked it's only a freindly. All there really good for is getting guys used to the contact and taking hits and showing off newbies.

How was Hodgson at 10?

As to Botha, could it be he needs a rest more then anything else. He's probably been at it nearly non-stop since last season.

HammerofThunor wrote:How can you blaim England management for players dropping the ball? Or even missing tackles?

That's what they teach now! Apparently these kind of tactics are very progressive.

They suck the confidence and life out the players. Their will to live is tested to the maximum. How can you explain one of the form 2nd rows in the AP getting into the England side then when he comes back he plays absolutely rubbish?

The England management have had fun with the likes of Flood,Youngs, Foden and playing Monye at FB would have crippled his confidence.

Hodgson started off well but faded as the match went on. At the beginning he was mixing stuff up nicely though and ably assisted Strettle scoring a try.

How can you explain one of the form 2nd rows in the AP getting into the England side then when he comes back he plays absolutely rubbish?

Maybe it's because your expecting him to catch now. All he did last season was hit things; be it in the tackle, the ruck or the maul.

Were Saracens playing a more high tempo passing game or was it the usual tactical affair from them?

Sam you expect him to catch restarts.He missed at least two of them. He was able to catch restarts last season. He's a lock he should be able to catch the ball!

Saracens mixed things up. Not really high tempo but not exactly that tactical either.

Ah restarts. Yeah he looked a little lost with those when with the England squad and the Saxons. Perhaps he's now trying to overthink them and trying to do to much, when a catch and then recycle is all that's really required.

beshocked wrote:Was disappointed by Saracens. They looked really rusty and the England management have absolutely ruined Mouritz Botha. I saw him drop the ball at least 3 times and miss a tackle.

I think the England management ruin all the players.

I am a lot more worried about the Wasps game than I was. We played particularly badly in last season's double header too.

End score of 45-20 hugely flattered us.

Beshocked, you're sounding like a Glaws supporter - we all know England ruins players. Sinbad only ever gets injured when he turns up to England training!

Glaws were very rusty in their freindly too, but I'm not concerned. After 3 months away from playing it is always going to take time to gel again. More importantly, you don't want to peak too soon. It's all very well finishing top of the Jeff, but if you're fading by then you won't win it. I'm sure Sarries will pick up the early season points and this friendly will be forgotten very soon!

beshocked wrote:
Matty how long is Joubert out for?

Looked like a dead leg or a knock to the knee. Got injured after about 35, tried to run it off but went off at half time. I haven't heard confirmation on length.

HKC true with JSD it seems as if his body parts start to crack as soon as the England call is received.

Gloucester were very unlucky last season. You had 3 of the toughest games in 7 days in the latter stages. It's going to sap the energy!

I didn't realise Gloucester are going to miss 7 players at the world cup!

With no new signings to speak of I wonder if Gloucester have the strength in depth to win the AP.

In the last two seasons Saracens have had really strong finishes.

I am not looking forward to the Bath away match - 2nd game. They could catch us cold. Bath have been poor starters though.

beshocked

Looking at our fixtures we are blessed once again with playing tough away games during internationals. Gloucester, Leicester and Northampton all at a time when their main men will be in NZ.

Also, although Bath have been slow starters, the Wasps game is the one I am most worried for. We were awful in last years DH, but then we won four games in a row including Leicester and Northampton.

Going to be an interesting start to the season.