Glasgow Warriors | Saracens team to face Glasgow
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November 08, 2007

Saracens team to face Glasgow

Posted by Editor on November 8, 2007 04:21 PM | 13 comments | Print | E-mail author

Francisco Leonelli faces his old team-mates
Saracens boss Alan Gaffney has named his strongest side possible for Sunday's visit of Glasgow Warriors to Vicarage Road as both sides launch their Heineken Cup challenge.

Flanker Richard Hill, prop Kevin Yates and second row Kris Chesney all return to the starting line-up while Francisco Leonelli comes in at full-back for his first game since suffering a calf injury before the league win at Leeds at the end of September.

Italy hooker Fabio Ongaro is named on the bench alongside Gordon Ross and Moses Rauluni which means skipper Neil de Kock and Glen Jackson resume their productive half-back partnership.
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"We faced some tough selection choices this week and there are a number of guys who have not made the squad," said Gaffney. "We gave an opportunity to some of them in the past two matches and everyone performed well and put their hands up for selection. But what we've done for this weekend is pick the team we think can get the result we want."

He added: "It's exciting to be back in the Heineken Cup - both I and the players are looking forward to it. It's been a number of years since I've been involved in the competition and it continues to get bigger and better. It's a great tournament and I know the players are looking forward to laying down a marker against the best teams in Europe."

Saracens: Leonelli, Penney, Sorrell, Farrell, Ratuvou, Jackson, de Kock; Yates, Cairns, Johnston, Vyvyan, Chesney, Gustard, Hill, Skirving. Replacements: Ongaro, Mercey, Ryder, Seymour, Rauluni, Ross, Thrower.

Posted by bossco85 on November 8, 2007 04:55 PM | Reply to this comment

Leonelli is actualy playing? Theres a turn up for the books!

Posted by teamfruit on November 8, 2007 06:54 PM | Reply to this comment

No he's not come on, he'll pull up lame in the warm up like he did with glasgow at least twice

Posted by FJ! on November 8, 2007 11:23 PM | Reply to this comment

Sweepstake opportunity for those going on Sunday. How long will Leonelli last!!

Posted by teamfruit on November 9, 2007 12:37 AM | Reply to this comment

0 minutes i'll stick nothing on it as i know it i he actually starts i will eat my hat

Posted by Jay on November 9, 2007 12:16 PM | Reply to this comment

Welcome to Vicarage Road Glasgow,
Be prepared for 80 minutes of HELL!

Posted by sunday5 on November 9, 2007 12:31 PM | Reply to this comment

80 minutes of hell? Are you showing X-Factor repeats or something? Surely you don't mean the rugby?!

saracens were fortunate last season and this team they've laid out looks like it's past it (Hill), never had it (Farrell) or simply wont turn up! (Guess who!)

I fancy Glasgow for this one, about time too! Last season I thought it could go either way. Even when we played the better rugby there was just enough experience in Saracens to hold out. This year looks like it could be a different story tho.

Good luck lads!!

Posted by Jay on November 9, 2007 12:40 PM | Reply to this comment

Are you kidding?
We have various talent all around the park. We have the top combination of De Kock and Jackson at 9 and 10 (one of the most talked about pairings in the premiership) Census Johnson, who is a tank and is running riot around some teams. Farrell, who may not have been too successful in the England set up, is used to the max at Saracens as he hardly misses a tackle and keeps a cool head throughout. His passing is good too.
Dont get me wrong, it'll be a good and close game, but I think we definately have the upper hand!

Posted by teamfruit on November 9, 2007 03:22 PM | Reply to this comment

Farrells another one that will be lucky to start he pulled out of a couple of the glasgow games last year, he must have been tackled by big stevie in a past life and knew what was in store. Pity really im looking forward to seeing him getting crunched

Posted by sunday5 on November 9, 2007 04:10 PM | Reply to this comment

Upper hand or not a "good close game" is not my idea of hell. Saracens could win but the will by no means run away with it and as for talent around the field? We have that in spades.

I have heard all these tall tales of Farrell's brilliance but I've yet to see a single thread of evidence to back it up! He's an average center, no more.

That said, it should be a cracking game. Saracens always put on a good show but regardless of this result you really could be in for a hellish time in Glasgow...

Posted by the onion on November 9, 2007 05:07 PM | Reply to this comment

I trust, if Glasgow do suffer defeat you'll have the grace to come on this site and take it on the chin or will it be the old referee to blame trick?

Posted by Alistair on November 9, 2007 05:43 PM | Reply to this comment

Well, the ref does have a famous anti-Glasgow bias.

Posted by the onion on November 9, 2007 07:31 PM | Reply to this comment

It seems from reading this website over the past few weeks that every referee has an anti-Glasgow bias!

Posted by sunday5 on November 9, 2007 09:43 PM | Reply to this comment

LOL! Why wouldn't I? If you think I've said anything offensive then I'm sorry but if Saracens do beat Glasgow then they're a far better team than I thought but we really should beat them up here.

Anyway, hope everyone enjoys it and we get the right result.

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