Will Saracens bounce back from their final defeat and go one further this season?
Mark McCall’s side impressed on their return to the big time in 2021-22, but they will be looking to get their crown back this term as they chase their sixth title.
There hasn’t been too much change at the StoneX this off-season as Sarries try and continue their winning formula with a settled squad who know how to get the job done.
In the last campaign, the 2018-19 champions showed their title-winning class in periods, but they will be looking for their team to be more consistent this time around as they aim to put the pain of Freddie Burns’ last-minute drop-goal out of their minds.
Last time out
Saracens were runners-up both in terms of their league position and in the Gallagher Premiership final last season.
On their return to the big time, the London-based club finished seven points off eventual champions Leicester Tigers.
They narrowly missed out at Twickenham, but Saracens were the form team going into the play-offs with only one loss in their last eight games of the regular campaign. Even then, that defeat was largely due to squad rotation.
This form at the backend of 2021-22 is ominous for the rest of the Premiership going into the new term as the five-time champions looked back to their formidable best.
Incomings:
Hugh Tizard (Second Row) from Harlequins
Christian Judge (Tighthead Prop) from Worcester Warriors
Eduardo Bello (Tighthead Prop) from Zebre Parma
James Flynn (Loosehead Prop) from Jersey Reds
Outgoings:
Vincent Koch (Tighthead Prop) to Wasps
Sean Reffell (Back Row) to Ulster
Richard Barrington (Loosehead Prop) to Agen
Tom Mills (Winger) to Richmond
Harvey Beaton (Tighthead Prop) to Cornish Pirates on a season-long loan
Elliot Obatoyinbo (Full-back) released
Janco Venter (Second Row) released
Charlie Watson (Centre) released
Tim Swinson (Second Row) retired
Areas of strength
With the signing of Hugh Tizard, Saracens have built one of the best engine rooms in the Premiership.
Their second-row is obviously spearheaded by England international Maro Itoje, but in Nick Isiekwe (who will miss several months of the season due to surgery), Callum Hunter-Hill and Tizard, they have three of England/Scotland’s up-and-coming locks.
It seems it will only be a matter of time before Tizard receives his first call-up from Eddie Jones.
This will only be his third season as a Premiership player, but he has already shown all the ingredients of a future world-class lock, who could partner Itoje for club and country.
It isn’t just in the second-row where Saracens excel. Their front-row options are also exemplary.
Mako Vunipola is still one of the world’s best looseheads, as shown by his performances last term to earn his place back in the England squad.
When Vunipola is tiring in games, Eroni Mawi and Ralph Adams-Hale are great young options off the bench to carry against defences who might not have much left in the tank.
Mawi, who played for Fiji in the 2019 World Cup, showed great promise in his bit-part role last campaign while Adams-Hale is someone Saracens’ coaching staff have huge expectations of.
The 25-year-old played in the 2018-19 Gallagher Premiership final in his breakthrough campaign and will be looking to get back to those levels after recovering from a serious ankle injury in 2019.
Owen Farrell’s importance to this serial-winning side cannot be underestimated.
The three-time British and Irish Lion is the key orchestrater in a fluent Sarries attack which has unlocked many world-class defences under his leadership as captain.
When he goes away with England though, the loss won’t be as hard to take for Sarries fans as Manu Vunipola - under Farrell’s tutelage - has gained valuable experience and is now ready to take on the number 10 shirt in his absence.
Alex Lozowski, who can also play at number 10, has shown his capabilities in the position over the last few seasons, easing the stress in losing Farrell for long periods.
Areas of weakness
One area that could be exposed this season in the Saracens squad is the backup options to Billy Vunipola.
The No.8 earned his place back in the England squad after a brilliant 2021-22 and if he continues to be picked by Eddie Jones, then he will miss half of Saracens’ matches this campaign.
This will be a concern for Mark McCall as his other options at number eight aren’t as powerful or carry with the same conviction.
Jackson Wray is one of the choices to replace Vunipola, but if Ben Earl is also away with England, then the Sarries back-row will be stretched.
The number nine position has been one Saracens have never fully replaced since the departures of Richard Wigglesworth and Ben Spencer.
Aled Davies has come in and performed well for the capital side, but many would argue it is one place on the pitch Sarries could improve on to get to the next level as a team.
They will of course be one of the strongest sides in the league but in tight games, a world-class nine can change things. It remains to be seen whether Davies or Ivan Van Zyl have those qualities.
Opening fixtures
Round 1: Harlequins (A)
Round 2: Gloucester (H)
Round 3: Leicester Tigers (H)
Round 4: Newcastle Falcons (A)
Round 5: Bath Rugby (H)
Saracens have a bye-week in Round One with their first match-up being a local derby with Harlequins, which promises to be a tasty affair at the Twickenham Stoop.
Will Northampton Saints and Harlequins be back in the play-offs this season? #GallagherPrem
The hosts will be out for revenge after Sarries defeated them last season at the semi-final stage.
The tough fixtures continue after that for Saracens who face two teams vying for a top-four place in the form of Gloucester and Leicester Tigers at the StoneX Stadium.
The remaining fixtures against last year’s bottom two will be ones Mark McCall will be targeting as they look to start strongly this campaign.
Predicted line-up:
1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. Marco Riccioni
4. Maro Itoje
5. Hugh Tizard
6. Theo McFarland
7. Ben Earl
8. Billy Vunipola
9. Aled Davies
10. Owen Farrell
11. Max Malins
12. Nick Tompkins
13. Elliot Daly
14. Sean Maitland
15. Alex Goode
Predicted finish: 1st
Saracens finishing top of the league seems the safest bet this season when looking at the quality of their squad.
The 2018-19 title-winning side is largely still intact at the StoneX Stadium meaning they have the experience there and the know-how.
The addition of Tizard seems inspired and is a large coup from their city rivals, Harlequins.
When you list the players Saracens have available such as Farrell, Itoje, the Vunipola brothers, Jamie George and Max Malins, you can only be blown away and many teams I suspect will be by this side this year.
Last term would have hurt Sarries who know they could have performed better in the final, but ultimately it will only give them even more reason to go one further in 2022-23.
