Are there chinks in Saints’ armour?
AS season run-ins go, it doesn’t really get any tougher than Northampton away and Leicester away for the final two games, but the squad at Saracens go into the final week of the season full of confidence that we can clinch a play-off place.
With Bath in such a rich vein of form, I think we will possibly need a point from somewhere to secure our spot in the top four, but it’s no good qualifying and then succumbing to your fate, you have to go in believing you can win it.
We all know Northampton are a quality side, but they have lost two of their last three matches and there must be an element of doubt there that they are ending the season in the peak of their form.
Sure, Tuesday night’s defeat at Bath would have taken a lot out of the Saints, but I don’t expect fatigue to play any part in tomorrow’s game.
We showed earlier this year after playing South Africa in midweek then performing well to beat Wasps the following Saturday that professionals are comfortable playing twice in a week and I don’t expect anything less than a Northampton side playing at 100 per cent at Franklin’s Gardens tomorrow.
MOMENTUM
If we do make it, it’s important we go into the play-offs with confidence and momentum and if we can follow up last Saturday’s excellent victory over Harlequins in front of over 47,000 fans at Wembley, then we’ll be just fine. The boys scored five lovely tries and I was proud of every one of them. It’s an easy team talk for me this time round – much the same, lads, will be the call.
The good news for us is that Glen Jackson and Neil de Kock are both fit to resume their blossoming combination, while Rodd Penny will continue to deputise for Chris Wylde. We can’t wait to get it on.
Brendan Venter is the head coach of Saracens. For information on tickets, call the box office on 01727 792800.