The three-times Champions Cup winners face Bordeaux-Begles on the back of four defeats in their last six matches with their last win on the road coming against Harlequins in November.
The champions have slipped into the bottom half of the Premiership and face a team unbeaten at home since La Rochelle's visit 10 months ago and boasting Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey on their flanks.
"They have been outstanding," said Saracens coach Kevin Sorrell. "They have not lost in recent times (since October), although Bayonne pushed them close last weekend. They are a side with multiple threats, a strong pack, good halfbacks and centres with a relationship, symbiotic and they revel in unstructured play.
"We are up and down, striving for consistency. There have been moments when we look like the animal we want to be and others when we are off it. We feel we are close, but the last bit is always the hardest to nail."
One area where Saracens have struggled, and it cost them in recent Premiership defeats at Sale and Leicester when they were regularly penalised, is the scrum which has been missing a number of leading front rowers.
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin January 14, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin January 14, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
