Saracens have proved everyone wrong and will be certainly buoyed by their performance against Racing Metro.
They have got a lot of will and spirit, and courtesy of Brendan Venter a lot of publicity - and everyone knows my feelings on that!
What I will say is that Venter has turned them into a good rugby team. They have gone through some sticky patches but now they will be concentrating on this big game at Wembley. It should be a fantastic atmosphere.
Henson: likely to return against Wasps
Saracens play a great brand of rugby and I really enjoying watching them play. They have some great players, though, I think all the attention will be on Gavin Henson. We shall see if he is the pantomime villain or the hero.
It is going to be tough for him; I spent 12 months out of the game and that was hard enough. I am sure he is going to have 15 Wasps players really looking forward to welcoming him back to rugby! But Henson is a confident bloke with great skills and I am interested to see how he gets on.
Saracens play a great brand of rugby and I really enjoying watching them play. They have some great players, though, I think all the attention will be on Gavin Henson. We shall see if he is the pantomime villain or the hero.
Dewi Morris
Quotes of the week
Saracens v Wasps
2.30pm, Boxing Day, Sky Sports HD2 & Sky Sports 2
Online with Sky Player
Click here to remote record
One player who I have been very excited about at Saracens is Owen Farrell. I really think he has a great future, not only with Saracens but possibly for England if he keeps on playing the way he has been.
Saracens are becoming a side that everyone wants a piece of and it is going to be interesting how they handle that. I think they will cope very well; they have some great players like Schalk Brit, and Jacques Burger has been a fantastic signing for them in the backrow.
Wasps have just been performing outside the box and making good progress. They usually have their late run a little bit later but they are progressing nicely. They are a side who just go about their job; they have not got the wow factor of Saracens but I think they quite like that. They have done well in Europe and are building nicely in the League and play a similar momentum-based game to Saracens
The key battle will be at the breakdown. We have seen in Europe that teams really struggle when they have not been able to get on the front foot at the breakdown. Both sides are equally matched so there will be a fine line between who dominates this area and who doesn't.
Joe Simpson has been in great from for Wasps and I expect him to play a big part in this game. I am also hoping that Riki Flutey gets a run in as it will add to Wasps attacking prowess.
I'll be watching at home, tucking into my chips and ham, which is what I always have on Boxing Day. Me and my mates will be hoping that Saracens and Wasps can entertain us. I really think they will put on a great show - a Christmas cracker, dare I say!
Comments (1)
Walter A says...
going to be a cracker, lots of henson talk but it's the other centre that'll make the difference Riki Flutey, I reckon Wasps by 10 points...
Posted 12:04 23rd December 2010