Glory Days

Do you realise what the date is? Remember what you were doing this time three years ago? Ah, glory days...

Now, we have to look forward to the weekend's games and dream about what it would be like if we were still ranked #1!

Andy Robinson's picked the team for Round 2 against the Springboks, and he expects great things of Andy Goode. We certainly need a solid contender for the Number 10 shirt, now that Charlie Hodgson has joined Jonny in the injury camp.

Sheridan's also got an extended time off with injury - so that's three Sale big hitters now on the sidelines - Scotland back rower Jason White also sustained a serious knock during the game against the Pacific Islands, and is out for at least nine months. Sale must be worried that this triple whammy could well hinder their Guinness Premiership title defence.

Indeed, Saracens are equal on points with Sale in the Premiership right now, hovering at number six. Sale are at five only by virtue of having won one more match than Sarries:

As you can see, Sarries are not short of point-scoring ability either - they have the biggest tally so far, and fly-half Glen Jackson is the top points scorer in the Premiership (for the second year running) - he's currently on 116 to Charlie Hodgson's 80, and poor old Charlie is unlikely to be scoring any more this season.

Bath and Worcester are struggling at the bottom of the table - Bath having only won two games out of 8 so far, and Worcester none. Something had to give - Worcester have just announced they've parted company with coach Anthony Eddy. More good news for Sarries, perhaps, as they are playing Worcester on Sunday at home. I'll be at the match and will post some photos as soon as I can.