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Fit-again Nick Isiekwe returns for Saracens ahead of schedule
By Liam Heagney
Nick Isiekwe has made it back into the Saracens starting line-up ahead of projection after Mark McCall suggested in September that the England lock could be sidelined for up to five months. A July tourist with England in Australia, it was ahead of the start of the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership season when it emerged that the 24-year-old needed an unspecified surgery.
A Saracens statement at the time read: “During a routine appointment and after discussion with a consultant, it has been recommended to carry out a procedure.”
Some weeks later, McCall explained: “He will be out for a period of time and it is not for me to say why that is the case but he will be out and we will miss him. He is a great player. We don’t have an exact (comeback) date but we have got an estimation which is between three and five months I think.”
Isiekwe will now return just over three months after that September 14 McCall update, Saracens claiming that the second-rower is “full of excitement” to be in the team for Friday’s trip to London Irish, a match where the XV shows four changes from last weekend’s European win at Lyon.
Tom Woolstencroft, Isiekwe and Andy Cristie have all been chosen in a pack that will look to help Saracens to a tenth consecutive Premiership win, while record appearances holder Alex Goode has been named at full-back. On the bench, summer signing Eduardo Bello is in line for his debut while Duncan Taylor also returns after injury.
"I’m massively excited to get back out there this weekend in a huge game for us,” said Isiekwe. “I have to thank all of the medical, strength and conditioning staff and coaches for working so hard with me over the last few months. I can’t wait for it.”
Saracens (vs London Irish): 15. Alex Goode; 14. Alex Lewington, 13. Elliot Daly, 12. Nick Tompkins, 11. Sean Maitland; 10. Owen Farrell (capt), 9. Ivan Van Zyl; 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Tom Woolstencroft, 3. Marco Riccioni, 4. Nick Isiekwe, 5. Hugh Tizard, 6. Andy Christie, 7. Ben Earl, 8. Billy Vunipola. Reps: 16. Kapeli Pifeleti, 17. Robin Hislop, 18. Eduardo Bello, 19. Andrew Kitchener, 20. Jackson Wray, 21. Aled Davies, 22. Duncan Taylor, 23. Max Malins.
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Latest Comments
The difference between Fassi and Le Roux?
Almost 100 tests. Fassi is growing from test to test and is already world class. It’s going to be difficult for Damian Willemse to usurp Fassi at 15 and may find himself destined as the utility back on the bomb squad.
South Africans love hating on their fullback. A proud tradition since Percy Montgomery (before he won us a World Cup). So I don’t pay much mind to the noise that follows anyone who puts on the 15 jersey for SA.
15 is a high risk, low reward position. You don’t dare drop a high ball, certainly don’t shank a kick into the stands. In fact if you’re not kicking 60m torpedoes into the opposition corners - stay at home.
And miss tackles? After everyone else on the team has let a break through - best you not miss!
Only Andre Joubert strikes me as a fullback that has been better than Willie. Yet Willie has been widely panned on a regular basis. Irritating.
Fassi is great. And I’m sure he’s learning a lot from Willie.
Go to commentsNo, Penney's win rate as a Super Rugby coach BEFORE he was given a 2 year contract here, was 23%. He came in with a very poor success rate at SR level.
This loser vibe was borne out over the SR season where we won only 4 games while losing 10. Finishing 9th in a 12 team competition & missing a QF spot was next level DOWN.
There's zero evidence that suggests we will win 10 games (70%) as you predict. I understand there may be new assistant coaches coming on board. At this stage, we can only hope for the best.
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