Abu Dhabi Saracens determined to step up after losing start

Martyn Thomas 10:28 21/01/2014
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  • Down but not out: Saracens lost their first two matches in the Gulf Top Six.

    Abu Dhabi Saracens always knew their debut campaign in the Gulf Top Six would be testing. Losing their chairman and captain on the eve of the regional tournament didn’t help, and they have since slipped to back-to-back defeats.

    The most recent of those, Friday’s 43-0 home reverse to Dubai Hurricanes, leaves the club rooted to the foot of the fledgling table, five points adrift of Jebel Ali Dragons who are one place above them.

    Vatulele Tusitala, who skippered Saracens into the Top Six before injury forced his retirement at the end of last year, admits the team were prepared for such a loss but is not downbeat about their prospects.

    “We always expected it to be tough,” he said. “Before last week we were confident in how we trained, we prepared well for the game but the boys didn’t really turn up in the end. We always expected it would be tough playing in the Top Six, every week it would be tough for us so [that result] was no real surprise.”

    Tusitala added: “We’ve always made the emphasis that every week could be the defeat that we had last week. Every week could potentially be like that, if we don’t turn up on the day with the right mindset.”

    However, when Saracens do turn up with the right attitude they have proven they can be a match for the best in Gulf rugby. The Abu Dhabi club were the only side to beat the Dragons (winning 16-7 in Jebel Ali) in the UAE Premiership last term and their former captain believes they can take heart from that result.

    “I remember giving a similar interview before the Dragons game at the end of last year,” he said. “For us it’s about staying with the pack and not letting them get too far ahead. We can start to do that by executing our basics as well as we can, if we do that with the right mindset we can stick with these top teams and be competitive.”

    It should also be remembered that Saracens are a young club, the youngest in the competition by a distance and as such it is an achievement that a club founded only two years ago is even playing in the Top Six.

    Hurricanes coach Russ Huxtable missed his side’s romp in the capital last weekend but he is sure Saracens deserve their place among the region’s elite.

    “I think the score flattered us a bit, we scored some great individual tries but they work hard all game and are not to be underestimated. They will definitely take some scalps in this Top Six,” Huxtable said.

    “I don’t think the Saracens are out of their league. They’ve stepped up, shown they’re worthy to be there, they’ve, dare I say, pushed the Exiles down the leagues and taken their place and clearly with the wins they already had prior to Christmas are capable of beating anyone in this league.”

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