Sarries suffered a shock loss at Cornish Pirates in their opening league match on Saturday, following their demotion from the top flight for repeated breaches of salary cap regulations. They face Jersey Reds at home this weekend, in what will be Biljon’s boys first competitive game since 29 February 2020.
Saracens’ director of rugby Mark McCall has admitted his side will have a target on their back this season and his opposite number at St Peter is confident the Islanders can add to the pressure on the north London giants.
‘They are too good a squad and too good a team to be too concerned by the loss, although it is amplified by the season being only ten games long,’ said Biljon. ‘Don’t under estimate them. They’ll be back at home and comfortable in the own surroundings.
‘The team have never really experienced what Championship rugby is all about. They’ve played games at Doncaster, Coventry and Ealing but two of them are 4G surfaces like what they are used to playing on at home and Doncaster is a fantastic facility with a hybrid turf surface, so the only experience they’ve had is of the more equipped facilities. Even in those games they’ve shown a couple of opportunities to target. But at the same time, they are building a squad. They are giving players exposure. Let’s see what unfolds.’
Despite the might that Saracens have in their ranks – boasting a number of first class internationals – their inexperience at playing Championship-level rugby could provide an opportunity.
‘It’s going to be an intriguing one,’ Biljon added. ‘If we can build the pressure throughout the game it gives us an opportunity.
‘We’ve got a belief in our own group that we’ve always been able to take on the big teams and put on a decent performance. If we can sneak a result, no matter if it’s one point or however many, it will be huge. Not just for us but also for the whole Championship.’
