Saracens pre-season tour of Japan got off to a perfect start yesterday (Sunday) evening with a comprehensive 66-12 victory over Sanix in the Global Arena, Fukuoka.

The impressive nine-try victory, over a side featuring former All Black's Graeme Bachop and Jamie Joseph, was good preparation for the final game of the tour next Sunday against National Champions Suntory in Tokyo and their opening league clash with Bristol Shoguns on Sunday, September 1.

Centre Tom Shanklin, Tony Roques and Richard Haughton each scored a brace of tries during the game which saw Craig Quinnell make his first appearance for the club, and Japanese international Kensuke Iwabuchi feature at both fly-half and scrum-half, capping an encouraging display with a try.

"We gave a fairly sound performance," said head coach Wayne Shelford. "It was a good game for most of our players. We were exposed at times in defence, but that's rugby or you. Sanix did well too, and kept us thinking and on our toes. "We've now got to step it up for Suntory by another 25/30% to get ourselves ready for Premiership football in England."

Saracens end their two-week tour of Japan with a match against Suntory on Sunday, August 25 at the National Stadium in Tokyo which is expected to attract an attendance of 35,000.

For all the news from the Sarries' camp don't miss Friday's (August 23) edition of The Watford Observer.

August 19, 2002 17:00