New Year Rugby Focus

Still keen to watch rugby after that rich diet of World Cup glory (hurrah)? The opening days of shiny new 2004 see England's club teams get down to some serious rucking and tackling antics.

Saracens v Leeds
Vicarage Road, Thursday, 3pm Tel: 01923 475222. Tickets: £11-£22 (£5-£7 concs) in advance. £1-£3 more on the day

There is a feeling that Saracens are better than their results so far would indicate, but the old saying "they're too good to go down" is often a harbinger of, in fact, going down. Sarries have the buffer of Rotherham below them, but they really need to start winning (and they really need Richard Hill to be back from injury, too). Leeds were taken apart by Leicester last weekend, they are just one place above Sarries and offer their hosts a chance to start 2004 in positive fashion.
Verdict: HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR SARRIES

Newcastle v Harlequins
Kingston Park, Sunday, 2.30pm Tel: 0870 085 6060. Tickets: £13 (Concs £7)

How close can Harlequins get? A one-point loss to Gloucester at Kingsholm... and unlucky, at that. Well, unlucky if you ignore the stupidity of picking up a red card and giving away a crucial penalty in the final minutes. But Quins are showing a resilience on the road that is unfamiliar, and they travel to Newcastle with a real chance of picking up some much-needed points. The absence of Jonny Wilkinson's boot definitely goes in the "plus" column as well. Quins aren't out of the chase for the top three, but the top eight is more likely and a win in this game would go a long way to securing that.
Verdict: QUINS JOY

Wasps v Sale
Causeway Stadium, Sunday, 3pm Tel: 01494 769471. Tickets: £10-18 (£7-£13 concs)

Wasps looked good even when they were playing badly against the Irish - and that's no mean feat. Their pace, power and invention point to a team solidly on course to defend their title and add further European honours as well - assuming they can stay fit. Finishing off a few more of those chances they create wouldn't hurt, either. They would love to have England World Cup hero Lawrence Dallaglio back to complement Paul Volley (possibly the most underrated back row around at the moment), and Stuart Abbott to face Billy Whizz, Sale's Jason Robinson, in the centre. Should be a great game, with Wasps the favourites.

Verdict: WASPS SHOW STRENGTH

London Irish v Northampton
Madejski Stadium, Sunday, 3pm Tel: 0118 968 1000. Tickets: £18-£25 (£10 concs, £5 under-16s)