A WAR of words has been launched by Saracens in the build-up to tomorrow's (Saturday) Tetley's Bitter Cup clash with Leicester.

Still smarting from Boxing Day defeat at the hands of the Tigers, Sarries have attacked coach Bob Dwyer for comments he made in a Sunday newspaper.

The column concerned the Newcastle team, criticising them for stretching the rules of rugby to the limit in the way they play and for their alleged tendency to be offside at crucial moments of the game.

Perhaps Dwyer's biggest gripe was not the fact that the Falcons were sailing a little too close to the wind, but that they were getting away with it.

Saracens have now hit back at the former Australian coach, accusing his Leicester side of precisely the same misdemeanours he reserved for Newcastle.

Team administration manager Mike Scott said: "Dwyer is only complaining because there is a team doing it as well as Leicester, because they have been doing this for years."

He pointed to the Boxing Day match at Vicarage Road as the perfect example, where tempers spilled into violence during a stormy first quarter.

"In the first half, we saw some of their bully-boy tactics," Scott said.

"We must not react to it. It is not easy for the boys because if they are getting thumped then they want to respond, but that is exactly what Leicester want. Let us hope we can have a good game of flowing rugby."

It is ironic that Leicester's victory over Saracens put Dwyer's current bugbear, Newcastle, alone on top of the Allied Dunbar Premiership, but it also kept the Tigers' season alive.

The match was no classic, by any means. It was a traditional tough Leicester performance, based heavily around the forward artillery.

Referee Ed Morrison had a fairly torrid time separating the two sides as the fists flew, a prospect which now awaits Saturday's marshal, Tony Spreadbury.

Scott believes intervention from the officials will be crucial in the outcome of the game.

He said: "A lot will depend on the referee. If he penalises teams for having hands on the ball and lying on the ball then the best team, which will be Saracens, will win."

Both sides are able to select from practically full squads, offering the tantalising prospect of a genuine clash not decided by which squad is carrying the most injuries.

Leicester keep Austin Healey, so destructive against Wasps last weekend, in at scrum half, preferred to Waisale Serevi.

Also pencilled in to the side is Lion Matt Greenwood, although his name has appeared on the teamsheet for the past three weeks without a confirmed sighting on the pitch.

Joel Stransky, the metronomic kicking Springbok, needs just one point to clock up 300 for the season and only six more to become the fastest Tiger to 500 points.

Saracens' own king of the boots, Michael Lynagh, is back in pole position outside Kyran Bracken as the home team field a strong side.

Matthew Singer's inclusion at full back with young David Thompson on the bench more than makes up for the absence of South African Gavin Johnson and Ryan Constable is moved to the wing in place of Brendon Daniel.

French legend Philippe Sella is due to start his first league match for two months and England's Richard Hill reclaims his place in the back row from Alex Bennett.

The team are due to stay at Watford's Hilton hotel on Friday evening at the behest of Philippe Sella "to make it a little different" and build the strength of team morale.

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