Sarries V Wasps: The Good, the Bad and the Déjà Vu
Two Tries
By Kat
December 22 2008
“So this is Christmas, And what have Sarries done? Another year over, And a new one just begun.” ….Just like the sound track to Christmas, Saracens trip away to Wycombe had a certain inevitability about it, and a horrible cold sinking feeling of déjà vu.
The first half was wholly unremarkable. Wasps lead the break 9-6 after penalties were exchanged. The only points of any note were Cipriani’s inaccuracies (2 pens and a drop goal attempt missed) and Van Heerden’s spell on the naughty step for persistent infringement.
The second half had to have more drama - but the way in which it was to unfold would be heart breaking. The second half was altogether more entertaining. Sarries came out looking more of a team. Sarries dominated early play, and the sin binning of Tom Palmer, and Glenda’s successful kick of the resulting penalty levelled the scores at 9-9.
Sarries had another spell of good movement trying to capitalize on the man up, but conceded a penalty. Cipriani’s lack of confidence was illustrated by a conservative place kick. Wasps kicked away from their own line-out which went nowhere and Cato danced around Lewsey for the first try. The conversion was short but Sarries were leading 9-14.
Saracens looked confident and were dominating play, failure to release by Wasps resulted in another Sarries penalty which Jackson successfully kicked to open up the points difference to beyond the crucial 7, at 9-17. Best of all, Wasps hadn’t looked like scoring since the early parts of the first half.
Then Sarries started ringing in the changes as Saull and Powell came on for Skirvs and Sorrell and then ten minutes later Faz was substitutes by Barritt and Jack made way for Vyvs. Crucially Walder also came on for Mitchell and Cips switched to full back. Sarries conceded a penalty from the restart and Walder kicked Wasps first points of the half. 12-17.
Wasps were starting to look dangerous but another great penalty kick from Jackson (who had hardly put a foot wrong all afternoon) drove them back up the field. However a penalty conceded by Sarries sacrificed any positional advantage. Wasps attacked down field and made pressure count as outside centre Hoadley crossed the line for Wasps, Walder kicked the conversion and pushed his team into he lead at 19-17.
From then it was a bit of a blur (although I suspect the tapes of the next five minutes will be watched many times at Hatfield this week), A defensive error by Cato resulted I a charge down try for Paul Sackey to open up the Pests margin further (26-17), but (as seen at Irish a month earlier) we seemed to completely lose our self belief and just stood agog and Lewsey made it three tries in five minutes. Walder’s boot was spot on and made all the conversions.
A late try by Noah was scant consolation. Saracens managed to grab defeat from the jaws of victory and extend the years of losses at Adams Park to 12.
It was an afternoon of dichotomies, with those on the pitch playing their parts as heroes and villains in equal measures. Here are just a few examples;
Cato:
The Good: Cato and Goode once again had an immense match together and are proceeding to play each other into contention for England places. Cato spent the afternoon leaving Lewsey for dead (until Lewsey got his own back with their final try) and one such move resulted in Sarries first touch down over the white wash. He also finished Saracens second try, personally notching up ten points for the MIB.
The Bad: Wasps second try. An awkward bounce meant that Cato failed to collect a down-field kick cleanly, a mistake that could have been forgiven. But he then panicked and didn’t have the time or space for the clearance kick he attempted. It was charged down for Wasps second try by Paul Sackey. Wasps confidence surged, the Fez hearts were in their boots. However despite this error, you couldn’t help thinking that both the present and future England wingers were involved in that move.
The Ugly: That Charge down
Van Heerden:
The Good: My God, that man can tackle. His hit of Voyce into touch was amazing. Every time he hits an opponent it as if a sonic boom goes around the stadium and you can’t help but shudder for the poor guy on the receiving end. He is a tackling King
The Bad: If Dr Suess were to write a book about WVH, it would probably be called ‘The Tw@t in the Hat.’ Apparently the reason behind the gaudy white scrum cap is so the oppo half back knows who is just about to hit him. Well that’s all very well sweetheart, but the ref also knows who to penalize when a white cap is swallow diving into the breakdown. His penalty count was unacceptable and we were lucky Wasps didn’t capitalize on playing 14 men. Both flankers were also too slow off the back of the scrum (possibly unsurprising when one is a No 8), something which happened frequently and almost let in an early try for Wasps.
The Ugly: Anything we can do, Wasps can do better? The Gaudy scrum cap paled into insignificance when viewed against the Yellow creation worn by Mr Betsen.
Faz:
The Good: Judging by this board the selection that divides fans most is that of Faz at 12. I maintain that Saracens defence seems to fall apart without the blue-mouthed instructions from the wild man of Borneo to keep them all in check. Faz went off at Irish, The Not-nots shipped in a soft try and two penalties which completely changed the match. Yesterday his absence was even more expensive.
The Bad: Those against Faz claim his play is ponderous and cite his failure to off load as weaknesses. All true, but after he went off we had a very green looking back line, not aided by the fact that at the end of the match our most senior back five player (Powelly on 59 apps) was being played out of his usual position.
The Ugly: Controversially - There really is no one else who can play his role.
Wasps fly half:
The Good: Dave Walder came on and changed the game. As soon as he came on Wasps looked more dangerous. He looked confidant in his role at FH and put in an assured performance with the boot. He was very worthy of the Man of the match award. IF Wasps have a fly-half that is worth £350,000, surely it is him.
The Bad: Danny Cipriani lacked confidence. His accuracy when kicking from goal was sporadic and the Wasps backed lacked penetration when he was playing in the fly-half role. He was the third best No 10 on display on Saturday (Glenda’s tactical kicking was once again immense). He is a class act, and I am sure his form will return, but he is a shadow of the player he was last year – something which will not help contract negotiations, could they be playing on his mind?
The Ugly: Again this situation highlights how the EPS means Jonno cannot pick players on form, and will probably HAVE to play Cips ahead of Walder for the 6N, something isn’t right there.
Eddie Jones:
The Good: I really do believe that Eddie is the coach that can genuinely change things long term at Saracens. I believe he has the vision, ability and commitment to turn us into a great side. This match would have been a steep learning curve for him and show what fans have known for years - we can really get nothing out of something. I am sure he will address this and make us stronger in the future.
The Bad: Once again Saracens seemed to throw away a match by making too many late substitutions. The capitulation of Sarries was so rapid it was impossible to tell if it was the Saracens substitutions of Wasps bringing in players like Walder and Betson that really made the difference (I suspect a bit of both) but for the supporters it really was Déjà vu, having seen exactly the same thing happen at Adams Park two years ago. The timing and amount of substitutions has to be questioned.Secondly, Eddie has an endearing quirk of playing his squad out of position. To select a back-row of predominantly No 8’s was a mystery to me, especially when we have such depth of flankers that aren’t being used. I am not really loving Powelly at 13 either, not to mention some of his other selections this year. The argument is that the number on the back of a shirt shouldn’t really matter, after watching out defence penetrated 3 times in five minutes I am not sure I agree.
The Ugly: We now have to face LI and Glaws away – THAT will really be a test.
Wasps Mitchell (Walder, 65); Sackey, Hoadley, Lewsey, Voyce; Reddan (Simpson, 67), Cipriani; Payne, Webber (Ward, 67), Vickery (capt), Shaw, Palmer (Skivington, 68), Worsley, Rees (Betsen, 77), Haskell.
Tries Hoadley, Sackey, Lewsey. Cons Walder 3. Pens Cipriani 3, Walder.
Sin-bin Palmer, 45.
Saracens Goode; Ratuvou, Sorrell (Powell, 53), Farrell (Barritt, 65), Cato; Jackson, De Kock; Aguero, Ongaro, Johnston, Borthwick (capt), Jack (Vyvyan, 65), Skirving (Saull, 56), Van Heerden, Owen.
Tries Cato 2. Con Jackson. Pens Jackson 4.
Sin-bin Van Heerden, 18. Referee D Pearson (Northumberland). Attendance 9,324.
As a Wasps season ticket holder and having seen little of Sarries this season, I found the lack of urgency of the Sarries pack curious as they ambled to scrum or line out.
Good report, Kat. So much to agree with; I will take issue with the tackling king point though. WvH fell off too many tackles for my liking, mirroring the performance at the Madstad. When he gets it right (as in your example) the victim must feel as if he has conquered time travel and is in the middle of next week, but he shouldn't miss others - it would be interesting to see the stats.
you just wonder that they have all decided that if they ignore his offloads, Eddie will have to drop him.
I would also have been more comfortable with one of Superkev/Faz being paired with Powell/Barritt, so we have one defensive and one attacking centre on the pitch at a time
one charge down does not a bad player make, two good tries
I would love him to be in a wasps shirt
your scrum suffered for most of the day though!!
One name that doesn't seem to have been mentioned in all of this is Kamelli- he was pretty anonymous to say the least. Perhaps it was because Wasps had decided to kick to Noah all afternoon, for which they were ultimately rewarded.
Alan - I actually do agree with you about the missed tackles, however given WVH was playing 7, and everyone on theis board knows my prefernce for another open-side I didn't want to get acused of favouritism. (winky smiley) I am sure Eddie knows VWH is a six really (double winky smiley)
I suppose you might mistake Mitchell for Josh at a distance and if you hadn't spotted Josh playing centre. Non blond Rob Hoadley was our other centre. He was the one who got our first try. Lewsey was the one who got the third. Danny Cipriani isn't blond but may be one day - who knows?
I though the point you were trying to make was that the excellent prospect Noah Cato had "...spent the afternoon leaving Lewsey for dead.." You were wrong but that doesn't make Cato any less of a player and a future England winger. Goode is a useful looking runner too.
As I said, good report and Merry Christmas all at Sarries.
It can't be because of the need to neutralise the Wasps' lineout - the week before, against Edinboro, Webber's banjo couldn't find an elephant's posterior let alone that of a cow. Five lineout jumpers is a surfeit. The reduced back row pace can tell as the game wears on, and better ability to grub around on the ground might have watered down Noah's ordeal [1] from the sky.
If Yoda thinks that none of Seymour, Saull and Barrell are the answer, he should go shopping, but please not Rees! I'd go for Baywatch.
[1] As opposed to the ordeal on SKY that we'll have to endure from Pugwash and his gnome on TRC.
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
I agree with you, but obviously think no shopping is necessary - play what we have. Saull has been outstanding this year and t'other two haven't really had a chance
....Or we could just follow Wasps example of sorting out back-row selection problems ;o)
I don't think Barrell is an openside either so it should be a Saull or that blond geezer with short hair (sorry Kat)!
I suspect that a top class 7 is number one on Eddie's shopping list though which will be unfortunate for the aforementioned 2. Not sure who will be available but Juan Smith please!
He clearly does like WKH but looking at the clips he looked tired towards the end of the game and certainly fell off one tackle.
Defence wise it looks like we had Brad playing at I/C and Powell at O/s - wrong choice Eddie.
I do like the Saracens TV - OK not fantastic quality but a step in the right direction.
Graeme
I feel we really are suffering from the lack of A team games this season.