Saracens Cobbled.
By ninjafez
May 13 2013
Arriving today at Allianz Park, you would have be forgiven for being confused for seeing ponchos being handed out by the Pioneers, the sky was blue with a smattering with clouds, the stadium was looking superb in the Sunlight with the usual gusty conditions, everyone was in good voice at the stadium - many watching Watford F.C.'s exploits on the Bar TV screens. Approaching kick-off however the clouds started gathering, and spots of rain started to drop. With a number of people starting to go to the seats to seek shelter where possible, Sarrie entertained with his popular Gangham Style routine and the Club Anthem was well cheered when finished despite its polarising nature.
However when everyone had settled down under the grey and wind to witness the real battle, which almost felt like a siege – We all new that it would be the forwards who would decide this match rather than ultra fast wingers finding line breaks at will. The teams came out to loud noise and support from the fans and Saints kicked off.
The opening salvo's were full of energy but Saracens seemed to have lost their normal composure, we were going wide from the off rather than earning this right by tying up the forwards around the ruck fringes.
A number of turnovers from attempted off-loads and mistakes littered the first 10 minutes which rather than moving the point of attack lead to a good number of counter attacks which in turn, lead to a number of penalties for the Saints. However Saracens were not punished for their sloppy and scatty play as Steven Myler suffered with the conditions and the kicking tee for a good number of penalty attempts. Saracens were able to make some headway in to the saints half, Goode and Strettle combined to take advantage of a dog leg, surging in to the Saint's 22 but the hard work went begging with a grubber kick which had too much mustard from Owen Farrell out of bounds and Saints were awarded a dropout, but no sooner had the fan's hopes being raised - Saints found their way back in to our 22 again due to more indiscipline and bad play from us.
Saints had stared a great deal brighter and after a few penalties kicked to touch we found Sarries defending their lines against the famed saints rolling maul. Saracens defence held firm for the first maul but the second time the saints tried a few minutes later the were much more organised. The maul collapsed at the Sarries try line but the ball was sneaked over by Brian Mujati for the first score. The TMO confirmed the score and they could have been a question of double movement but it was no less than the Saints had deserved. Steven put the misses behind him and the conversion went over.
Some fans may have already been worried about the way our team was playing. Although the defence had been able to soak up a good amount of pressure, the line speed whether from our kick chase or in defence had not been alive with the same steel and energy as usual - the beating heart of the team had been seemingly removed . Saints had brought their pack to the breakdown in rampant health and we were not able to cope with the amount of effort needed to retain or steal their ball. Saracens tried to start again to off load and manoeuvre around the big bodies but, during a ruck where Ashton was trying to place the ball back, Sarries were manhandled again and the ball was lost. The saints fully took their advantage of the disarray to send Jamie Eliot over the whitewash in just a few seconds. Myler again handled the conversion very well.
Saracens now found themselves under huge pressure to score next and this was not helped by Charlie Hodgson having to come off after an earlier clattering in a tackle. The team looked shell shocked that they had fallen so far behind and it was of their own making. Owen Farrell, making another late tackle on a up and under by Myler, handed another opportunity to increase their lead to 17 - this is fast becoming a worry for our up and coming fly half. The rest of the half passed in flurry of handling mistakes and scrums. The only positive light in this period was a good quick tap from Ashton which had set a platform for Brits to run at Tom Wood but he stood tall and stopped him in his tracks. Although Wood held on and then conceded a penalty, Owen couldn't make it count and Saracens ended the half with no points whatsoever. The last time that happened must have been some time ago but of little matter after what could have been one of if not the worst first half performance this year in the most crucial of games.
Saracens started the 2nd half with the rain and the clouds truly settled in, almost like an omen the way that the match was heading. Saracens now seemed to have some urgency around them and their game and all of a sudden it started paying dividends. Saracens made good head way over the gain line, spreading the ball left and right before Strettle ran from deep and on to Brits' shoulder to take the ball and make a break – David has been one of the best in the premiership at this sort of move with his pace but, just inches from the try line, he was turned in the tackle and Foden managed to get between the ball and the pitch. Sarries, however, despite this better start could not secure the 5m scrum and Northampton cleared their lines via a penalty.
There was a feeling that if we could score a converted try in the first 10 minutes we could start to claw back the gap but conditions for fast and flowing rugby had gone in the first half. Rain now dominated the stadium and, with lineouts becoming a lottery, combined with the tough scrum battle, conditions meant that, dispite a good amount of possession, we failed to make any in-roads. Saracens started to ring the usual changes, Richard Wigglesworth coming on to replace Neil; Andy Saull departed to what should have been a far greater applause, from a subdued stadium, in what turned out to be the last game he would have with Saracens before the move to Newcastle - Kruis came in to replace him.
We were still running in to a very solid and powerful Saints wall however, finally we were able to break our duck from a penalty which was moved an extra 10 metres after the ball was thrown away. This time Farrell made a much better connection and we finally had points on the board. This sparked better play from us and we had another penalty soon after, when Christian Day was judged to have made a side entry to a maul and Owen again put this over. Slowly were were crawling back in to the game, but Northampton were still able to dominate all the physical aspects of the match. For all of Saracens hard work and scrapping, Saints never were out of control and the real turning point of the match came from some more defence in our own 22. We had repelled any major driving around the fringe but a real lapse of concentration by the ruck guards allowed a two-on-one against an isolated Wigglesworth which Van Velze exploited with aplomb. This was the telling point of the match - this almost Saracens-esque score was converted and even the most ardent fan would have known the gig was up.
We were able to steel ourselves once Jamie Elliot, after having such a good game, had a rush of blood to the head and took out Owen Farrell, on the hour mark. We were stung into action now that a brick had been removed from the great wall and, after some patient phases, (something that had been amiss from the first half), the ball was swung wide from greasy fingertips and Duncan Taylor stepped inside Ben Foden (who over-committed) and touched down. Owen Farrell converted despite some distraction, but, in honesty, this was too little, too late and when Steven Myler sent his last penalty over, the stands started to empty. Carlos Nieto was brought on to earn his 100th and last appearance but this was overshadowed by the looming defeat. The score remained 13-27 and, when the last chance of a consolation score was knocked-on, over the try line, the game was finished.
We could have some gripes if we wanted to. Dylan Hartley spent a good while trying to point out things to the referee in the line-out throw ins, and the referee, as normal, had drew a fair amount of boos, but, in all honesty, we were outplayed by a very strong Northampton side which, despite performing sporadically throughout the year, clicked in one almighty display when it counted. They finally had their revenge, and after all their failures at this stage, they now have the earned right to fight the Tigers at Twickenham.
But when this defeat is remembered in years to come, it should be overshadowed by what was an historic year for a club that so many have followed over the years, getting used to perennial failures. The future stars in our senior team; the topping of the table for the first time in our top flight history. This, combined with the new stadium and crowds we have drawn, all add to the hope that our club will continue to be a top four fixture each and every year and be far more stable and sustaining after all the years of moving and spending.
The battle wounds will hurt now, but if we continue to operate to the club's core standards, now affixed to the top of our new home, rather than today, we will return to the big show.
Attendance 9,998
Saracens
Tries: Taylor
Conv: Farrell
Pens: Farrell (2)
Saints
Tries: Mujati, Elliot, Van Velze
Conv: Myler (3)
Pens Myler (2)
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Thanks ninjafez for your debut match report.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2013:05:26:12:06:31 by TonyTaff.
Make another step or two forward though, especially after seemingly bottling it in our biggest games.
Still proud of the club and players though, thanks to those leaving and I look forward to seeing the others next season or supporting them over the summer.
How many losing match reports are needed before you become 'Son of Jonah'?
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
The corresponding musical attempts to put Myler off his conversions just at the point of impact were mistimed by the way. If such an unfair advantage were ever desirable, it would surely be more effective coming at the moment the standing foot is placed. Other than that I can offer the perpetrators no advice other than they request the club to turn down both the PA and the drums, which had obviously immured Myler's response to sudden sounds.
Not that I'm suggesting Sarries over-liberal use of noise during the game is unfair you understand, after all there's no law against being unclassy. Now Verdi pre-match...
Commiserations to all.
should never proof read your own work!
(no pressure!)Regardez mon visage. Suis-je bovvered?
A young woman, who came once, was highly indignant with me because I happened to be in a seat between her and the current love-of-her life. The fact that I am a STH didn't seem to register as significant with her.
There has been a steady stream of different faces around me, with their knowledge of rugby varying from excellent to non-existent, taking in bizarre on the way.
The worst was the bloke who was intent on impressing the girl next to him with inane, uninformed, comments throughout the match - and constant references to 'his mate' Nigel Wray.
I take solace in that there are a couple of regulars close by who are even more one eyed, referee-hating, curmudgeons than me.
Regardez mon visage. Suis-je bovvered?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:05:15:07:05:05 by Convex Hull.