Saracens Deliver Fine Win over DHL Western Province

Saracens 46-22 DHL Western Province The Sanlam Private Investments Challenge Sunday 9 November 2014 An outstanding attacking display, orchestrated by some superb play at half-back, produced an emphatic win against Currie Cup holders DHL Western Province at Allianz Park. Coupled with the hard-fought win at Neath on Friday night, the strength in depth of the Saracens squad has been made clear, as the hosts gradually gained a foothold in the game which they never relinquished after an even start to proceedings.

As expected, Sarries fielded a strong line up. The backs saw Ben Ransom at full back, with Chris Ashton and David Strettle on the wings, and Chris Wyles and Tim Streather in the centres. Neil de Kock and Charlie Hodgson forming the half-back combination. The starting front row comprised of Rhys Gill, Jamie George and Juan Figallo, whilst the back row comprised of Kelly Brown, Jackson Wray and Ernst Joubert.

Western Province's starting line up contained eleven of the initial 15 in the Currie Cup final, including try scorer Taute and captain Juan de Jongh, who formed the centre partnership. Dillyn Leyds featured instead of Kolbe at full back, whilst Kobus van Wyk was on the wing in the final, and featured in this match, but, on the opposite side, Pat Howard replaced Seabelo Senatla, who is with South Africa. Fly half Demetri Catrakilis and scrum half Nic Groom were the half backs in the final, and started here. However, the front row saw Vincent Koch in for Pat Cilliers at tighthead prop, alongside Alistair Vermaak and hooker Scarra Ntubeni. Jean Kleyn and Manuel Carizza continued at lock, with Sikhumbuzo Notshe replacing Nizaam Carr in the back row which also featured Rynhardt Elstadt and Micheal Rhodes.

In a fast-paced start, Groom opted to run an early penalty for the visitors, and as they switched play from left to right and went through the phases, Saracens strayed offside and a simple kick for Castrakilis gave Western Province a fourth minute lead. The hosts were showing plenty of attacking intent too, with an eye-catching break by Ransom in particular, but Western Province thwarted three promising moves in quick succession by turning over possession. After losing Ernst Joubert to injury in the 13th minute, Hargreaves did well to deny the visitors an opening score and a defensive penalty cleared the danger as the Currie Cup winners showed their power in attack in the early stages.

However, it was Saracens who claimed the first try. After Western Province were penalised for not releasing the ball, the hosts moved play across the field, and when De Kock, playing against his former club, collected Strettle's pass, his fine swerving run towards the line set up the supporting Ashton to finish under the posts, and Hodgson added the extras as the hosts led after 18 minutes.

Within two minutes, the home side added another try, Strettle latched onto Hodgson's pass, and set off on a 40 metre dash, evading two tackles and the touchline to score in the left hand corner, but Hodgson's only miss of the day left it at 12-3. Western Province were back in the game by the 24th minute, though. A penalty took them into the Saracens 22, and some patient play through the phases saw Groom supply the pass for Catrakilis to dummy and barge over the line on the left. Bizarrely, particularly in the context of the half time crossbar challenge for 1 million Rand, the fly half managed to clatter the outside of the left hand post twice with the conversion, as Saracens were penalised for encroachment of the first. Unfortunately, the unsuccessful half-time contestant was unable to enlist Catrakilis' help.

Saracens capitalised on a fumble of the kick-off by the visitors to devastating effect as De Kock passed to Hodgson in the centre, and his excellent reverse pass sent Ashton to race to the line for another converted try. After 32 minutes, Saracens stretched their advantage further to 26-8 with a real collectors' item. De Kock snapped onto a loose ball and passed to Hargreaves on his right, who found Botha to score a fine try in the right hand corner against a side he previously represented. The visitors continued to press, but the home side kept their line intact in what was shaping up to be a pulsating encounter.

Having already swapped Gill for Richard Barrington, half time saw the other prop changed as Petrus De Plessis replaced Figallo. Two minutes into the second half, Western Province had cut the deficit to eleven points with an excellent try. Captain Juan de Jongh surged down the left touchline and slipped a pass inside to Michael Rhodes, who found Catrakilis to break forward and score just to the left of the posts, this time easily converting his own score, and it was 26-15. Having got back into the game, Western Province continued to press, and Fraser was sent to the sin bin by referee Andrew Small for not rolling away, whilst on 48 minutes, Duncan Taylor replaced Streather at centre.

Saracens extended their lead further as Hodgson added a penalty right in front of the posts for 29-16. Errors were beginning to creep into the visitors play now, though, as they lost their own lineout after winning a penalty on halfway, and a fine break by replacement Coleman, on for Catrakilis,  came to nothing as his side were penalised for crossing. By now, Louis Schreuder had also come on for Groom, as one of a number of replacements.

The home side established a formidable 17 point lead with 53 minutes played, when they secured a penalty on half way. Generally the preserve of Marcelo Bosch, but he wasn't playing, so up stepped Hodgson to dispatch the kick with ease. Western Province continued to push hard, but were conceding as many penalties as they were receiving, whilst Saracens made three changes on the hour mark as George, Botha and De Kock made way for Sharman, Itoje and Spencer.

The last of these was in action immediately for Sarries' fifth try after 63 minutes. When the ball was stolen from a visitors' line up, the replacement scrum half chipped the ball forward perfectly for Strettle to collect and run on to score on the left hand corner, and Hodgson claimed the conversion. He was replaced by Nils Mordt for the last 15 minutes, whilst Mike Ellery came on for Ashton at the same time. The Currie Cup holders scored their third try on 67 minutes when replacement prop Oli Kebble broke through a tackle to set up replacement hooker Mbonambi for a try at the foot of the post, and Coleman converted, making it 39-22.

It was Sarries who would have the last word, just two minutes later, as some crisp passing from Spencer was at the heart of an intricate move which saw the ball through the hands, allowing Fraser to finish at the right hand corner. So, a pleasant afternoon in every sense, and certainly a display which showcased the talents of this Saracens squad amply, particularly important given the number of new supporters within the ground today. Certainly, it will prove to be the perfect preparation for the double header against Leicester and Northampton in the next two weeks. 

Saracens

15 Ben Ransom, 14 Chris Ashton (Mike Ellery 66 mins), 13 Tim Streather (Duncan Taylor 48), 12 Chris Wyles, 11 David Strettle, 10 Charlie Hodgson (Nils Mordt 66), 9 Neil De Kock(  Ben Spencer 62), 1 Rhys Gill (Richard Barrington 35), 2 Jamie George ( Brett Sharman 60), 3 Juan Figallo( Petrus Du Plessis 41), 4 Mouritz Botha( Maro Itoje 59), 5 Alistair Hargreaves(c), 6 Jackson Wray, 7 Kelly Brown, 8 Ernst Joubert( Will Fraser 12).

DHL Western Province:

15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Pat Howard, 10 Demetri Catrakilis (Kurt Coleman 41), 9 Nic Groom (Louis Schreuder 41), 1 Alistair Vermaak (Oli Kebble 53). 2 Scarra Ntubeni (Bongi Mbonambi 53) 3 Vincent Koch,,4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Manuel Carizza, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 7 Michael Rhodes, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe,

Scorers:-

Saracens: Tries – Ashton (2) Strettle (2) Botha, Fraser, Conv – Hodgson (3) Spencer (1); Pens Hodgson (2)

DHL Western Province: Tries – Catrakilis (2) Mbonambie, Conv – Catrakilis, Coleman; Pens: Catrakilis (1)

Referee: Andrew Small (RFU)