Toulouse or not Toulouse
By King Zak
November 15 2015
Toulouse or not Toulouse …… … that was the question following the tragic events of Friday night in Paris. Would Toulouse be prepared to play and if they did, would they be fully focused upon the game. They elected to play the game but their first half display raised serious questions about their focus.
Expectant anticipation during the week was replaced by a minute’s silence in remembrance of the 129 people who died in the terrorist attacks in Paris, followed by a rendition of Le Marseilles and a rapturous round of applause as a symbol of solidarity with our friends across La Manche.
It was an emotionally charged occasion and perhaps contributed to the sluggish start from the visitors. There was no such malaise from the hosts though. From the first whistle Saracens played with a pace and intent that had been absent from the first four games of the season.
The selection of Kruis, Itoje, Rhodes & Fraser indicated that it was going to be high-speed, suffocating defence. They were immense, slicing down anyone in a white shirt the moment they received the ball, suitably aided by the rest of the ‘Wolfpack’. A notable contest was that between Picamoles and Billy V, one that the Saracens man won but it was not one-sided and has already set up a mouth-watering prospect of regular encounters when the Frenchman joins Northampton Saints next season.
They were just as dynamic in attack too, consistently crossing the gain-line before off-loading in the tackle or re-cycling quick ball. They were more than ably supported by Wigglesworth & Farrell who moved the ball at pace and, generally, with accuracy. The handling was of high quality given the wet and blustery conditions, constantly stretching the Toulouse defence. Saracens early pressure was rewarded with a simple 3 points for Farrell after Toulouse were caught offside in front of the posts 15 metres out.
The backs were busy too, particularly Ashton who was at his industrious best; running those deep mid-field lines, picking holes in the overworked defensive line. One such burst saw him beat three defenders and took the ball deep into the Toulouse 22. He was unable to get round Matanavou for the try and unfortunately Goode knocked on as the opportunity opened up when the ball was worked back across field. Regardless, it had been a very encouraging start for Saracens.
The second score came courtesy of another Farrell penalty, won by Fraser, and Sarries had a 6-0 lead after 10 minutes. This was extended on 15 minutes, a try started and finished by Mako. His initial off-load to Farrell created the line break and it was the prop who subsequently drove over from close range. It required confirmation from the TMO but the try was awarded and Farrell added the conversion. He was also on target 5 minutes later with another penalty, this one a bit more challenging than first two; and a couple of minutes later with yet another simple kick from in front of the posts - after 25 minutes Saracens led 19-0.
The game was concentrated in and around the visitor’s 22 and as the penalty count rose it was inevitable that Mr Clancy would eventually issue a yellow card. Former Saracen Census Johnston was the recipient after he entered a maul from an offside position. It proved to be an expensive 10 minutes as Sarries added another 8 points through a Farrell penalty and an excellent try by Wyles in the left corner. It was a try that epitomised the first half performance; pace, power and precision. Farrell missed the conversion but a lead of 27-0 just before half-time was more than we could have hoped for.
Toulouse did have a couple of brief attacks and the running of Picamoles & Tekori proved a constant threat. The half concluded with Toulouse camped on the Saracens try line but the Wolfpack was at its defiant best. The roar that greeted the award of a penalty for holding on (courtesy of Fraser – again!) was as loud as any all afternoon. 27-0 at half-time!
We wondered how Toulouse would approach the second half with the strong wind at their backs. It didn’t take long to find out. A big, loopy pass from Bezy was intercepted by Barritt just inside the Toulouse half. He fed the ball inside to Fraser who headed towards the posts. He released the ball to his left just before the line but the momentum was briefly lost and so too the opportunity. However, it was only a brief respite and as the ball was worked back towards the right wing, another scything run from Ashton took the ball to within touching distance of the try line. A further burst from Wyles and Farrell saw them over the line. It took some while for the TMO to agree that the try had been scored, but in all honesty, I’m still not sure which one of them actually got the ball down! Farrell was again off target but with 43 minutes gone, Sarries led 32-0.
Toulouse did finally start to find some fluency and with it they were able to put the home defence under real pressure. They were rewarded with a try on 50 minutes when Tolofua forced his way over the line, Bezy adding the conversion. Not many would have predicted at that stage that it would be the final score of the game. Saracens had several opportunities to grab the bonus point try but the efficiency of the first half departed them. Brits replaced George, and with it went the lineout accuracy and dominance. Mako was replaced by Gill which, combined with changes to the Toulouse front row, removed the dominance Saracens had enjoyed at the scrum and penalties started to go the way of the visitors.
A final score of 32-7 was probably beyond our expectations before kick-off but by the end felt somewhat disappointing! A league points score of 4-0 though is most welcome in a group that will be tightly contested and bonus points (of either ‘shade’) could prove to be very significant – denying Toulouse a losing BP may prove to be vital.
It was a very good performance from Saracens, at times verging on excellent. Several individuals stood out; Fraser, Itoje and Rhodes were tireless and consistently disrupted the breakdown; Billy carried with real purpose and Wigglesworth & Farrell showed excellent game management and control. Next week’s game in Belfast will go a long way to determining Saracens success or otherwise in this year’s competition, a similar performance would be most welcome!
Ultimately, Saturday was about more than a game of rugby; it was symbolic of the determination not to bow to the acts of terrorism. In that, the ‘red & black’ and ‘rouge et noir’ are united!
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt ©, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth: 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Petrus Du Plessis, 4 George Kruis, 5 Maro Itoje, 6 Michael Rhodes, 7 Will Fraser, 8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Alistair Hargreaves, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Marcelo Bosch
Toulouse: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Gaël Fickou, 12 Toby Flood, 11 Timoci Matanavou, 10 Luke Mcalister, 9 Sébastien Bezy: 1 Guthrö Steenkamp, 2 Julien Marchand, 3 Census Johnston, 4 Yoann Maestri, 5 Iosefa Tekori, 6 Yacouba Camara, 7 Thierry Dusautoir 8 Louis Picamoles
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Vasil Kakovin, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Millo-Chluski, 20 Imanol Harinordoquy, 21 Clement Poitrenaud, 22 Jean-Marc Doussain, 23 Yann David
Referee: George Clancy
Attendance: 9,672
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2015:11:26:20:55:40 by Darraghgirl.
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
You can't play like that for 80 minutes and we didn't,, but we had done more than enough to justify a victory that was beyond even the most optimistic supporters wildest dreams
In any case, we'll certainly take that
Excellent report - many thanks
"Phucq, not another 3-try victory".
That having been said, if we had won 64-0, I would have felt a little guilty about having profited from the circumstances
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
With that performance we are looking good for a result whenever we travel in this group.
Our home results should see us through.
Will and Jamie were immense and England must come calling soon.
