6 of the Best for Ernie

I realised whilst preparing for this report that it will be my twelfth Double Header and a dozen unofficial reports to go with it. The first 8 years were pretty uneventful with 2 wins and 3 losses to Wasps; one loss to Quins and one of each against Irish. The last 4 years have been more fruitful with 4 bonus point wins, two against Irish;  last year against Wasps and now Worcester. I’ve let the cat out of the bag; it was a thumping win. The highest Sarries score but not their biggest margin

The wind, rain and cold of late November isn’t the same as the warmth of early autumn and this reflected in the crowd numbers which were significantly down (by 24k) on last year; but interestingly more than 2005 and 2007. I came on my own this year; normally my sons come with me but they weren’t interested given the cold.  

Fighting to get there on trains full of Xmas shoppers into London the one from Waterloo was strangely empty. Still it was an easy trip to Twickenham and a swift walk to the ground. You could tell there weren’t many expected they had not shut any of the roads. A couple of Guinness; then on to the match. Ernst came out alone, somewhat embarrassed it seemed to me and although there was warm applause it wasn’t the same as it would have been at AzP   

The game started with Worcester looking strong; playing in and around the Sarries 22 for long periods. Great defence though and finally possession on halfway. A lineout won and a couple of drives before Spencer at scrum-half saw a missing guard. He dummied and darted through the gap; quickly up to the 22. Suddenly he was being closed out but great vision and even greater foot dexterity saw a kick wide. Ashton was alive to it and poached on the kind bounce to dive over. Charlie added the extras for a 7-0 lead on what was our first touch of the ball in their half. Worcester drove again well from the restart with Schonert doing a good impersonation of a galleon, bursting through the defence time and time again. He did seem though all Worcester had to offer and finally he won a very kickable penalty. Heathcote missed badly. As did Charlie from the next Sarries visit to the Worcester half. But for the first quarter of the game it was mostly Worcester possession and field position. All they were missing was the points: Sarries clinical as ever.

With Worcester driving yet again on the 10 yard line; Itoje ripped the ball in the tackle and ran blind. A great timed pass to Wyles put him in space and as Pennell came across Spencer was there to take the inside pass. He has an easy run in and was close enough for Charlie to add the extras for a 14-0 lead. The score was pretty fantastic as Sarries had only been in the Worcester 22 for the 2 tries and only in their half twice more. Worcester were not finished though and they kept trying. Their next penalty was wide out and kicked to the corner and only determined defence kept them out. Finally though Sarries got some sustained possession of their own and several drives later Wray seemed to have scored as he put the ball down with the outside of his arm. The decision was a little odd to me as Sarries got the 5 yard scrum put-in. Surely it was try or knock-on. Anyway a couple of penalties with the Worcester defence in desperate straits. Seemed certain that Sarries would get a try or a yellow card for Worcester. A penalty under the posts was taken pragmatically for 17-0.

Worcester came back trying hard again and in the process won a couple of penalties in kickable positions and the score got closer at 17-6. Sarries had the last of the first half as a kickable penalty of their own was converted by Charlie for 20-6. I should point out a memorable moment for one of the individuals I go to rugby with for many years. Joseph, who some of you may know as Ginger Fez; one of the drummers is also training to be a referee. He got his greatest moment yesterday as part of the mini-tournament he refereed on the hallowed turf during the interval. A very proud father standing by me was strangely silent; although he didn’t turn down a pint.

We thought that if the bonus would be on we needed to score quickly and it was as expected. Penalty from the scrum, kick to the corner and a rumble from the lineout. There was a long drive and Jackson Wray made up for his disappointment in the first half coming up with the touchdown. Charlie added the extras for a 27-6 lead. Worcester were still not disappointed though and kept plugging away. They had around four lineout drives and won four penalties. Some of them seemed harsh to me, but probably correct with 2 eyes open. Sarries were on yellow card warning but drove brilliantly with Kruis at the front to pin Worcester back and win the maul. Then a penalty from the scrum and we were back to halfway.

Then the best bit of the match. Sarries kicked from a ruck and Pennell kicked back. Scalla collected and with a little shimmy a gap opened. Suddenly he was through a big hole and almost up to the 22. As he was closed down he passed to Charlie Hodgson who fed a lovely inside pass to Chris Ashton. Cue try, cue splash. The first time I’ve seen him do that for over a season. Cue bonus point, cue a number of changes for both sides. But before that Charlie was able to pass a milestone of 2,500 premiership points; perhaps a total never to be beaten. Lets hope so.  

Sarries were not done yet and a lineout in the corner shortly after was collected and slowly driven forward. Dowson stopped it illegally and was given a 10 minute rest to get the kettle on. From the penalty Sarries tried again and this time it was set up well but the drive stalled. The backs joined in, first Ash, then Brad and Bosch. Irresistible force and Scalla was over for the fifth try. Charlie added the points and suddenly in the crowd around me the call went up – a-la-Ernie ‘WE WANT 50’. Sarries were desperately in the hunt now and the ball was thrown around in abandon until it went wide for Ransom to go over. Charlie again adding the points and it was 48-6. The 50 was on in earnest. (Ernst!!! Eds) Sarries threw everything to make the dream for Ernst come true and as Sarries were driving right under the posts; a penalty. Unfortunately it was for holding on.

Worcester had all the play remaining; scoring a couple of tries. Great run by Heem, beating a number of players including a rubbish tackle by Faz; wonderful finish by a prop running from very deep. Then from the restart Worcester pressed well and after a good number of phases van Velze finished off in the corner. 48-18 the final score. Unfortunately the teams from the Wasps Irish game were warming up almost immediately along with the Irish girl dancers. We were unable to give Ernie a send-off. Monday night at Azp is where you need to be evidently

Ps I though the referee had a good performance; perhaps an additional yellow card for both sides for persistent offending should have happened, but I’m being petty. He is coming on well from the London Welsh performance of a few years ago 

The second game seemed scrappy by comparison with Wasps managing to butcher a number of overlaps; or perhaps Irish defended well. Well taken Irish try just before half-time with almost all the play of that first half around the Irish 22 the score of 8-11 was a good result for Irish. I left at half-time; it was getting cold. I gather Wasps scored 3 tries in the second half to win easily. The trip to Coventry after the Xmas mince pies should be a cracker   

 I’m really hoping that the last double Header report I have to write – because there won’t be a 13^th.

Teams

Saracens: 15 Ben Ransom; 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Chris Wyles; 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Ben Spencer; 1 Rhys Gill, 2 Schalk Brits, 3 Juan Figallo; 4 George Kruis, 5 Alistair Hargreaves ©, 6 Jackson Wray, 7 Kelly Brown, 8 Ernst Joubert.

Replacements: 16 Jared Saunders, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 Maro Itoje, 20 Samulea Vunisa, 21 Neil De Kock, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Nick Tompkins.

Replacements used: Saunders for Brits (64); Barrington for Gill (53); Lamositele for Figallo (64); Itoje for Hargreaves (2); Vanisa for Wray (56); de Kock for Spencer (53); Farrell for Bosch (70); Tompkins for Barritt (64).

Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell; 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Cooper Vuna; 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Jonny Arr; 1 Na’ama Leleimalefaga, 2 Niall Annett, 3 Nick Schonert; 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 5 Darren Barry; 6 Phil Dowson, 7 Sam Betty, 8 GJ van Velze (C)

Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 Joe Rees, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Matt Cox, 21 Charlie Mulchrone, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Ben Howard.

Replacements used: Bregvadze for Annett (53); Ruskin for Leleimalefaga (53); Rees for Schonert (47); Cavubati for O’Callaghan (58); Cox for Betty (58); Mulchrone for Arr (67); Howard for Vuna (61).

Referee: Ian Tempest

Attendance 42,680