SINGING IN THE RAIN

Home matches against Exeter are no strangers to unusual off the field happenings, as there was a motorbike display as part of the guard of honour, making Allianz Park resemble the Ace Cafe, perhaps that was a fitting sentiment about the match which would follow, on a day when Neil de Kock hit 250 appearances for the club, with Chris Wyles and Alex Goode both hitting the 200 mark. This was a very encouraging attacking display on a number of levels, and not just down to the return of the internationals who fitted in seamlessly as we have come to expect. Schalk Brits was particularly outstanding in the loose, but, cliched though it may be, this was a result in which everyone played their part. 437 metres were made, 29 defenders beaten and eight clean breaks, in a smart offloading game (15 offloads made), which mastered the wet and windy conditions, and the ruthless alertness to, and execution of try-scoring changes was up with the very best of the dominant displays at the start of the season. A very dangerous Exeter side, who had won this fixture last season. were unable to get a foothold in the game, and though they completed a healthy number of turnovers (the breakdown being the only area of concern for Saracens in this match), they missed 29 tackles.

 

The line ups saw Alex Goode at full back, with Duncan Taylor slotting in on the right wing, and Marcelo Bosch joining Brad Barritt in the centres, as Chris Wyles continued on the left wing. Owen Farrell returned at fly half with Richard Wigglesworth at scrum half. Forwards-wise, Mako Vunipola was back at loosehead, as Brits remained at hooker and Petrus du Plessis started at tighthead. Maro Itoje and George Kruis came back into the second row, and the revised back row featured Jackson Wray, Will Fraser and Billy Vunipola. Exeter Chiefs started with Phil Dollman at full back, and with Jack Nowell rested, Olly Woodburn and Lachlan Turner were on the wings, with Henry Slade and Ian Whitten at centre, Gareth Steenson at fly half and Dave Lewis at scrum half. In the pack, Alec Hepburn, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Harry Williams formed the front row, with Geoff Parling and Damien Welch at lock, and a back row of Dave Ewers, Julian Salvi and Thomas Waldrom. 

 

After the dreaded exercise bikes had been put in front of Behind the Bench towers, Saracens got the first penalty for a high tackle by Exeter inside their own 22, but playing into a strong wind, the home side got little distance on the kick and Exeter were able to defuse the ensuing maul. They had the first chance of getting on the board in the fifth minute as Saracens were penalised for a high tackle, but in the windy conditions which necessitated a teammate holding the ball, Steenson's kick from 30 metres was pulled to the left. On eleven minutes, Saracens entered the Chiefs' half, albeit slowly through a rolling maul and forced the penalty to reach their 22, but, again, the maul was successfully defended. Finally, though, the hosts' attacking game got going, as a series of carries and a Billy Vunipola offload eased them into opposition territory, and another strong run by the England number 8 saw the ball worked to Farrell and then Fraser, whose slick back of the hand pass sent Taylor scampering to the line, and from the consequent pressure, the ball was worked to Goode to spin and score underneath the posts. Farrell added he extras for a 7-0 lead on 18 minutes. They might have gone further ahead, seven minutes later, when they won a scrum penalty on halfway to earn a lineout 35 metres out. Itoje collected, and there were powerful surges from Brits and Billy Vunipola before Waldrom was penalised for going off his feet, but Farrell's kick at goal drifted wide of the left upright. 

 

There was a real zip to Sarries' play now after a subdued start, and threatening runs by Brits and Wigglesworth set up a chance, but the hosts were hauled into touch, with Exeter taking a penalty from the ensuing play to relieve the growing pressure, However, they were making errors in the lineout and in their kicking play meaning that they didn't fully capitalise in having the wind behind them. Saracens in contrast were comfortable with the ball in hand, and served up another superbly-worked try after 32 minutes. The Chiefs were caught offside on halfway, and the penalty forced a lineout just outside their 22. From Billy Vunipola's initial charge, play was spread through Wigglesworth, Wray and Barritt to the right and then to the left again, where Brits did exceptionally well not only to reach for a pass which seemed far too high, but quickly offload it to Billy Vunipola to drive over in the left hand corner with tacklers hanging off him. The conversion hung in mid air and fell short. Exeter, though, would finish the half stronger. A forward pass gave them a scrum on the edge of the Saracens 22, and when Kruis strayed off his feed in the play which followed, Steenso collected the three points, The kick off drifted straight out of play, and from the scrum, Exeter got another penalty for a half time score of 12-6.

 

With the wind incessantly continuing, Saracens penned the visitors back, and after a series of lineouts for both sides, Saracens successfully defended a maul 25 metres out, and a quickfire move saw Wigglesworth send Billy Vunipola away, and his neat offload seemed to have set up Fraser, but the TMO replay showed that Slade had dislodged the ball on contact. Whilst posing little attacking threat, Exeter were doing well in defence, forcing crucial penalties at the breakdown as Saracens were frustrated in adding to their lead. Seemingly it would need something special for the home side to build the cushion they needed, and on 52 minutes it got it. Picking up a Brits pass, Farrell surged through for a superb solo try, which he converted himself, and Sarries were now 19-6 ahead. Moments later, they were indebted to Wyles for some excellent defence to deny Woodburn after he had snapped onto a stray ball in midfield and arrowed towards the line. However, just before the hour, the Chiefs were back in the game, after some sustained pressure, a penalty set up the trademark rolling maul ten metres out, and replacement scrum half Will Chudley set up Waldrom to go over from close range. Exeter were enjoying more possession by now, but not in dangerous areas, as the home side controlled territory, but were probably still giving away too many penalties.

 

With wholesale changes for both sides, what proved to be the game-clinching try arrived with 14 minutes left. After an initial kick caused havoc in midfield, an excellent flowing move saw Brits and Farrell break at brace, allowing de Kock to set up Wray to go in beneath the posts. Farrell stretched the advantage to 29-11 four minutes later when Exeter offended at the breakdown, and his kick almost from his own line reached the five metre zone outside the Exeter try line. The lineout was stolen, but the ball came loose just as a fifth try appeared to be on the cards. This did come, though, with five minutes left, as a neat move culminated in replacement Ben Ramson setting up Wyles to cut in from the left and score just to the left of the posts. A late sin-binning of Itoje for hands in the ruck allowed Exeter to finish with a relative flourish as Waldrom weaved over from the ruck to close the match, as Will Hooley's conversion made it 36-18.

 

So, a vital, and satisfying win, for Saracens, which they controlled well, and this bodes extremely well as a massive step towards a home semi-final as well as the European Quarter Final just two short weeks away. 

 

Line Ups:

Saracens:

15 Alex Goode; 14 Duncan Taylor (Mike Ellery 70); 13 Marcelo Bosch; 12 Brad Barritt; 11 Chris Wyles; 10 Owen Farrell (Ben Ransom 72); 9 Richard Wigglesworth (Neil de Kock 62); 1 Mako Vunipola (Richard Barrington 70); 2 Schalk Brits (Jared Saunders 71); 3 Petrus du Plessis (Titi Lamositele 63); 4 Maro Itoje; 5 George Kruis; 6 Jackson Wray (Alistair Hargreaves 67); 7 Will Fraser (Kelly Brown 51); 8 Billy Vunipola

 

Exeter Chiefs

15 Phil Dollman (Max Bodilly 70); 14 Olly Woodburn; 13 Henry Slade; 12 Ian Whitten; 11 Lachlan Turner; 10 Gareth Steenson (Will Hooley 70); 9 Dave Lewis (Will Chudley 51); 1 Alec Hepburn (Ben Moon 51); 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Elvis Taione 70); 3 Harry Williams (Moray Low 51); 4 Geoff Parling; 5 Damien Welch (Ollie Atkins 70); 6 Dave Ewers; 7 Julian Selvi (Kai Hortsmann 70); 8 Thomas Waldrom

 

Attendance: 9749

 

Referee  Matt Carley RFU