SO CLOSE, SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR AWAY
By DG
June 1 2024
In the end it wasn’t to be: so close but no cigar. Instead of a fairytale ending at Twickenham, Faz, Mako, Billy and Lewi had to make do with a windy night at Franklins’ Gardens for their last hurrah in a Saracens shirt. But at least they tried – the whole team tried so very hard for them but it came down to that Achilles Heel which has dogged Sarries all season: the scrum. We supporters have watched it and wondered why the coaches seem unable to fix it. For much of the season we have got away with it but up against the best team in the league, it was a step too far. Credit to Sarries, they matched Saints in every department – apart from the scrum: and in a game this monumental, this tight, it mattered.
Sarries started well and were on top for almost the first quarter with 2 penalties from Elliot Daly (Faz not kicking again: apparently his groin isn’t quite right). With their first real attack, capitalising on an error from Cinti, Northampton’s dynamic backs hit back with a break from the excellent Furbank and a super little pass to Odendaal for the first try which Smith converted to lead 7-6.
Parton departed with an injury and it was lovely to see the return of Alex Lozowski looking fit and well. It seemed as though Sarries had scored when Loz made a lovely break down the wing and found Jamie inside him who touched down. Austin Healey was quick to point out that Jamie was offside. Ian Tempest the TMO concurred (Jamie was and I’m sure Tempo picked this up without Healey’s help) and the try was disallowed. Saints then kicked a penalty to increase their lead to 10-6. Sarries started to look rattled, with both Faz and Daly making uncharacteristic handling errors, the scrum gave way again and Smith kicked another penalty to go 13-6 ahead, steadily building the lead. As half time approached, Cinti almost escaped then as the clock headed for the red, Saints were awarded a penalty wide out. Smith judged the wind perfectly to give Saints a healthy 16-6 lead.
We hoped that playing with the wind, and with some insightful advice from the coaching team, Sarries could turn it around in the second half (and in fact they did win part 2 14-6 but it wasn’t quite enough). Ominously the half started with 2 scrum penalties to Saints but great Sarries’ defence prevented any scoreboard damage. The coaching team decided it was time for change and we bid a last farewell to Billy and Mako replaced by Willis and Mawi. Isiekwe and Jamie George also departed for McFarland and Dan. A big cheer from Saints’ fans with the arrival of Lewis Ludlum for his last appearance at Franklins’ Gardens.
Sarries immediately looked better with the new blood and a classic chip ahead by Faz bounced perfectly for Lewington to score in the corner. Somehow Daly persuaded the ball to go through the posts and at 16-13 Sarries were back in it. Saints very nearly replied when Sleightholme kicked the ball ahead 3 times but the bounce was unkind and it just beat him to the dead ball line. Alex Waller, Saints’ Stalwart, said goodbye to the Gardens. A minor Saints wobble when Smith missed a penalty. Was this a chink of light for Sarries? Mitchell was having none of it and raced down the wing for what looked like a try. But somehow Gonzales got there and forced him to put a foot in touch and the try was disallowed. What a find he has been! Another Mitchell break led to yet another Saints penalty which this time Smith landed for 19-13.
Groin injury or not, Faz was at the heart of everything. Along with Earl he was holding the green tide at bay. Unfortunately he insisted on another grubber into traffic which gave the ball back to Saints (I won’t miss that particular tactic, it so rarely comes off now). He made amends though by forcing a turnover. Riccioni was replaced by Hoskins and Itoje by Tizard. Into the last 10 minutes and Sarries conceded another scrum penalty, this one in front of the posts and Smith did the inevitable. At 22-13 Sarries now needed 2 scores. In fairness they didn’t give up. Davies replaced Van Zyl. With 3 minutes left it seemed like it was all over but Daly landed a super penalty touch and from the lineout, Cinti scored. Daly needed the conversion and with the clock against him and the ball out wide it wasn’t easy but bless him he got it to keep that tiny flame alight. There was just time for the restart. Smith kicked it deep. Catch the ball and somehow get up the other end but credit to Northampton, the green wall held and fittingly Courtney Lawes made the winning turnover. That was it and the dream was over.
We should be proud of the lads. They all put in a huge shift. But in the end, beating a team like Northampton with a dodgy scrum was a step too far. Sarries outscored Saints by 2 tries to 1. Credit to the whole team that they managed to get within 2 points despite conceding 6 scrum penalties. How nice that there wasn’t a single card in a game as important as this: well done to both teams and the referee.
So the season and the Farrell era ends here. An interview with Farrell after the game: “My head is a bit all over the place, I don’t know how I am feeling. I have spent most of my life at this club and I have loved it. It is sad that it is done, but I have fond memories”. Despite that he signed autographs and posed for photos with fans from Saints and Sarries alike. That’s the measure of the man
This has been a transitional season. For a few of our old stalwarts it was probably a season too far. For Farrell it was an emotional rollercoaster and the rugby world should hang their heads in shame at the way the finest player of his generation has felt the need to leave the club he loves and ply his trade in France. But all good things must come to an end and we move on.
Next season sees the arrival of some exciting new talent. Something to look forward to over the summer. A new ear waiting to be created. Now to go and renew my Season Ticket!
Northampton
Furbank, Freeman, Odendaal, Dingwall, Sleightholme (Hendy), Smith, Mitchell; Waller (Iyogun), Langdon (Matavesi), Davison (Millar Mills), Moon (Mayanavanua), Coles, Lawes, Pearson (Ludlam), Augustus (Graham)
Saracens
Daly, Lewington, Cinti, Tompkins, Parton (Lozowski), Farrell, Van Zyl (Davies); M Vunipola (Mawi), George (Dan), Riccioni (Hoskins), Itoje (Tizard), Isiekwe (McFarland), Gonzalez, Earl, B Vunipola (Willis)
SCORERS:
Northampton: Try Odendaal; Conv: Smith; Pens Smith (5)
Saracens: Tries: Lewington, Cinti; Conv: Daly (2); Pens: Daly (2)
Referee: Christophe Ridley
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:07:13:19:19:46 by Darraghgirl.
I'm yet to rewatch but I think there were some significant momentum shifts some for me:
George not checking his run for what likely still would have been a try. Sarries had had great momentum very early on but had not got the points to show. Scoring then would have shaken that Saints confidence that they were keeping us out.
Loose kick feeds Saints open field play and results in a try. Yes it wasn't simply about the kick but we seem a touch slow to learn that kicking to great attacking teams in space isn't a great idea.
Penalty right in front of our posts. There are times to compete and times to be squeaky clean. Some good defence undermined by a cheap 3 points.
JMG tackling Mitchell into touch. Saints on the ascendancy and it was feeling like this game might get beyond Sarries. Vital tackle that kept us in the fight.
Whilst I agree about the scrum we still could have won that game for sure which is encouraging.
He was excellent but what difference Farrell on both legs might have made? Segun was missed to. We maybe lack a little magic in the back three?
That said it was a performance to be proud of. I really look forward to that being the starting point for next season (as I had hoped last seasons final would be)
After all the pre-game chat (from myself included), I’m really pleased that Mako (in the loose at least) and certainly Billy had very good games to finish their careers with us on.
A word for Van Zyl too who, in my opinion, was our best player last night.
Finally, I thought Christophe Ridley was excellent all game. I thought he refereed the breakdown accurately and fairly, and couldn’t disagree with any pens he gave one way or the other. Everyone spends a lot of time whining about referees, but I thought he got everything right last night and that follows Matt Carley in the ECC final last week who I thought was similarly good.
I'm still not 100% about starting the Vunipolae but as you say fair dues both put in solid performance in the loose.
Here we go! Dah. Dah-dah-dee-dah....
If Bath's kicking game prevails over Saints, Gallagher, Russell and Muir all have bigger boots than any of the Saints back 3 and Bath could get a win. However if Saints start to open their game up, I can see them winning by 20+.
44% of the game played in our 22.
19 turnovers conceded
Although there were always critics, matters seemed to escalate after the red card given during the World cup warm up match against Wales as a result of the `Jamie George push incident ‘, when World Rugby threw out their own rule book and discredited their own independent panel, to subject a player to an ordeal that I cannot believe would have been deemed acceptable by any other Union. The “hard questions’ promised by Borthwick didn’t materialise either.
I have to say I was glad when., in a recent interview, it was put in the public domain that an approach was made to Owen to turn to rugby league when “events at Saracens`’ caused him “to have doubts about his future at the club”.
Players involved in RWC 23 have told me they believed he committed more to the team than any individual coach and that he “dragged the team by the scruff of the neck” to its bronze medal and almost single-handedly took them to the final, losing only by a single point in a semifinal which Brian O’Driscoll had predicted would be a South African massacre. All of this from a man who social media said it would be “cool’ to boo.
I’ve known Owen for years and have always found him humble, hardworking, honest and very, very kind. As Bundee Aki put it during the 2021 Lions Tour, Owen is the epitome of the ‘team first mentality.’ Eddie Jones has revealed that he was so concerned by Owen giving so much of himself that he had to remind him to remember his own requirements. Another international friend has told me that there are plenty of `me` players but that Owen is one of the very rare `you` players, always willing to support and help others.
As a reward, he has found himself disowned by his Union, let down by the current England Head Coach and stabbed in the back by people he would have believed to be friends. What I know about what Owen has gone through has been bad enough, and I suspect I only know the half of it. I wish he’d felt able, like the referees who stepped back, to reveal at least some of it. I think he will enjoy France- I’ve been delighted at the pleasure expressed at his coming by so many of his new team mates – and Stu is the man to heal the hurt.
Bonne chance, Faz, et merci mille fois!