TheSaracens.com - Saracens off the mark with Twickenham triumph

Dean Richards seems to have sorted out the forwards from this time last year and up front they seemed quite strong. Too much aimless kicking from both sides and a lack of ideas what to do with the ball; Sarries should have no problems with either of them. Irish in particular looked quite weak, especially as they have few players returning when the World Cup finishes. So on to the main event; butterflies in the stomach.

Which Sarries side would we see? – the one in the first half against the Welsh – or the second half against Munster?

Wasps kicked long to Leonelli who gathered well and set up a nice kick by Ross; so far so good. The lack of Ibanez did not seem to affect the Wasps line-out; it was still all over the place and the first 3 throws were snaffled up by Sarries. From the first a good up-and-under by Ross; Wasps hand on and a simple penalty gives us a 0-3 lead.

We looked sharp and prepared to run up the ball with de Kock and Ross working well releasing backs and forwards in turn. Wasps seem tentative, and cough up possession in the 22; Sarries drive to the line but are held up. A penalty; Ross kicks to the corner and after a couple of phases a resurgent Hugh drives over the line.

Sarries give a simple penalty away for driving in at the side in no real danger and Cipriani closes the gap. Not for long though as Sarries start cutting loose – a great move, twisting one way then the other and an elusive Powell crashes over in the corner. Cipriani was a naughty boy, trying to take his head off, but referee Davey to think it ok, with nothing more than a reprimand. It was not the only time as well as later on SuperKev was clotheslined, again with no punishment

One minute later, Davey is in the action again, sending Ryder to the bin for hands in the ruck around the 10 yard line. I am not sure what was worse – the decision, which seemed harsh in the extreme compared with Cipriani’s transgressions – or the persistence that we have fo giving away silly penalties when there is no pressure.

Frankly at that point Wasps looked toothless; we could have given them almost free-ball for the rest of the half and they still would have not scored a try. Cipriani keeps Wasps in the game with a good long kick, but it is Sarries in control, even with 14 men, driving at the Wasps line. A maul collapses, and Ross restores the 10 point advantage.

Wasps come back and get a penalty for offside Cipriani closes the gap to 9-16, which is where half time comes around. Sarries start the second half in the same way as the first, driving in all parts of the field, winning a scrum on the 22. Normally it would be Skirving who would pick up and drive for the line, but the ball squirted out quickly and de Kock was off in a flurry of boots and striped shirt. Two missed tackles later he is in next to the posts and Ross adds the extras. 9-23 and Sarries are in complete control.

Wasps are all over the place as Sarries go for the bonus point. We do give away another silly penalty in midfield and Cipriani closes the gap again. Leonelli makes a great run and Sarries look nailed on to add the bonus point, before Haskell kills the ball. He gets deservedly sent to the bin for 10 minutes and Ross kicks the simple penalty.

I am impressed with Leonelli, he certainly had a better game than deVedia did for Irish. Tick one up for the Gaffer. A couple of minutes later Ross adds his fourth penalty after Wasps drive in at the side I have to admit that at this point I had to answer a call of nature and missed the dropped pass that would have sealed of the game and cannot find out the name of the culprit.

No mind, Sarries are 17 points up and even a Adams Park resurgence will see a Wasps victory from here. But they do make a decent fist of it at Sarries seem to take the foot off the gas. In this regard, Mr Davey does seem to give a helping hand as Sarries are punished again and again. Mercey certainly seemed hard done by, and this time Wasps take advantage of the extra man. Wasps drive over at a short lineout and replacement hooker Joe Ward scores to close the gap to 10.

Wasps still continue to push, and although the game seems safe, with 10 points advantage, they seem certain to score. Then a brilliant Sarries counter-push at a lineout and the scrum is awarded. Mercey returns and time is run down with an interesting set of forward drives to close out the game at 29-19.

A win against Wasps and a few beers downstairs until its time to go home; I share the carriage to Reading with a large number of unhappy Irish and Wasps supporters. James, my son notes we are the only winners in the carriage – happy days. I get into conversation with a Wasps supporter, who tries to justify the loss against the fact they are missing 11 players to the world cup. I tell him we are missing 10 (7 to WC and three to injury). His return comment was slightly worrying for them – only 2 of those 11 are in the backs, where most of their inadequacies were.

Still………….. bring on Gloucester

The scorers:

Wasps: Try: Ward Con: Cipriani Pens: Cipriani 4

Saracens: Tries: Vyvyan, Powell, De Kock Con: Ross Pens: Ross 4

Yellow cards: Ryder (Saracens, 25) Waters (Wasps, 49), Mercey (Saracens, 65)

Wasps: 15 Danny Cipriani, 14 David Doherty, 13 Fraser Waters, 12 Dominic Waldouck, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Riki Flutey, 9 Mark McMillan, 8 James Haskell, 7 George Skivington, 6 John Hart (c), 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Richard Birkett, 3 Pat Barnard, 2 James Buckland, 1 Tom French.

Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Tim Payne, 18 Michael Holford, 19 Hugo Ellis, 20 Simon Amor, 21 Mark Van Gisbergen, 22 Chris Bishay.

Saracens: 15 Dan Scarbrough, 14 Rodd Penney, 13 Kevin Sorrell, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Francisco Leonelli, 10 Gordon Ross, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ben Skirving, 7 Richard Hill, 6 Kris Chesney, 5 Hugh Vyvyan, 4 Tom Ryder, 3 Tom Mercey, 2 Matt Cairns, 1 Nick Lloyd.

Replacements: 16 Andy Kyriacou, 17 Kevin Yates, 18 Iain Fullarton, 19 Dave Seymour, 20 Alan Dickens, 21 Edd Thrower, 22 Richard Haughton.

Referee: Sean Davey

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