Most Saracens supporters believe that five points were needed from this home match against Toulon. Saracens have wobbled recently and quite a few pundits are predicting a fall in the second half of the season. So the scene was set, some unconvincing recent performances from the squad and a shed-load of tries required from a team that has seemed scared to run the ball.

For  SKY, and possibly for Martin Johnson who was at Vicarage Road, it would seem that the match was a warm up for Jonny Wilkinson and their forthcoming Six Nations coverage. The Amlin is very much the second string European competition, even with the revised format, so it was no surprise that much of the pre-match discussions focused on England and Jonny.

The match started with the usual aerial exchanges, both sides had considerable trouble with the high balls throughout the first half, possibly due to the chilly and misty conditions that prevailed. The skiers amongst you will know that 'flat' lighting can play tricks with your perspective. Jonny had read the SKY script, he put Toulon ahead with a dazzling drop kick from  close to the centre line within three minutes of the start. Marshall returned the compliment from the Toulon 22 almost immediately.

Early exchanges in the set pieces had Saracens well ahead and Hougaard collected another three points in the seventh minute from a Toulon indiscretion at the scrum. There was a clear intent from the home team to press hard, but Toulon had no intention of making it easy. The pressure produced rewards, with Hougaard collecting a further three points from a good kick out wide on the 22 line.

Toulon weathered the storm and began to gain parity in most facets of the game, although it did seem that their lineout throws were consistently not straight. Rooney, the 15 who has recently signed for Warriors, made some incisive runs and Toulon were able to mount effective attacks against Saracens.  Toulon's  probing of Saracens defence was well orchestrated by Wilkinson and van Niekerk.

The aerial strategy was still evident and a quarter of the way into the match. A flurry of converted penalties left the score at 12 – 6 to Saracens with Hougaard showing fine kicking skills.

In the 23^rd  minute Wilkinson made what was probably his best play of the match. A deft chip kick cleared Saracens defensive line and he was able to collect the ball from the kick with only a single defender between him and the try line. Fortunately for Saracens, his offload was a couple of inches beyond the grasp of van Niekerk and play was stopped for the knock on.

Saracens had weathered that particularly storm, but within minutes Wilkinson made the score 12 – 9 with a penalty kick from a Saracens offside.

The home team began to run the ball, Hougaard choosing to pass  to the back line rather than kick every option. It certainly made for more interesting rugby, with flashes of what we know Goode, Ratuvou and Penney can do in open space. However, it also highlights why this is such dangerous strategy for the attacking team, given the current interpretation of offences at the breakdown. Sarries were penalised for holding on as an attack came to ground. The kick was well within Wilkinson's range and fairly central, but the ball went past the left upright by a few feet.

Both teams launched attacks and Sarries back line (which includes Brits of course) continued to run the ball.  Johnson may have come to see Wilkinson, but the display of skills came primarily from Goode in the second quarter, utterly assured in every aspect of his game. It is unfathomable why he has not become part of the England squad.

Saracens jewels shine just a brightly as any NH team nowadays, with all the backs capable of launching individual ferocious attacks. However, there is a difference between gemstones lying on a table and assembled into a fine necklace. So it is with Saracens back line, it lacks the coordination and symmetry that we saw with Gaffney. The team strings together a few phases of brilliance but then seems at a loss on how to get across the try line. I don't know why this is the case, but hopefully the firmer Spring pitches will be the catalyst  to complete the alchemy.

Following a charge down of  a Wilkinson clearance kick behind the Toulon try line, Saracens moved the ball fast and wide, only for Ratuvou to be bundled into touch five metres out. Sustained pressure from Saracens reaped further rewards, with a monster penalty kick following a Toulon offside making the score 15- 9 one minute from the end of first half. Ratuvou knocked on well inside the 22 from the restart, but unfortunately for Toulon the referee decided to call a halt to proceedings a second or two before the 40 minutes had elapsed.

The second half started brightly for the home team, which included Aguero substituted for Gill. Sustained pressure soon secured a further six points from penalties for the home side within the first three minutes if the second half. Within the space of ten minutes the match had turned from a tight scrap into a two try lead for Saracens. Toulon's troubles were further compounded by losing Beal and Missoup to the sin bin. Beal was penalised for generally getting in the way at the breakdown, whereas Missoup was either not concentrating or just plain daft when he interfered with play during a free kick to Saracens. Saracens had 92% possession figures for the half at this point and were totally dominant.

With a healthy lead, Saracens opted to press for a try by kicking a penalty into the corner. The outcome seemed likely to be a try given that Toulon were now reduced to 13 players. With considerable huffing and puffing Melck placed the ball close to the posts from deep within a rolling maul that had trundled across the pitch from the lineout. A converted try made the score 28 – 9.

In truth, Saracens still made heavy weather of crossing the line despite the  two man advantage. The chances of a four try bonus point seemed quite remote with a third of the match still to go.

The healthy lead and try had put some concerns with the Toulon camp. It was now conceivable that Saracens, rather than Toulon, might win the top spot in the group.  Saint-Andre responded by strengthening his attack by substituting Rooney with Contepomi at 56 minutes. There was an immediate and tangible increase in the attacking threat from Toulon.

A flood of substitutions followed on both sides with Neil de Kock making a welcome return for Marshall. As always, Marshall had competed hard throughout the match, but de Kock in turn showed examples of those flat fast passes that have made him so successful.  Entering the final quarter both sides were intent on scoring tries but the effect of multiple substitutions, which mysteriously included Goode, left Saracens unsettled and imprecise. The changes seemed to benefit Toulon who were now making extended forays into the Saracens half. A chance went begging for Sarries when Hougaard placed an accurate cross field kick to three wingers on the Toulon 22 that were covered by a singles defender. The three Saracens players succeeded in ensuring that they all obstructed each other whilst Toulon gained possession.

By the 70^th minute Toulon were firmly camped inside Saracens 22 with a sixteen phase play that was inching towards the try line. The sequence finally broke down with a knock on and Saracens were able to clear to touch. However it was far from done and dusted. Toulon retained possession at the lineout and Ratuvou was yellow carded for interference at the breakdown at around 75 minutes. Almost immediately before the carding Barritt appeared to stopped short with cramp after executing a clearing kick. Saracens were reduced to thirteen for the final few minutes as all the substitutes had been used, although Barritt made every effort to continue playing.

In the dying moments Wilkinson provided another well executed chip kick over the Saracens defence and was just beaten to the ball by Cato who was obliged to run the ball back over his try line before making a clearing kick to touch as the the clock clicked past 80 minutes.

So, a comfortable win, Hougaard showed that he is far, far more than a kicking machine, but it never looked like a try bonus point match. Saracens may have done enough to advance in the Amlin but more probably next week will be mark Saracens exit from the competition. At least we got a chance to see Chesney at his old stamping ground, happy days.

I was going to end with a few verses of Liefling, in the style of Darrahgirl, suffice it to say that Google Translator is an imperfect product.

Saracens Goode (Cato, 60); Penney, Ratuvou, Barritt, Wyles; Hougaard, Marshall (De Kock, 59); Gill, Brits (Ongaro, 65), Nieto (Mercey, 51), Borthwick (capt), Ryder (Vyvyan, 51), Melck, Saull, Joubert (Barrell, 67). Try Melck Con Hougaard Pens Hougaard 6 Drop-goal Marshall Sin-bin: Ratuvou: 76

Toulon Rooney (Contepomi, 57); Marienval, Lovobalavu, May, Loamanu; Wilkinson, Henjak (Giacobazzi, 74); Taumoepeau (Emmanuelli, 55), Djoudi (Bruno, 55), Lea'aetoa, Lozada, Chesney, Missoup, Beal, Van Niekerk (capt). Pens Wilkinson 2 Drop-goal Wilkinson Sin-bin Beal 44, Missoup 46.

Referee N Paterson (Scotland)

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