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SUPER MARO


By JO'G
January 31 2016

  If you are a Saracens supporter going to an away game; you often get accused of being boring. From the home supporters’ perspective, his side sees a defensive wall in front of them when running the ball. You are kicked back to around your own 10 yard line every time you concede possession. The away team seem to be bossing the breakdown and winning penalties every time you finally make it to the 22. The referee seems to be in the away sides’ pocket and even the things you do well bring a knock-on or a forward pass. And they slow the game down; arriving at lineouts and scrums so slowly.  And the number of times their water boys seem to come on the pitch.  And you get points almost every time you get into our 22. Clinical and boring.  

Well for the first hour at Allianz Park Bath seemed to be doing a pretty good impersonation of a Sarries away performance and those in their comfy seats on a lovely sunny afternoon didn’t like their own medicine. Fortunately, the swapping of the sides at the hour mark seemed to make a significant difference and the final score was not so disappointing and boring after all.

The match started and after a patchy first few minutes it was Bath on the rampage. Banahan burst through straight over Hodgson and although he was cut down the ball ended up in touch for a Bath attacking lineout. They collected and drove one way then another to avoid the Sarries counter drive and a try seemed on. The pile of bodies came down and Bath had a penalty. Given the ease with which the drive had happened I was surprised that we didn’t get a repeat, but Priestland kicked the 3 points. Sarries did manage to get some phases in the Bath 22, but sloppy play allowed the clearance. Another penalty outside of Priestland’s range saw a kick to the corner and another decent Bath drive. A dangerous period for Sarries as Bath drove well with the ball and although they never crossed the line penalties were given away stopping them. Bath kept kicking for the corner and you felt the yellow card was coming

What stopped the card was a Bath try. Driving with the lineout until all the defence were tied in they spun the ball wide. Homer came into the line to create the extra man and crossed halfway from the posts on the other side to the lineout. Well executed and Preistland added the extras for a 0-10 lead. Sarries then seemed to have the best of the next 20 minutes without getting any points. Scrums were won on the halfway line, but outside kicking range. We did call out Bosch, Bosch, Bosch, but Brad went for the corner. Some decent round the corner driving from the forwards found some gaps and when the ball went wide to Wyles, we though he was in, but it was touch. Shortly afterwards another Sarries move saw a 3 on 2 but the miss-pass to put Taylor in on the wing was judged forward. It was that sort of first half, with nothing going the Sarries way

Bath with a fair breeze behind them were able to keep kicking clear and won a penalty. It was on the edge of Priestland’s range and I was surprised given their lineout supremacy he didn’t go for the corner; he missed. Sarries kept plugging away without success and made it into the Bath 22 several times but simply couldn’t get it up to the line or even gain a penalty. Louw was especially successful in turning over any exposed player in a masterclass of back-row play. On the stroke of half-time Bath broke out and won a long range penalty which Priestland slotted over. 0-13 at half-time and it seemed to be one of those days. Complains about the officials and the Bath habit of having at least one injured player at every breakdown filled the air

The second half started a bit more brightly for Sarries with a penalty that Charlie elected to kick. It was terrible, not even making the Bath line. Fortunately, Sarries followed up and won another penalty a few minutes later bang in front of the posts. No failure this time and we were rolling at 3-13. The Bath defence was very good and despite everything Sarries threw at them they didn’t look like giving way. Lots of offsides though and from one of these Charlie made it 6-13. Then a distinct passage of play. Three penalties kicked to the corner and from the third playing advantage Sarries seemed in with another 3 on 2. Unfortunately a lobbed pass was intercepted. Back for the penalty and Dean Richards gave Bath a final warning. From the fourth Bath defended really well driving Sarries back just like they do to other sides. Finally a knock-on at the 22. I felt that this was our big chance and we had turned it down. In all this driving play it seemed that only Itoje was making any progress, all the others seemed to go backwards

Then all the substitutes, the significant one of Ben Spencer who was able to give a bigger boot to ball than Wiggy was able to do. From deep in our half he was able to reach halfway. Priestland kicked deep it was ran back and then chipped over. Homer tried to run and clear but it was half charged down and an athletic take from Haydon Smith (thanks for his previous basketball career) put Sarries in a great position. He passed to Itoje who was a man on a mission. Thrusting aside 3 or four players he took the play right up to the five yard line and then Scalla managed to extend an arm containing the ball on to the line and it was 11-13. Charlie kicked the conversion and we were all square.

The crowd seemed to wake up and drove the players onward with their cheering. Suddenly Itoje and Brown were turning over rucks and a kickable penalty was awarded. Charlie did the rest and it was 16-13. I did notice that from the moment Sarries scored the try the Bath game plan changed. No more slowing down and injuries. They rushed around trying to get the game back. There was no chance as Sarries went up to the gear they should have been in all game. Another penalty and it was 19-13. Bath were really under the cosh now and another scrum penalty was awarded to Sarries. Wilson reacted in a fairly silly manner pushing both hands into du Plessis’s neck as he walked past. TMO and a yellow card for the last 43 seconds.  Kick to touch, take the line-out, push a bit until the time was up then kick it out. Sarries win 19-13

Like most of the crowd I appreciated the ‘get out of jail’ performance from the subs and a few beers went down well afterwards. The band was pretty good but again no ‘man of the match’ in the Olympic bar

Saracens: Ransom; Taylor, Bosch, Barritt (capt), Wyles; Hodgson, Wigglesworth; Barrington, Brits, Du Plessis, Itoje, Hamilton, Rhodes, Burger, Wray.

Replacements: Saunders, Thompson-Stringer, Lamositele, Smith, Brown, Spencer, Mordt, Tompkins.

Bath: Homer; Rokoduguni, Banahan, Bowden, Agulla; Priestland, Cook; Auterac, Webber, Thomas, Ewels, Day, Garvey, Louw (capt), Houston.

Replacements: Dunn, Lahiff, Wilson, Ellis, Mercer, Faosiliva, Evans, Clark.

Referee: Dean Richards.

 

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SUPER MARO
Discussion started by TheSaracens.com , 31/01/2016 21:45
TheSaracens.com
31/01/2016 21:45
Thanks Jeremy - a bit too much squeaky bum for my liking!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2016:02:14:22:15:33 by Darraghgirl.

King Zak
31/01/2016 22:47
Thanks Jeremy, excellent stuff! I thought Brits & Brad also had very good games. According to BT Sport (so not necessarily accurate) Maro is second in turnovers won this season, only behind Kvesic - so is his position 4, 5, 6 or 7!! It's all too confusing for Eddie anyway!

Nous sommes l'armée noir et rouge !

TonyTaff
01/02/2016 12:57
Splendid prose!

£721.05 (*) donated to the Saracens Foundation due to visits to the Sarries frontpage [www.rugbynetwork.net]

Please read and submit articles for publication.


(*) As at October 31, 2018.

TonyTaff
01/02/2016 14:08
Charlie's defensive frailties seem to have returned sad smiley

Mike Ford seems to becoming a serial offender when it comes to slagging off the ref in public. I am surprised that he has not been disciplined.

£721.05 (*) donated to the Saracens Foundation due to visits to the Sarries frontpage [www.rugbynetwork.net]

Please read and submit articles for publication.


(*) As at October 31, 2018.

london pride
01/02/2016 17:22
[i][/i]Thanks J OG good report.That second half took nearly 55 minutes,and, as others have said, when Bath went behind,all of a sudden, no injuries, no physios and no slowing down.Still, onwards and upwards.Exeter on Sunday will be a tougher test.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:02:01:17:23:54 by london pride.

davidthesarrie
01/02/2016 18:01
Thanks for the great report. Waiting to see the rerun, as listened to the game on the BBC website. looking forward to it!(Sm152)

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