By Darraghgirl
October 18 2015

  And so after the longest close season in history and the side show of a Rugby World Cup, finally we reach the real deal and Saracens defence of their 2nd Premiership Title. Strange but not sorry that we weren’t at Twickenham for the Double Header (unfortunately that is yet to come), it was good to be back at Allianz on a grey chilly October afternoon to welcome Sale Sharks.  

At this point I should say that I have been  decidedly underwhelmed by the various change strips we have seen so far this season, but Sale’s luminous green number, like a load of traffic police, has to take the biscuit (especially when teamed with Tom Arscott’s bright pink boots – he looked more like a set of marker pens). The teams emerged through a tunnel of red smoke which drifted across the spectators sitting downwind. Thanks to England’s exit from the RWC, Saracens fielded a rather stronger team than might otherwise have been the case with Jamie George & Alex Goode in the starting 15 and Mako Vunipola & George Kruis on the bench. There was also a debut for summer signing Michael Rhodes in the back row and the side was captained by Maro itoje (possibly the first time in the Premiership?)

Things got off to a bit of an inauspicious start with Goode fumbling a high ball and appearing to knock on however the officials were 50 yards away and the game continued. Sale overthrew their first line out which was picked up by Jamie George and Sarries launched their first attack through Ashton.  Sale failed to clear properly Ashton again set off down the wing after a kick-chase and managed to bundle Addison into touch to force a line out for Sarries deep in the Sale 22. Jackson Wray caught the ball and there was only ever going to be one result, it was just a case of who would get on the score-sheet. Fittingly it was Michael Rhodes, scoring a try in what turned out to be an impressive debut. Hodgson converted and inside 5 minutes Saracens were 7-0 ahead.

Sale won a penalty when de Kock was caught out at the scrum but Danny Boy missed a fairly straightforward kick. It looked like he would get another chance but the TMO drew Mr Richards’ attention to a neck-roll (he often seemed to draw Mr Richards attention to events on the pitch, if he didn’t the crowd certainly did!) and the penalty was reversed. Sarries began to dominate play – a kick ahead by Duncan Taylor just beat Ellery to the line, a probing kick from Charlie for Ashton was just fielded by Haley but he was forced into touch. Jamie George nailed lineout after lineout and Sarries won an inevitable scrum penalty which Charlie kicked for a 10-0 lead. 15 minutes gone and Sale must have been wondering what hit them.

Finally Sale got into the Sarries 22 and Rhodes was penalised in the loose. This time Celebriani kicked the points for what was to be Sale’s only score of the match. More Sarries pressure from the restart and this time Charlie put a kickable penalty into touch. The lineout went a bit wrong for once but Sarries managed to steal a Sale lineout and then win a penalty in front which Charlie kicked for a 13-3 lead. Sarries again got good ball from the restart and another penalty went towards the corner. Several attempts at a pick and drive then Hodgson found Streather who beat a defender and scored close to the corner. Charlie had his kicking boots on and kicked a super conversion for 20-3.

Sale finally managed an attack although 2 dodgy-looking forward passes went unnoticed by Mr Richards and there was a huge cheer when he finally gave a knock-on in the Sarries 22. Charlie cleared the danger and eventually play was back in the Sale 22. The unlucky Taylor departed for a Head Injury Assessment to be replaced by Nick Tompkins. The Saracens’ scrum was giving Cusiter huge problems even on a Sale ball and when Sale finally had a sniff of the action, the pass to Addison was forward.

Taylor returned after a mercifully brief absence and Sarries pinned Sale back in their own 22 again. Big Jim claimed lineout ball and Itoje would probably have scored if Mr Richards hadn’t been in the way! As it was, Hodgson eventually sent the ball out wide and Goode, who kept popping up everywhere, sent Mike Ellery over in the corner for a nice try. Shame about the haircut. Charlie was having a day when he couldn’t miss so the conversion was successful and Sarries went in at half time comfortably ahead 27-3.

Sale started the second half with a bit more energy and idea. The first 10 minutes of the second half were their best period of the match. Sadly Taylor departed again, this time permanently (that guy really has rotten luck) but even when they looked dangerous it went wrong with Arscott over-running Haley’s pass when there was a 2 on 1 down the right wing. Sale finally stole a Sarrie’s lineout and Mujati set off for the try line looking dangerous however Sarries defence held and eventually forced a penalty.

Things didn’t get any better for Sale when Mako replaced Rhys Gill and Kruis replaced Itoje. Ashton took a quick tap penalty thinking he was in but Mr Richards called him back. Streather almost got over from the resulting lineout thanks to that juggernaut which is Mako Vunipola but eventually Sale cleared although not for long. A well-worked move saw Ashton set Goode free down the wing. He passed to Tompkins who looked to go over in the corner but he was clattered into touch by a suspiciously arm-less tackle from Sale. Mr Richards didn’t give it a second look. Fraser & Spencer replaced Kelly Brown and De Kock, former Sarrie Dave Seymour also left the field.

Sale thought they’d won a useful penalty shortly after Mark Jennings wrestled Ellery to the ground by his neck. Mr Richards resolutely turned his back to the TV screens which showed the tackle several times along with shouts from the crowd but I presume the TMO had a little word in his ear because eventually he had a word with Jennings and reversed the penalty. Sarries were back in the Sale 22 again and this time, from another catch and drive off the lineout, Spencer gave Ellery a lovely inside pass for the wing to score his 2^nd try and a bonus point for Sarries. Charlie’s last action of the match was to convert the score and Sarries led 34-3. Ben Ransome replaced Hodgson allowing Goode to move to outside half and Petrus du Plessis was replaced by American Titi Lamositele.

Sale had plenty of possession for the next 10 minutes but failed to get out of their own half with Sarries quite content to play without the ball. Ashton saw his chance for a breakaway try but unfortunately there had been a knock-on and he was called back. Jamie George departed to a huge round of applause (an eventual Man of the Match) to be replaced by Dave Porecki who had more bandages than a mummy! Ashton was taken out in the air, again missed by Mr Richards but seen by the TMO. The resulting penalty went in the corner and after a few abortive pick and goes, Fraser’s sheer power carried him through the remains of the Sale defence and over the line. Goode, perhaps surprisingly with Spencer on the field, took the kick and he too secured the extras for a 41-3 lead. The game ended with a break down the left wing by Arscott who, with the line at his mercy, dropped the ball. That just about summed up Sale’s afternoon.

So a promising start to the season. Jamie George showed what he could have done for England if only he’d been given the shirt. The forwards were awesome and Rhodes looks like an excellent signing. It was good to see Ellery get on the scoresheet. He’s no Strettle ….yet, but give him time.  Goode and Ashton were everywhere and Taylor/Tompkins and Streather held firm in midfield with Tuitupou never getting a look-in. Cipriani was unable to produce any magic and we barely noticed when he was replaced by MacLeod.

Sarries sit proudly at the top of the league, (although Tigers may yet have something to say about that), a top 2 clash at Kingsholm on Friday will be a tougher challenge!

Saracens:- Goode, Ashton, Streather, Taylor (Tompkins), Ellery, Hodgson (Ransome), De Kock (Spencer), Gill (Vunipola), George (Porecki), Du Plessis (lamositele), Itoje (Kruis), Hamilton, Rhodes, Brown (Fraser), Wray

Sale:- Haley, Arscott, James, Tuitupou (Jennings), Addison, Cipriani (MacLeod), Cusiter (Stringer), Harrison, Taylor (Briggs), Mujati (Cobilas), Beaumont, Evans (Easter), Braid, Seymour (Lund), Easter (Mills)

Scorers;

Saracens:-

Tries Rhodes, Ellery (2), Streather, Fraser;  Conv: Hodgson (4) Goode;  Pens: Hodgson (2)

Sale:-

Pen: Cipriani

Attendance 7,231

Referee: Dean Richards