By Darraghgirl
October 26 2016

  Due to a mix up around reporters, it falls to me at rather short notice to summarise last Saturday’s game. They say a week is a long time in politics but it was definitely a long time in rugby! Last weekend it was 22 degrees and I was paddling in the Med, this weekend it was 12 degrees and I was standing in a puddle! Last weekend it was Moules a la Mariniere and a Cote de Provence Rose, this weekend it was chips and a tepid cup of tea. Last weekend it was Cote d’Azur, this weekend it was Cote de Barnet. Apart from purely rugby reasons, I can understand why Ashy would want to go there!  

After the heights of our performance against Toulon, Llanelli Scarlets seemed to me to be a potential banana skin. It would be super-human to maintain the level of last Saturday but we couldn’t afford too much of a drop off. Afterall technically Scarlets were group leaders going in to round 2 and really only a 5-pointer would do.

Having already lost George Kruis from last weekend’s line up, hearts sank a little with the news that Captain Courageous, Brad Barritt had pulled out at the last minute to be replaced by Nick Tompkins. I am always concerned when Brad is missing – he is our Rock of Gibraltar - the anchor around which our defence is bound and without him, the roots are just a bit more shallow. Tompkins is a good player (as it was to prove a very good player) but he isn’t Brad. It was also interesting that the management went for a straight replacement rather than the option of moving Farrell, the new Captain, to his England position of 12 and starting the talented Lozowski at 10. Presumably at such a late stage they wanted to stick with what they had practiced in training.

After some early pressure by Sarries, led by a typical Brits charge, Scarlets opened the scoring when Rhys Patchell, who never looked like missing a kick all night, slotted a tricky penalty from wide on the left. Scarlets stole an attacking lineout in their own 22 (already missing Kruis methinks) but Saracens continued to be the dominant force. Lovely breaks by Itoje & Rhodes nearly profited before Rhodes fed to Mako Vunipola who forced his way through half the Scarlets defence and over the try line. Farrell proved a match for Patchell by kicking the conversion and after 12 minutes took a 7-3 lead.

Almost immediately, as Liam Williams hobbled off for Scarlets, Patchell kicked another tricky penalty from out wide to reduce the deficit to 1 point. Sarries continued to play entertaining rugby. A lovely mis-out pass from Farrell allowed Tompkins to show his speed. He dummied to Wyles outside him but opted for the inside pass when probably his first thought was a better one and the move broke down. But with 20 minutes gone, All the pressure was coming from the Men in Black while the Scarlets were having to defend with everything they had. Farrell kicked another tricky penalty (oh the luxury of having a top goal kicker) to extend the lead to 10-6 and the Sarries battering ram continued on its inevitable way.

Tompkins, after a superb carry and off load, then picked up a pass from Wiggy just outside the Scarlets’ 22 and whereas Mako had used brawn to beat the defence, Tompkins allowed his speed of foot to carry him through the entire Scarlets’ defence and score under the posts with a fair impression of the Ash-Splash. Farrell converted with his easiest kick so far to increase the lead to 17-6 and finally the scoreline was starting to reflect the dominance of the home team.

A super kick from Patchell plonked his team deep into the Saracens 22, not helped when Sarries again muffed the lineout. Scarlets were given a penalty when Burger was alleged to have made a high tackle and Patchell again secured the points to narrow the gap to 17-9. But relief for Scarlets was only temporary as the Saracens bandwagon pressed on. When Scarlets offended, Farrell punished them with another 3 points, this time from the half way line which was reassuring given the injury worries around Faz earlier in the season (and the lack of success from Bosch in these circumstances!) As half time approached, Sarries finally had to do some defending in their own 22 resulting in another Scarlets penalty and another 3 points leaving a score at the break of 20-12.

Rather uncomfortable memories at Half time when the “fat lady” reappeared – not in costume this time thank goodness but I have to say the guy has a decent voice. Hopefully it will be channelled in a more appropriate direction!

Scarlets began the second half with some attacking intent but it didn’t last. Ominously though Itoje left the field after 5 minutes ruefully shaking his hand (we subsequently learned it was a fracture which would require surgery and a 6 week rest) to be replaced by Jackson Wray. A trade-mark run by Alex Goode straight up the middle set up an excellent opportunity for Sarries and although the forwards couldn't quite reach the tryline, the ball came out wide from Farrell to any of 3 men on the left wing. It was Bosch who caught the ball and scored and although it was another tricky conversion, Farrell never looked like missing. 27-12 and 3 tries scored. The win effectively secured, there were 35 minutes left for the try bonus point.

That bonus point try should have come straightaway but Farrell proved he was human when, eyes on the cross kick, he fumbled an admittedly pretty awful pass from Wiggy. But it was just a temporary reprieve. Tompkins and Farrell set Wyles running and he had the strength to get round the last defender Parkes and score in the corner. Again Farrell kicked a superb conversion from out wide and the lead was now 34-12, bonus point and win, one felt, now safe.

Of course that is a dangerous concept. It must be tempting to take the foot off the throttle a bit and start thinking of Leicester next weekend. Understandably McCall was began ringing the changes. Spencer replaced a bandaged Wiggy, Barrington came on for Mako and Jamie George replaced Brits. Scarlets put together another good attack and on winning a penalty, deciding against the kick they went for the lineout and Shingler ran around the back of the lineout along the blindside and scored in the corner. Patchell was going toe to toe with Farrell and again kicked a touchline conversion to keep Scarlets just within touching distance at 34-19.

Saracens just seemed to have lost a bit of something. The passes weren’t quite as crisp, a kick was charged down, Scarlets started nailing a few tackles. An uncharacteristic error from Patchell gave Sarries an attacking lineout and a penalty in front of the posts which Farrell kicked for 37-19. Tompkins departed to loud applause to be replaced by Lozowski with Farrell moving back to inside centre. Figallo came off after another stupendous shift to be replaced by Du Plessis.

Scarlets continued to defend for their lives, sadly loosing Jake Ball in the process. Spencer went to the bin for a deliberate knock-on against Jonathan Davies. There was an argument for a penalty try but Mr Gauzere erred on the side of caution and just gave the penalty. Scarlets went for an attacking scrum but huge effort by the Sarries’ pack won themselves a penalty and the chance to clear the ball. Sadly they messed up the line out again. Ellery replaced Bosch leading to more realignment with Wyles going to 13 and the versatile Goode becoming temporary scrumhalf. McLeod took off from the base of the Scarlets scrum and almost scored. Scarlets recycled and in the end numbers told and the power of Jonathan Davies got the ball over the line. Patchell converted of course and the score was now 37-26. Suddenly some hope for Scarlets of a losing bonus if not more.

Into the last 6 minutes and finally Sarries woke up again. A lovely offload from Farrell found Rhodes, unusually having to play the full 80 minutes, running from deep and scoring under the posts. The kick was converted for 44-26.

And that was the end of the excitement for the day. Sweet Caroline rang out from the loudspeakers, Spencer rejoined the fray and Saracens won a penalty at the scrum as the clock ran down. Surprisingly Sarries didn’t kick the lineout ball into touch but played on for a couple of minutes just to see if another score would come. In the end it didn’t but the win was secured. Tompkins was awarded man of the match which was fair enough but I think Mako, Farrell, Rhodes, Figallo and Goode could also have won.

So the first part of our European mission is accomplished, 2 wins out of 2, 9 points out of 10, top of the group, 11 European games unbeaten. Assuming no slip ups in the double header against Sale (and one can never assume anything!) we should have all but secured a knock-out place before Christmas. It has come at a cost – Itoje & Kruis are out for 6 weeks – but maybe not as expensive as it might have been given they would both have been away with England anyway. One brief hiatus against Tigers to come then a couple of weeks break with the LV for at least some of the squad. I think they deserve it.

Saracens

Goode, Maitland, Bosch (Ellery), Tompkins (Lozowski), Wyles, Farrell, Wigglesworth (Spencer), M. Vunipola (Barrington), Brits (George), Figallo (Du Plessis), Itoje (Wray), Hamilton, Rhodes, Burger, B. Vunipola (Brown).

Llanelli Scarlets

Williams, Van der Merwe, J Davies, Parkes, Evans, Patchell, G Davies, Jones, Owens, Lee, Ball, Bulbring, Shingler, Boyde, Barclay

Rep: Elias, Garrett, Kruger, Rawlins. MacLeod, Evans, Jones, Hughes

Saracens (44)

Tries: M Vunipola, Tompkins, Bosch, Wyles, Rhodes. Conv: Farrell (5); Pens: Farrell (3)

Llanelli (26)

Tries: Shingler, J Davies; Convs: Patchell (2); Pens: Patchell (4)

Attendance: 9084

Referee; Pascal Gauzere

STUDY IN SCARLET

Discussion started by TheSaracens.com , 26/10/2016 19:24

TheSaracens.com
26/10/2016 19:24

Well better late than never. A bit of a hiccup in the reporting roster!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2016:11:05:20:15:24 by Darraghgirl.

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Sara'sman
26/10/2016 20:01

Yet another good read DG. You have an excellent eye for detail and the literary skills to produce such rewarding missives. Thank you.

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The Bard
26/10/2016 22:01

Great stuff, many thanks

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TonyTaff
27/10/2016 13:28

Thanks DG - I didn't realize we were without a reporter!

The ref, being prudent in not awarding a penalty-try was, of course, Gauzere not Garces. Prudent indeed - the ball didn't go forward, so no offence was committed! But that's what you get with Pascal - a lottery. Just ask our friends from the Massif Central

It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!

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Darraghgirl
27/10/2016 18:21

Quote:

TonyTaff
Thanks DG - I didn't realize we were without a reporter!
The ref, being prudent in not awarding a penalty-try was, of course, Gauzere not Garces. Prudent indeed - the ball didn't go forward, so no offence was committed! But that's what you get with Pascal - a lottery. Just ask our friends from the Massif Central

Of course, more haste less speed! now corrected.

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TonyTaff
28/10/2016 09:46

I thought you had a personalised autocomplete that filled in Jerome's name!

It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!

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