MoM....

By TheSaracens
June 23 2022

And so, after a sleepless night, the big day has arrived and we set off for Twickenham in a mood both confident and apprehensive: I’m heartened by the number of Sarries fans travelling down from our end of London at the same time. We make our way down to Twickenham, sadly too late to take part in the club-organised  march from the George to the stadium (and in any case my mom’s given me a sick note as an old foot injury is playing up at present) but are looking forward to meeting up with a contingent of my much-loved family. A few enjoyable pints of Guinness outside the Cabbage Patch amid on-off showers, and my leisurely limp to the stadium is accompanied by a mixture of derision and sympathy from my beloved relatives. Cue violins. Sarries have this season reached the very apogee of my expectations, having written on this very forum last summer that a solid top six finish, with a stab at the playoffs if our form, fortune and fitness permitted, plus a decent run in the Challenge Cup, would be considered satisfactory on our return to the top flight with our slightly revamped squad and a changed Premiership landscape - anything more would be the cherry on the cake.

The fact we’re heading for Twickenham today is a testament in part to the aforementioned form, fitness (Owen and Mako's injuries aside) and fortune but even more so the enduring quality of the core of our squad, the very rapidly emerging talent within the younger part of our squad – not to mention the phenomenon that is Theo McFarland -  and last but by no means least the also enduring motivation of Mark McCall and his coaching team to set standards of performance that other clubs can only aspire to: at times this season, Sarries have played some breathtaking rugby.

We are in the opinion of many the favourites to lift the Premiership trophy but there’s no doubt that Leicester, attempting to win their first title for nine years, will be stern and certainly well-drilled opponents.

I also have a slight and uneasy feeling that Sarries might at some point feel the effects of last week’s bruising encounter with Quins…

Today’s Sarries starting XV is as per the Quins game save for the newly-retired Tim Swinson being replaced in the second row by Nick Isiekwe.

On the bench we have no specialist second row cover on the basis that Theo can step up if need be, but are blessed with a young, raw but powerful shadow front row, the experience of Jackson Wray, the excitement of Andy Christie, the class of Alex Lozowski, the legend that is Duncan Taylor and the safe pari of hands that is Ivan Van Zyl. 

Leicester have – completely expectedly - a formidably strong side out, with the familiar if now mature faces of messrs. Wigglesworth and Ashton in the starting XV, both well-versed in the art of major finals, and with quality throughout the rest of their 23 with notable presences on the bench being Mrs Jonny’s extremely distant cousin Ben Youngs, and Freddie Burns. 

Two of Tigers’ England internationals, George Ford and Ellis Genge, are making their final appearance in the green red and white before departing to Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears respectively.

We take our seats and find ourselves in something of a “neutrals” area (you can always tell – lots of people in Lions or Baa Baas gear) having bought our tickets some time ago - although we’ve got  Leicester fans to our right, one of whom is constantly whooping VERY loudly whilst waving a flag with disconcerting gusto even before the teams emerge from the tunnel; I make a mental note to avoid whichever beer this person is drinking.

 The teams come out to what looks to be a close to capacity crowd (only a few areas up in the gods are devoid of people) and a stunning atmosphere – I think Mako leads the Sarries side out on the occasion of his 200^th appearance in the black and red but it is hard to tell from behind the over-enthusiastically waved flag (we eventually swap seats with the kind “neutrals” next to us).

The game gets underway amid a cacophony of noise, and it’s Sarries who make the more positive start, taking first blood after 5 minutes and the first of many kicking contests when a late tackle on Tompkins gives Farrrell the opportunity to kick for a 3-0 lead and settle nerves a little.

As Leicester, unfazed by and early and minor setback, settle into the game, we are given early glimpses of their game plan as Wigglesworth, who of course knows Sarries’ modus operandi inside out, takes charge of matters and Sarries’ cause isn’t helped when a nervy-looking  Davies commits a couple of errors, firstly knocking on a high kick and then putting Goode into trouble close to his own line which coughs up a five-metre scrum to Leicester:  fortunately a penalty goes to Sarries and the danger is cleared for now.

It’s then Sarries’ turn to be frustrated when, as they make their first move deep into the Tigers’ lair (sorry), their progress is halted by a penalty for going off feet.

Davies continues to look very unsettled as an errant lofted kick finds its way into Leicester hands, and a penalty for offside ensues – fortunately, the kick from Ford goes wide to leave things at 3-0.

Shortly after missing the penalty, Ford is forced off by injury (looks like an ankle problem) and the Leicester fans say goodbye to him for the second time as he’s replaced by Burns.

As we digest the above development and its implications for the match, and as we move through the second quarter, Wayne Barnes stops play to review an incident between the so far hapless Davies and Montoya: in real time it has looked like a clash of heads, and the replays show that it is in fact shoulder-to-head, with Davies receiving a yellow card to the astonishment and anger of the Leicester fans and the (relative) relief of those of us in black and red.

Sarries are unsettled and within a short time Leicester exploit their advantage when a line out sets up a phase of attacks with both veteran (but it must be said, both in fine fettle) former Sarries prominent: Ashton is stopped short of the line after good work from Steward, and with a penalty advantage Leicester batter away until Genge drives close to the line and then Liebenberg powers over from close range on 27 minutes with Burns adding the extras for 3-7.

Leicester continue to frustrate Sarries’s attempts to get back on terms until a heavy carry from Billy brings a penalty just inside the Tigers half (not rolling away), which Daly, our left-footed distance specialist, places between the sticks to take Sarries to within a point at 6-7 on the half-hour mark.

Shortly afterwards, there’s a defensive scare which leads Sarries into further trouble, when a Farrell kick is charged down by the still very athletic Wigglesworth which forces his former midfield partner to ground the ball behind Sarries’ try line under pressure from Ashton, leading to a five-metre scrum and then a penalty to Leicester (collapsing the scrum) which Genge takes as tap-and-go and which in turns sets up Wiese to drive over with 5 minutes left of the first half.  Burns misses the conversion so the score remains at 6-12.

The rest of the half is managed out by Leicester and a frustrated Sarries head down the tunnel to regroup over a slice of orange.

Despite the perfectly manageable scoreline, I’m concerned that Leicester so far are beating Sarries at their own game - perhaps not surprising given who’s on their coaching staff and indeed on the field - with a superbly marshalled defence and field position being denied with frequent kicking matches pinning us back.

I can recall no clean breaks by Sarries, we’ve barely threatened the Leicester line, and I ‘ve spent the half baying for the ball to be run rather than kicked.

As I say, though, it’s a manageable scoreline and Sarries are often at their best in the third quarter of a game so let’s see what Act Two brings.

Shortly after the start of the second half, Maitland is replaced by Lozowski who slots in at outside centre with Daly moving out to the left wing.

The early stages of the second half see Sarries unable to get within the Leicester 22 let alone threaten the line, and are getting turned over far too often.

Leicester warm to their theme, and Sarries can count themselves fortunate when Burns fluffs a long range penalty which would have taken Leicester more than a converted try ahead (this being significant given that this juncture we haven’t looked like scoring).

There’s more anxiety in the black and red camp as a crossfield kick from the excellent Burns reaches Ashton but the danger is snuffed out by an alert Daly.

Leicester continue to dominate proceedings and enjoy a flurry of penalties which despite being kicked to the corner provide nothing as Sarries’ defence holds out and eventually the danger passes for now as they turn the ball over, and Billy, who’s worked hard all game,  does some good work in winning another penalty inside our 22. 

If Sarries can find a spark of inspiration, this game can still swing their way.

Sarries begin to make changes now, with Christie replacing a doubtless frustrated McFarland, who has been effectively shackled by Leicester. 

Moving into the final quarter of the game and still within a score, Sarries at last start to pt soe pressure on Leicester, and are rewarded in the 64^th  minute when a mistimed tackle by Reffell (no relation to Sarries’ soon to be departing Sean, I gather) on Malins gives Farrell the opportunity to set London hearts racing and Leicester nerves jangling with a crisply executed penalty to move Sarries within 3 points at 9-12 – with the momentum in the match seeming to be swinging and a quarter of an hour still to play, who knows what could happen….

Shortly afterwards, Davies, who will be the first admit that he’s had a poor day at the office under pressure from Leicester’s stifling tactics and was in the “sin bin” while Leicester racked up all their points, is replaced by Van Zyl, and a tired looking Mako trudges off with Mawi joining the fray. 

We’re now into the last 10 minutes as Sarries continue to chase the game, and  Andy Christie creates some excitement with a trademark break, winning Sarries a scrum on five metres, from which Scott picks up a yellow card for ian incident with Billy, and it feels like this could be a key moment – particularly as Farrell, choosing the cautious option of going for the posts ( at the time I scream for him to go for the corner, but with hindsight and while writing this I understand his decision), squares the score up at 12-12 with 5 minutes to play.

Taylor is now on for Tompkins, and Billy is replaced by Wray.

The outcome as this stage – perhaps being a little optimistic here - looks like either extra time or a snatched Sarries win.

It is Leicester, however, who push forward in the final stages, and Sarries look to be holding out for extra time when, with the clock approaching the 80-minute mark, Leicester work forward, pinning Sarries back yet again, while gradually and inevitably creating space for  Burns to attempt a drop goal, which he lands… and pandemonium breaks out…..

I miss the last moments of the match, I confess, as I sit with my head in my hands – in that moment it hurts and feels, irrationally, like a cruel way for the game to have finished, although reason quickly kicks in and the acceptance that Leicester have been the better side having very effectively played our own game against us.

Any defeat in a major final is painful – and it’s our first since 2014 so most Sarries fans will be out of the habit, so to speak, while some of our newer supporters will not experienced this before – but if we had to lose I’d rather it be to Leicester than a lot of other clubs: they’ve been top of the league throughout the season, Steve Borthwick has proven himself to be both a brilliant coach and inspiring leader (the latter we know well), Wiggy is transitioning from player to coach superbly, and, “marmite” though he is, nobody at Sarries would wish Chris Ashton anything but well.

Besides, I’m a Midlands boy myself with family in that part of the world and I can’t bring myself to begrudge Tigers a trophy.

I’m pleased to shake the hand of the Tigers fans I encounter, enjoying a good chat with a group in the pub after the game, and many in green, red and white departed with a friendly “see you back here next year!”: I wouldn’t bet against it… 

In terms of performance, we can have no real complaints – Leicester’s tactics, clearly informed by the inside knowledge available to them, were executed almost to perfection, a sign in itself of a very good side (as we know), and while Sarries to a man worked hard to gain some influence on proceedings it wasn’t to be our day.

Maybe they did leave someting at StoneX after last week's game...

Billy would be my pick as our Man of the Match, finishing a resurgent season with yet another strong performance and a richly deserved recall to the England squad.

Aled Davies will rue a poor day but will come back from it. 

I have to say, though, and it’s far from my place to criticise our squad selection, that if he was fit I would have liked Roti Segun to feature, potentially from the bench – he could have wreaked havoc in the latter stages.

All in all, some things to reflect on during the summer but as I said at the start of this piece, Sarries have exceeded expectations in 2021-22, and knowing our beloved club, the experience will make us stronger.

Enjoy your summer, everyone!   

 Jonny  

 TEAMS:

 Leicester Tigers: Steward; Ashton, Moroni, Porter, Potter; Ford, Wigglesworth; Genge (capt), Montoya, Cole, Chessum, Green, Liebenberg, Reffell, Wiese.

Replacements: Clare, Leatigaga, Heyes, Wells, Martin, Youngs, Burns, Scott.

Saracens: Goode; Malins, Daly, Tompkins, Maitland; Farrell (capt), Davies; M Vunipola, George, Koch, Itoje, Isiekwe, McFarland, Earl, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Pifeleti, Mawi, Clarey, Wray, Christie, Van Zyl, Taylor, Lozowski.

Referee: Wayne Barnes.