Saracens
Irish v Sarries match report from HQ
Hosts
By J O'G
September 9 2013
Twickenham again beckons and this time we were first up. An earlier start from home to make sure I‘m there on time and all was well wandering around at 1pm. In the build up to the game, it did seem that the supporters of other sides outnumbered the Sarries contingent, but at the kick-off there were a good number of black and red shirts concentrated in the one corner.
The game started well enough and early pressure resulted in a steadying penalty for Faz. He doesn’t miss those often and the 0-3 was quickly followed by a more significant score. On the subject of penalties, Sarries didn’t give that many away all afternoon unlike Irish whose attempts to slow the ball down in the tackle area was punished pretty heavily by Mr. Garner.
The second was a classic example of defence into attack. Sarries had a scrum on their own 22 and were tap-penalised for feeding. Irish tried to take advantage, but quickly lost the ball and from the resulting turnover a great run and kick ahead from Strettle forced Irish to walk the ball into touch close to their line. Jamie George has waited a long time to start premiership matches and the time in apprenticeship has been well served. Perfect throw-in and then after the initial drive was checked, Jamie was on hand to drive over from the second subsequent attempt at the line. It seems that people were watching Billy V in Argentina as the defence were wise to him each time he went for a driving run. But having 3 men to tackle him, means the next phase isn’t so well defended and that’s what happened here. A clever missed pass to Jamie left him with only a back to beat from 5 yards out. Faz converted for 0-10 in the 10th minute.
Irish came back and attacked around the 22, seeming to be going nowhere, when the first of a number of silly high tackles gave Humphreys an easy 3 points. The game then seemed to slow down a bit and possession stayed between the 22s. Each time that Sarries got the ball though, Irish were again penalised for not rolling away and Faz was able to add a straightforward (well for him) kick at goal for a 3-13 lead. Sarries were well in command at this point and it only seemed to be a question of time before the game was closed off. Each time Irish attacked they were stripped of the ball by the ferocious defence we know and love. In fact with the return of the Burg, the hits seemed harder and more plentiful. Faz contributed a lovely piece of skill. Irish chip-kicked over the top and under pressure he scooped the ball in from actually over the touchline (in the air), turned and returned a lovely touch finder almost to the Irish 22. You could see the air come out of the Berkshire side.
Shortly afterwards another turnover and Sarries ran it wide to Ashton’s wing. He stepped inside and seemed to about to score when a brilliant piece of defence from Bryn Evans getting his body under the winger and still managing to hold Ashton’s arm when he was about to extend that arm as he does so well. From the 5 yard scrummage, Sarries drove and won a penalty. They went for another scrum and got another one. Hmmm... penalty try territory, but the third time Irish got on a twist and the ball popped out of the side and they were able to clear
Sarries kept plugging away and shortly afterwards were awarded a line-out close to the Irish line. Jamie George was again on hand with the perfect throw and to finish off a training ground move. Capturing the ball easily and seeming to prepare for a drive, with Wiggy nowhere near the maul. Jamie grabbed the ball and peeled round the open side; exchanged a pass and return from Wiggy to leave himself in space and almost a walk-in try. Faz missed the kick but at 3-18 and 5 minutes from half-time it seemed game over, with just the bonus point to settle in the second half.
From the kick-off return Sarries had the ball under control when what seemed to me an Irish player coming in at the side stole the ball and fed Paice who went off for a run. As he was tackled he fed Low very well out of the back of his hand and despite the attentions of Rees Gill got the ball down. It went to the video ref who confirmed that the grounding was ok. Unfortunately, it didn’t go back to the previous break in play to confirm how Irish got the ball in the first place. Humphreys reduced the gap to 8 points and it seemed we still had a game on our hands. Then with just 2 minutes left Alistair Hargreaves made a huge hit on Jon Fisher just outside the Irish 22 and the Irish 8 was probably too dazed to release it. Faz took the resultant penalty seeming too quickly meaning there was time for the restart. Sarries took no chances and put the ball into touch. Eleven points up at halftime
The second half started a little more slowly than the first and it seemed to take both sides a while to get into gear. Sarries were playing in the Irish half though and the routine not rolling away penalties meant that the lead was increasing and Faz soon made it 10-24. Yarde managed to show his paces with a cleverly worked overlap and slick passing put him clear on the outside. It looked a chance for him to show his paces, but it finished a bit tamely as Wyles made a great tackle. Sarries were still playing it safe as when they won a penalty from a dropped lineout. Kick to the corner please to repeat the process and a hat-trick for Jamie. Instead they went for a 17 point lead. It didn’t last long before Irish got a penalty of their own to bring it back to 14 points.
Then the first replacement of the game as Lion #4 in the form of Mako came on. He only took a minute or two to make an impact as he leaned over and pulled the ball from an Irish body on the floor after a tackle. The ball went wide and with Billy and Brad making punching runs almost to the line, but the last word was with Mako himself, driving over the line. Faz added the points and it seemed game over at 21 points clear and only the bonus point to sort out and almost 20 minutes left.
Irish then came back to make a game of it starting with a clearance out of defence. Stevens interfered with Humphreys as he chased it up earning a penalty and a yellow card; Sarries were down to 14 men. Irish took full advantage. They were sort of down to 14 themselves as Yarde was receiving some treatment for cramp. As the ball came clear Sarries defence lined up man for man, but as the ball came along the line, Yarde jumped up. The last pass out of Hala'ufia’s hand found him in space and he made no mistake this time. Suddenly it was a 14 point game and with 14 men for most of the remaining time. Sarries were getting rattled, when they won a penalty for a line out they allotted to kick. Faz missed it, but when another chance came along a few minutes later he slotted over for a 17 point buffer again. Just before he went off, Jamie George crowned a great day with a hook against the head.
Irish kept on the pressure right up until Sarries were at full strength again, but with now just 5 minutes to go and in their own 22. Indeed Irish were still pressing and it seemed entirely possible that they might claw a bonus point. In the stands the kicking of the last penalty seemed a little more costly; we were looking at a missed bonus point. The little time left seemed to galvanise Sarries into action and they won a lineout almost on their own line. They ran it and after a short while had worked their way up to halfway. A penalty, but with no time to kick to the corner Faz tapped and ran. The ball went back and forth and soon we were inside the 22 and going forward. Another penalty and again it was run. Close to the line now and the play was going back and forth. Along the line to Ashton; time for him to make his mark, but he seemed to be tackled short. Then with ball into the palm of his hand he extended his arm and put the ball down seemingly just short. Pushing out his fingers the ball moved slightly forward to the line.
As it went to the video ref the thought around us was no try. Short with the first attempt and a double movement for the line touching. The decision was a try and a bonus point. Cue delirious Sarries corner of the ground. As Faz lined up his kick the second set of players started to come on to the pitch. The announcer seemed to be straight into telling everyone about the cyclists from Lands end and the bonus victory was a bit of a damp squib. The boys didn’t even get a chance to come to the crowd for very long. One young supporter was obviously used to Allianz park and came on for some autographs chased by a couple of Stewards. Well done Petrus for stopping him being taken off before he got some reward
So we ended up with the result we probably deserved, but a bit last minute. The big positive for me was the defence as disciplined as ever before. Irish probably are one of the best line-breaking sides around and both tries could be forgiven for the defence. Attacking wise we were able to break the line often and Billy looks great, still going forward with three players hanging off him. He gives space for the next drive if he produces quick ball. The mind boggles at the 2 Vinipolas hitting a defence one after the other. The backs were not so wonderful, too many forward passes and dropped balls in midfield. As a sideshow, Ashton for me won the battle of the wingers, finishing off a try under pressure and from a way out. He was unlucky with the other attempt due to a great piece of defending. Yarde on the other hand had three clear overlaps, converted one with an unopposed run in and didn’t make the best of the other two. Both were ahead of the wingers in the other game, who could not even get away from their markers with a lot more ball.
LINE-UPS
London Irish: Ojo; Yarde, Armitage, Sheridan, Tagicakibau; Humphreys, O'Leary (capt); Parr, Paice, Aulika, Rouse, Evans, Low, Treviranus, Fisher.
Replacements: Fenby for Yarde (74), Geraghty for Armitage (74), Allinson for O'Leary (74), Halavatau for Parr (53), Stevens for Paice (74), Yapp for Aulika (67), Danaher for Low (68), Hala'ufia for Fisher (53).
Saracens: Wyles; Ashton, Tomkins, Barritt, Strettle; Farrell, Wigglesworth; Gill, George, Stevens, Borthwick (capt), Hargreaves, Vunipola, Burger, Joubert.
Replacements: Ransom for Wyles (79), Spurling for Barritt (79), Spencer for Wigglesworth (74), M. Vunipola for Gill (52), Mordt for George (79), Kruis for Borthwick (20), Du Plessis for Burger (75), Wray for Joubert (61).
Sin Bin: Stevens (67).
Att: 62,637
Ref: Greg Garner (RFU).
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