Saracens
So close, so close and yet so far
Graham, 'Help!'
By Innings
June 4 2014
In the end Saracens' season was defined by two games and ten seconds. The demolition of Clermont was certainly the finest game ever played by a Sarries' team, and led to the belief that on their day this club can beat any other club in the world.
Then we went to Cardiff, for our first-ever and the last ever Heineken Cup final. On any level that was a day to forget, with no aspect of the day doing justice to the importance of the event.
So it was that we went to Twickenham with high hopes of a redeeming game, something worthy of the supporters’ time and commitment, and to wash away the memories of one of the worst experiences of being a rugby supporter ever served up. And the cabbage patch did us proud, putting on a day of perfect weather, a perfect pitch and the high standards of stewarding that we come to expect from most rugby grounds in England.
Before the game, supporters of both clubs, or of any other, or none, mingled, chatted, exchanged thoughts about the coming game, and in general showed why rugby is still a sport with tribal rivalries that still permit love of the game to come first.
The teams were both very slightly short of their absolutely preferred starting line-ups. Sarries were missing Mako, and Dylan Hartley was not ready to displace Haywood, who has been a very acceptable starter during Hartley’s long absence. Owen Farrell and Steve Borthwick were fit to go, and Alex Corbisiero was there at the off as well.
Sarries began well, with some outstanding pressure frustrated by Saints’ defence, who had to tread too fine a line, giving up two penalties converted comfortably by Farrell. Saints needed to get on the board before half time and a score always looked on when George Pisi, always a danger in attack even if not every Saints supporter’s favourite defender, cut some great angles to take the ball from inside his own half deep into Sarries territory, where scrambled defence was insufficient to keep out Ben Foden, who was at the end of sharp passing by Luther Burrell and Pisi again, to score easily and give Stephen Myler the easiest of conversions. Sarries went in 6-7 down, and in the stands we could all recognise that we had seen only the first act of a compelling two-act opera.
Sarries raised the tempo after the tea and oranges (Pies, Shirley, Ed), and the game plan seemed to be to move the Saints heavy troops around the field at high pace. Pressure told, and a third penalty by Farrell restored the most slender of leads. At about 55 minutes, Hartley came on, and one could see that his leadership immediately caused Saints to raise their game tempo.
We soon had the first of many decisions to be hotly disputed. A move into the red zone immediately under the Sarries post appeared to depend on a blatant crossing, a moment later Myler placed a neat chip to set George Pisi free but despite some thought the TMO seemed happy, and JP Doyle felt able to award the try.
Shortly afterwards, another contentious decision was seen. A fast passage of play saw Alex Goode put Farrell into the corner, and Doyle awarded the try. However, he demonstrated the sort of indecision that blights modern rugby when he changed his mind after clearly deciding the try was good, and referred upstairs. After several views the TMO decided the final scoring pass had been forward. It was forward, according to the laws of rugby, but modern interpretation almost always accepts that if the passing hands are moving backwards from the player’s body the momentum of the ball may still be forward. Either we have seen a wrong interpretation all season, or Doyle was wrong today.
Shortly afterwards, Farrell, having played a major part in the Sarries machine, but suffering from apparently recurrent and serious cramp, limped off, clearly in considerable personal distress that his contribution had ended in this way. Neither down or out, Sarries regrouped and we saw Brits at his best with a combination of footwork and strength that delivered the ball to a predatory Marcelo Bosch, who took the scores level at 17-17, but replacement Charlie Hodgson so-slightly miscued the conversion. That remained the last score of the game, and under the rules of the competition that also mean that the fat lady had not yet sung; we needed to extend the opera by two more short acts.
During the next period, we saw ten minutes of frantic but essentially scrappy play, as tired bodies seemed to reflect tired minds; Myler first, then Hodgson, exchanged penalties. Jackson Wray was on for the talismanic Jacques Burger, and we all thought he had scored the winner after some burrowing that took him over the line. The try would have been good but for JP Doyle again called for help from upstairs and the TMO disallowed the try for a prior obstruction. And so we went into the final act. Sarries had to win, because Saints’ two tries to one would have given them the game in the event of a tie at 100 minutes. With six minutes to go, Hodgson calmly punished another Saints transgression, and with the score at 20-17 many of us prepared for the longest six minutes of recent times. Then, with seconds, perhaps five or ten of them, to go, sustained Saints pressure under the posts saw replacement prop Alex Waller burrow through. Yet more time spent on the TV monitors, and in the end, watching from the stands we concluded that the crucial question to the TMO had been ‘Is there any reason why I cannot award a try?’ The different question ‘Try or no try?’ might have led to a different decision. [I thought I heard the question ‘Try or no try’ asked by JP, Ed]
So just as the curtain was starting to descend, the fat lady finally and decisively appeared and sang that old spiritual ‘When the Saints…’
Saints probably deserve the result. Saints were never out of it, but last weekend was kinder to them than to Sarries, and they had more in reserve when the big moments at the end of the game came by. Their name will be on the trophy, the eighth name in the professional era, and like many a Sarries supporter, if a name other than Sarries had to be inscribed, we felt that Saints would be more than worthy of that.
It would be difficult to pick out any Sarries player who was more worthy of mention than others. From Alex Goode, not once missing anything at 15, to Billy at 8 giving his utter all until even he could give no more, to Richard Barrington and Matt Stevens who were entirely successful in containing Alex Corbisiero and Salesi Ma’afu in the set-piece, every player played his part to his limit. None left anything in the tank at the end, and every one can look back on his performance in the knowledge that he did his share.
Stephen Myler was MotM, the nomination going to a player on the winning side, as is custom. That must have been a tough call, because he was by no means the only Saints player to catch the eye.
We say goodbyes now. Matt Stevens came to us in controversial circumstances, and his play has caused controversies, not least with referees from time to time. But nobody has questioned his work ethic, his commitment to the Sarries’ squad, and those who know about these things say that when the opera needs to replace the fat lady he has the ideal voice to replace her as the heroic tenor. He returns to Durban, a fine player honoured by England and the B&I Lions, a player who more than did his bit. Steve Borthwick retires today. One of the coldest and most scientific players of the modern or probably any era, an accolade that entirely fails to do justice to his many skills. He has been the ultimate de-constructor of opposition line-outs for years, with homework second to none. He has been the model of controlled, disciplined commitment on the field and above all he has been a captain whose leadership enabled every player around him to raise his game. Under his baton the Sarries orchestra played better tunes than the sum of the individual players would have thought they could. Our loss is Japanese rugby’s gain. Others may depart, and others will arrive, but for me these two represent the best of Sarries, team players to the end and proud to have been so.
As I always do in these pieces, What about the referee? I cannot say that my heart is lifted when JP Doyle is to be the referee at any game, and nor was it lifted today. Whilst being generally consistent, he is capable of being consistent in ignoring some laws and interpreting others well. But today his inconsistency was a significant flaw. He consistently failed to back his own judgement by referring, almost deferring, to the TMO, and by demonstrating the weakness that becomes obvious when he does one thing and then changes his mind. Over the four acts today refereeing probably did not prevent the right team winning, but did not lead to furthering respect for the man with the whistle. This game needs referees able to decide and manage the game, not message carriers to a caravan in the car park.
The game of rugby in England goes into the summer with memories of a game to grace the Aviva Premiership and to satisfy rugby lovers who appreciate the skill, physicality and passion of one of the best games to be seen at Twickenham for a long time. Tonight everything in the Gardens indeed smells of roses.
Saracens: Goode; Ashton, Bosch, Barritt, Strettle; Farrell, De Kock; Barrington, Brits, Stevens; Borthwick (capt), Botha; Brown, Burger, B. Vunipola.
Replacements: Wigglesworth for De Kock (50), Hargreaves for Botha (50), Wray for Burger (50), Johnston for Stevens (54), Wyles for Strettle (56), Hodgson for Farrell (62), Gill for Barrington (83), George for B. Vunipola (95).
Northampton Saints: Foden; K. Pisi, G. Pisi, Burrell, North; Myler, Fotuali'i; Corbisiero, Haywood, Ma'afu; Manoa, Lawes; Clark, Wood (capt), Dickinson.
Replacements: Dickson for Fotuali'i (50), Mercey for Ma'afu (50), Hartley for Haywood (54), Waller for Corbisiero (54), Day, for Manoa (56), Dowson for Clark (56), Wilson for G. Pisi (62), Stephenson for K. Pisi (90).
Att: 81,193
Ref: JP Doyle
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Stumbleupon05/06/2014 08:41
Now that we've all (well, nearly all) calmed down, read it and weep.
All together now (in a falseto voice) "My Eyes Adored You ..."
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:21:22:29:31 by Darraghgirl.
Thanks innings and let's hope that you or somebody else can write a tale or towith a happier ending next season
Must have been a fantastic spectacle for everyone other than Sarries fans!
I have only two points really:
- one is an erratum: it was Ken not George who made the break (though it is fair to say we have defensive concerns about both, for differing reasons, from time to time!);
- secondly an omission: you didn't claim credit for the demeanour of your club. i posted straight afterwards, and stand by it here again, your support, coaching team and your players acted with huge grace on the day given the nature of the defeat. we know how bad it feels. for me whatever hatchet there was between our clubs, if it existed, was buried a good couple of seasons ago, and i hope that the ovation your players received from us on their lap of honour makes it clear the respect we have for them and for their performance.
Thank you Riverlodge. I also hope that this wonderful close deliciously controversial game has brought the supporters of our 2 great clubs closer together.
Heres to your Champion season, and to next year.
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