LATE SURGE SECURES SEMI-FINAL


By Behind the Bench
April 10 2016

Saracens are beatable, they just don't think they are". I noticed this quote from an opposition fan earlier this week; it could point at perceived arrogance, or perhaps the spirit of a side who never give up, even when, as for much of this game, things aren't going right. Whatever the explanation, they overcame a subdued first half which Northampton had the better of, to eventually retake the lead with 13 minutes to go through a well-worked try from Chris Ashton, and Chris Wyles pounced on an error with a few minutes to go to earn a semi-final tie with Wasps at Reading in just two weeks' time.

Sarries' line up was pretty much as expected and at full strength (with the exception of Jamie George) with Alex Goode at full back, Chris Ashton and Chris Wyles occupying the wings and Duncan Taylor accompanying Brad Barritt in the centres. Owen Farrell teamed up with Richard Wigglesworth in the half backs. Forwards-wise, the front row contained Mako Vunipola, Schalk Brits and Petrus du Plessis, whilst Maro Itoje recovered in time to take his place alongside the cleared George Kruis. Jackson Wray slotted into the back row alongside Will Fraser and Billy Vunipola. In contrast, Northampton were forced into a number of changes as only Luther Burrell of the quartet suffering from concussion were able to return, meaning Dylan Hartley, Kieran Brookes and Lee Dickson missed out, whilst George North, Sam Dickinson, Jamie Gibson and Tom Wood were also out as a serious injury crisis has emerged. Ben Foden captained the side from full back, with Ken Pisi and Jamie Elliott occupying the wings, and George Pisi with Burrell in the centres. Stephen Myler was at fly half accompanied by Kahn Fotuali'i at scrum half. Into the forwards, and the front row was comprised of Alex Waller, Mike Heywood and Paul Hill, with the second row adjusted to feature James Craig and Christian Day, as Courtney Lawes was moved into the back row and Ben Nutley came into the side alongside Teimana Harrison. On paper, it seemed a comfortable win for the hosts was on the cards, but what ensued was anything but, as a committed performance did the reshaped Saints side much credit.

In what was a pleasant Saturday evening, the array of flags in the East Stand added a special something to the atmosphere, with a disappointingly low crowd of 8050 meaning that the extra seats required to increase the capacity didn't seem to have been installed. Saracens went straight onto the attack with a series of crashing drives, but, symptomatic of some exceptional breakdown work by the visitors, they were turned over, and the Saints won a third minute penalty for a high tackle. However, after winning two penalties in quick succession, the visitors paid for their lack of accuracy, as the first lineout was pinched and the second one was knocked-on, which was odd, given the success of this aspect of their play last week at Wasps. Six minutes in, the home side were in front after a purposeful period of play saw Northampton pinged for coming in from the side, and Farrell stepped up to collect the three points from 40 metres. As they had done to an extent in the league win here last month, the visitors looked to keep the ball in hand, and won a penalty as Sarries failed to roll away when Burrell was tackled, but, in moderate wind, Myler's kick edged to the left of the posts from 25 metres on the right. Almost from the kick off, the Saints fly half had another opportunity as Fraser was yellow carded for challenging Foden when he was off the ground, but the second penalty attempt failed to hit the target either. There was an even bigger let off for the competition favourites in the twelfth minute when a strong run by Nutley from midfield saw play spread through Heywood and Myler to reach Elliott on the left wing, only for the winger to knock on in the process of scoring. Undeterred, the visitors continued their ambitious approach and took the lead with a neatly-worked try on the quarter hour. A smart offload had put Harrison through, and running a good supporting line, Ken Pisi was able to score in the right hand corner, with Myler adding the extras for a 7-3 lead. 

From a Saracens perspective, the attacking game was somewhat stop-start at this point, although the gap was narrowed to a single point when Saints failed to roll away and Farrell added another three points on the way to a 100% kicking display. However, they failed to deal with the kick-off, giving their opponents a lineout and in the ensuing play, Saracens were pinged for going in from the side, but the Saints failed to make any real inroads after they kicked for touch. Northampton continued to make the running, with the home side's kicking game variable in quality as the wind began to pick up, and they went close as Fotuali'i sent Ken Pisi away on the right, forcing another home infringement, but the rolling maul was blunted, and Saracens forced a scrum penalty to clear the danger. The Saints seemed to be able to make ground far too easily from deep, as Foden set up a fine break by Elliott which won a penalty and Myler stretched the visitors' lead to 10-6 on the half hour mark. Even when Sarries sporadically threatened, the ball was turned over, but some more concerted pressure saw Fraser break away on the right, but with the final pass forward, play was pulled back for the penalty which Farrell kicked for touch to provide some much needed territory and possession, only for the rolling maul to be halted by the Northampton defence. For all that, the home side could have snatched the lead in the last action of the half, as Wigglesworth latched onto a loose ball from a Saints scrum, and broke clear, but was hauled down, and the visitors forced a penalty to close the half. Unfortunately, Wigglesworth suffered an injury and was replaced by de Kock at the break.
 
Saracens nearly took the lead within a minute of the resumption. Two successive kicks forward saw the second one bounce awkwardly and induce a knock-on by Foden to provide a scrum on the edge of the 22 for the home side. Their best play of the match saw charging runs by Vunipola and du Plessis progress into a flowing move through the hands of Farrell and Ashton to put in Taylor at the left hand corner, but the score was ruled out for crossing. Sarries began to kick more at this point to try and pin Northampton pack, and getting the return lineouts closer in due to some poor clearances. There was a sense that just one decent move would win the game for Saracens, but they were making too many mistakes at the moment, but, on 50 minutes, they were back within one point again as powerful carries by Vunipola, Barritt and du Plessis, interspersed with crisp passing to left and right by de Kock induced a penalty, and a score of 9-10. The Saints were not playing with the freedom of the first half with ball in hand, yet restored their four point advantage in the 55th minute, when, after a series of drives, Fraser strayed off his feet. Just before the hour, the home side responded with a fast move from a lineout, as an assured take by Kruis saw the ball spread out by Farrell and Ashton to just elude Goode advancing along the left touchline, as the ball trickled out of play off the hand of Ken Pisi. Claiming a penalty from the consequent scrum, it was now 12-13. 
 
There was a feeling that Sarries were creeping ever closer to the breakthrough, with Ashton at the heart of the improved attacking display, On 64 minutes, after Northampton had put together several phases, but were penalised for holding on, a mammoth kick by Farrell took play into the opposition 22 and the ball was eventually floated out to Ashton, who, being pulled into touch got the ball away quickly on the inside, but only into the hands of George Pisi. With the home side finally playing the game in the right areas, an initial drive by Barritt saw the ball spread out to Ashton on the left wing to claim a 69th minute try and a 19-13 lead as Farrell expertly converted from the touchline. Four minutes later, the match was essentially clinched, as Farrell got three more points when the visitors offended at the scrum. Looking to embellish the score, Itoje and Goode surged forward, but a losse pass gave replacement Mallinder a hint of a chance as he raced down the left, but was hauled into touch. A further score did come, though, with four minutes left, as Hanrahan's stray pass in his own 22 was alertly snapped up by Wyles, who had an easy run to the line, and Farrell made it 29-13. This was a massive shift by the pack, with all but Wray lasting until the 77th minute, with wholesale changes when the game was finally won. Northampton did get a second try, though, as incessant pressure culminated in Lawes finishing from close range, and Myler added the two from wide on the left as it finished 29-20 and Saracens remain on course for Lyon next month.
 
We'd got a little spoilt, perhaps, with the commanding displays and flowing play in the last two wins against Exeter and Bath, but, as Marcelo Bosch will tell you, just like a year ago, in Cup rugby, it's not how you start, it's where you finish. 

Line Ups
Saracens
15 Alex Goode (Ben Ransom 77): 14 Chris Ashton: 13 Duncan Taylor: 12 Brad Barritt (c) (Marcelo Bosch 77): 11 Chris Wyles: 10 Owen Farrell: 9 Richard Wigglesworth (Neil de Kock HT): 1 Mako Vunipola (Richard Barrington 77): 2 Schalk Brits (Jared Saunders 77): 3 Petrus du Plessis (Tito Lamositele 77): 4 Maro Itoje: 5 George Kruis: 6 Jackson Wray (Michael Rhodes 51): 7 Will Fraser (Alistair Hargreaves 77): 8 Billy Vunipola

Northampton Saints
15 Ben Foden (c) (Harry Mallinder 47): 14 Ken Pisi: 13 George Pisi (JJ Hanrahan 71): 12 Luther Burrell: 11 Jamie Elliott: 10 Stephen Myler: 9 Kahn Fotuali'i (Tom Kessell 69): 1 Alex Waller (Campese Ma'afu 62): 2 Mike Heywood (Reece Marshall 77): 3 Paul Hill (Gareth Denman 69): 4 James Craig (Michael Paterson 74): 5 Christian Day (Victor Matfield 61): 6 Courtney Lawes: 7 Ben Nutley (Michael Paterson 66 / Ben Nutley 70 (HIA)): 8 Teimana Harrison
 
Scorers:-
SARACENS (29):
Tries: Ashton, Wyles  Convs: Farrell (2),  Pens: Farrell 5
 
NORTHAMPTON (20)
Tries:  K Pisi, Lawes;  Convs: Myler (2),   Pens: Myler (2)
 
Attendance: 8050

Referee:  J Garces

Bookmark or share this story with:

LATE SURGE SECURES SEMI-FINAL
Discussion started by TheSaracens.com , 10/04/2016 08:28
TheSaracens.com
10/04/2016 08:28
Thanks Gerard. Brilliant to see the "Ash Splash" again and Itoje was awesome. Did anyone else notice the Peregrine Falcon which flew across the ground after about an hour - I think it was a our lucky omen!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2016:04:24:16:34:34 by Darraghgirl.

Reply Quote Report
TonyTaff
11/04/2016 10:41
Was it my imagination or was someone ironically singing "Where were you when we were pants?"

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

Reply Quote Report
The Bard
12/04/2016 20:12
Excellent as ever, thanks.
Restarts were certainly an area we must improve, Myler put just about every one on a sixpence just inside the touchline and we gave back possession on the 22 most times.

Reply Quote Report
Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net