Saracens
Wuss-Sarries match report
Goode – very good!!
By King Zak
December 29 2013
Worcester Warriors 8 v 26 SaracensSixways has never been a particularly happy hunting ground for Saracens in the Premiership, although with their hosts rock bottom, it was perhaps of little surprise that they managed to halt that run of losses with a bonus point win.
Given the torrential rain and howling gales of the previous few days, conditions could not have been better for playing rugby. There was barely a breeze, the sky was clear and it was obvious from the outset that Sarries were intent on collecting a ‘maximum’. This was emphasised after just two minutes when they were awarded a penalty 40 metres out directly in front of the posts. My immediate thought was, “good, a nice easy 3 points to get us going” but that was a very fleeting thought as Wigglesworth took a quick tap and set off towards the Worcester try line. The attack resulted in Mieres gleefully taking the ball over his own line from a Hodgson chip through. His dive was almost reminiscent of an ‘Ash Splash’ and I wondered for a moment if he’d forgotten which way he was playing! The attack came to nothing as Stevens knocked on just short of the line allowing Worcester to clear.
The next opportunity came the way of the hosts but Mieres’ long distant penalty drifted harmlessly wide of the posts. However, he was more accurate on 8 minutes from closer range to give Worcs the early advantage. It was very short lived though as Sarries got their first try of the day almost immediately from the restart. Good, crisp handling from Streather and Goode put Wyles into space on the left. He in turn found Strettle on the left wing and he was never going to miss from 5 metres out. Referee Garner decided he needed a second opinion from the TMO before awarding the try, although there was no doubting Wyles hands had gone ‘backwards’ when delivering the final pass. Hodgson missed the kick – possibly because he couldn’t see where the posts were due to the setting sun! It was a try of such simplicity and ease, it resembled a training ground warm up. Indeed, the conversation around us focused on the complete lack of anything resembling a tackle from the Warriors defence and that it could be a very long afternoon for them if they maintained such a passive approach.
It was a similar situation 6 minutes later though. The Sarries attack seemed to have faltered as the ball was slowed down in midfield. However, the resurgent Brits managed to offload to Goode who straightened the line of attack in that elegant style of his. In doing so he carved a huge hole through the Warriors defence and unselfishly passed back inside to the supporting Brits who gleefully scored under the posts. It was a great moment for the hooker but one that would have caused even more worry lines for Dean Ryan – the defence just simply evaporated! Hodgson slotted the simple kick to give Sarries a healthy looking 3-12 lead. On the rare occasion Worcester managed to gain possession, Mieres invariably kicked it away – generally very poorly too. The one shining light for the hosts, as with most of their games this season, was full back Pennell. He created the first real hint of danger with a good break and kick through. Goode covered the kick and showed great composure and awareness as he shepherded the bouncing ball over the try line. The ball was slowing down and the chasers were gaining; his coolness under pressure was a marked contrast with that of Mieres earlier.
It was Goode who got the next try too. Streather made the initial break, just inside Warriors territory on the left of halfway, as two would be tacklers failed miserably. He passed to Goode who evaded a further three defenders to score near the posts. If the earlier defensive lapses had been worrying, this was now a major concern for the hosts – they barely laid a finger on him! Hodgson’s conversion took the score to 3-19.
The bonus point try arrived a few minutes later as Hodgson collected his own chip kick which two defenders had allowed to bounce between them. He also added the conversion and our general thought was, “what happens now?” Mission accomplished with barely 30 minutes on the clock. Sarries decided it was time to allow Worcester to have some possession. That may sound patronising, and it most certainly isn’t intended as such, but the change in the game pattern was so stark that’s the only conclusion I could draw. Mako was sent to the sin bin on 33 minutes following the advice of the TMO – I’m not quite sure why as by now the sun was directly behind the big screen and it was impossible to see replays.
Worcester finally got some momentum and I think it was a general relief all round (well, I don’t suppose the Sarries team and coaching staff were too pleased!) when Senatore barged over for a try 2 minutes before the break. Mieres continued his woeful kicking display as his effort didn’t remotely threaten the posts to give a half time score of 8 - 26.
The second half was pointless – in all senses! Sarries seemed content to let Worcester have the ball and went into ‘injury avoidance’ mode. The Warriors never remotely looked capable of breaking down the traditionally well organised Sarries defence. Indeed, it was rather ironic that, Worcester having spent 39 minutes battering away in Sarries 22, it was the visitors who came closest to scoring. With almost the last play of the game, replacement hooker George dropped the ball with the line at his mercy. The highlight of the second half was seeing the returning Barritt, Botha and Melck get some game time – if all did look quite rusty. Billy managed to find time to have a scuffle with one of the opposition which drew the attention of Mr Garner but resulted in no more than a telling off and penalty to Worcester.
For Sarries, this was as simple an away win as you could imagine – it really is hard to see how Dean Ryan can turn round the fortunes of a woeful Worcester team bereft of confidence and ideas. As for MoM, my vote would go to Goode – he was simply sublime in the first half; with an honourable mention for Jackson Wray who worked tirelessly and made some big hits. Sarries will be even more pleased to have got a couple of big guns back into action and they will want to come through unscathed next week before the real focus – Toulouse away.
Finally, happy New Year to all – whatever the colour of your rugby shirt!
Worcester: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 James Stephenson, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Andy Symons, 11 Josh Drauniniu, 10 Ignacio Mieres, 9 Jeremy Su'a, 1 Ofa Fainga'anuku, 2 Chris Brooker, 3 Rob O'Donnell, 4 James Percival, 5 Mariano Galarza, 6 Richard de Carpentier, 7 Sam Betty, 8 Leonardo Senatore
Replacements: 16 Nick Seymour, 17 Jeremy Becasseau, 18 John Andress, 19 Chris Jones, 20 Semisi Taulava, 21 Paul Hodgson, 22 Paul Warwick, 23 Ravai Fatiaki
Saracens: 15. Alex Goode; 14. Jack Wilson, 13. Tim Streather, 12. Chris Wyles, 11. David Strettle; 10. Charlie Hodgson, 9. Richard Wigglesworth; 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Schalk Brits, 3. Matt Stevens, 4. George Kruis, 5. Alistair Hargreaves ©, 6. Jackson Wray, 7. Kelly Brown, 8. Billy Vunipola.
Replacements; 16. Jamie George, 17. Richard Barrington, 18. Petrus Du Plessis, 19. Mouritz Botha, 20. Justin Melck, 21. Ben Spencer, 22. Marcelo Bosch, 23. Brad Barritt.
Referee – Greg Garner
Attendadnce: 9,301
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Stumbleupon29/12/2013 12:38
An impressively timely report, and, amazingly, your publisher wasn't already sown the pub!
Enjoy
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2014:01:09:16:44:45 by TonyTaff.
Quote:An impressively timely report, and, amazingly, your publisher wasn't already sown the pub!
If you sow a pub, what do you reap?
Very fair report KZ, and you're right about a pointless second half. A great many Wuss supporters seemed to agree, the early exodus was almost biblical in scale. You were kind to overlook the contribution by Su'a: he will wish to avoid seeing any replay of his afternoon, which was personally below par, and included a service so slow that Mieres was almost bound to receive ball and tackler simultaneously.
Innings
Points win matches: tries win hearts and minds.
Nous sommes l'armée noir et rouge !
Mako was binned for reacting to one of the Worcs forwards landing on his leg (by accident or on purpose, I don't know).
As for Billy, all I could see was the replay of the Worcs player landing a few hefty blows to him, but not what had started the reaction. Despite Mieres' kicks to him, Billy gathered every high ball safely.
Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade
🌻🌻🌻
A happy coach load returned, well pleased with what we had seen.
either way, Billy was the big reactor and with Mako getting carded for another reaction its concerning if the pair of them can be wound up
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