Saracens
MAKE MINE A DOUBLE
By Darraghgirl
May 29 2016
Take yourself back 2 years to May 2014. It may be a bit painful but bear with me. That was the year of the double that wasn’t. The Club had offered a refund on the cost of season tickets if the impossible happened. But of course it didn’t. After that amazing demolition of Clermont Auvergne came the debacle at Cardiff. That awful trip down the M4 in coaches that left too late (not to mention the experiences of Jimboban) and the comprehensive defeat by a Jonny Wilkinson inspired Toulon; then just a week later losing even more painfully to Northampton Saints in the final minute of extra time.
Now wind the clock forward 2 years. How good does that feel? Saracens are reigning European Champions after a fabulous weekend in Lyon, reigning Premiership Champions after soundly beating Bath in 2015 and yet again have finished top of the tree in the regular season with just 4 defeats all season and a clear 6 points ahead of runners up Exeter Chiefs. (An even better performance when you think that 8 of those games were played without their internationals). This is Saracens’ 22nd game at HQ (and Exeter’s first) and the 5th time in 7 years that the club have appeared in the Final. All that adds up to pedigree, experience, belief.
So once again, on a sunny Saturday afternoon, we gather at Twickenham on the last day of the season. This time Saracens are hot favourites, unloved (ask Paul Ackford), “boring”, party poopers to everyone’s second favourite team the Chiefs. Exeter of course are the fairy tale rags to riches lads. Saracens play the role of wicked stepmother. When Sarries were appearing in their first final in 2010, Exeter were winning the Championship and preparing to take their place with the Big Boys. Under the admirable leadership of Rob Baxter, Exeter have surpassed all expectations and deservedly appear at HQ where the Cowboys take on the Indians.
Both teams were unchanged for the game – we breathed a huge sigh of relief that Owen Farrell was fit to start. For Exeter, Premiership top try-scorer Thomas “the Tank” Waldrom was sadly ruled out. It was a milestone for Mako Vunipola, his 100th appearance for Sarries, and for Charlie Hodgson, his 254th and last Premiership appearance. Brad Barritt led the team out with 2 little Hodgson boys. Maybe one day they will follow in dad’s footsteps.
The early pressure came from Saracens and Farrell put them in an early lead with a tricky penalty kick against Woodburn for not releasing. Saracens were happy to let Exeter have the ball in their own half of the pitch, confident in their defence. An early line out was lost but otherwise the set piece went to plan. After 10 minutes Sarries came close to the try line. They couldn’t quite get over but won a second penalty, this time an easy kick for Owen to double the score.
As the half progressed, it was all Saracens. They seemed to have Exeter exactly where they wanted them, pinned in their own half through good defence forcing Exeter to kick for territory only for Goode to send the ball back with extras. Exeter players were being forced into errors, particularly Henry Slade. Chiefs looked nervy, rattled even. Saracens’ discipline was excellent, not conceding a penalty until 21 minutes. Steenson missed the free-hit at a drop goal but then kicked the penalty from out wide to put Exeter on the score sheet 6-3.
Saracens came back with avengeance forcing their way back in to the Chief’s 22. Unfortunately Farrell’s pass required Taylor to swallow-dive forward goalkeeper style and the ball went out. Sarries stole the lineout and Brits headed for the try line. His pass to Rhodes was fumbled and chaos ensued as the loose ball was kicked by Farrell and charged down for Whitton to kick ahead. Finally the whistle blew and Parling’s tackle on Rhodes was deemed to be early. Farrell gratefully kicked the points to restore a 6 point lead.
Exeter finally managed a bit of possession in the Saracen’s half but Sarries appeared untroubled, happy that Exeter were being forced to play the Sarries way. A short Exeter clearance was run back deep into the 22 by Brits. Advantage was being played when Farrell noticed Taylor, unmarked, out wide. A perfectly weighted kick was collected by Taylor who gratefully scored the first try. Farrell wasn’t missing anything today and he kicked a lovely wide conversion to put Sarries 16-3 ahead, a fairer reflection of the play. Worse was to follow for Exeter a couple of minutes later when Farrell found Wyles on half way with a flat pass. Wyles set off, rode a tackle from Slade and sprinted for the touchline to score Sarries’ second. Again Farrell converted for 23-3. There was a suggestion that the pass was forward but Wayne Barnes didn’t talk to his TMO (and to be honest the pass looked very similar to the 1st Leicester try last week which was allowed so maybe even if he had, nothing would have changed).
As the clock clicked into red, Exeter finally got to spend some meaningful time in the Sarries’ 22, their first and only serious attack of the half. The attack petered out but Exeter had a penalty which Steenson kicked and the Chiefs went in to half time with a little bit of hope at 23-6.
So we were quietly confident. This happened last year against Bath didn’t it – last week even against Leicester. Surely Sarries had Exeter where they wanted them now. More of the same and we were home and dry. Well I don’t know what Rob Baxter said to his team at half time but they returned to the pitch a different side, that side that had deservedly won their place in the final. As for Sarries, maybe they thought the job was done, the long season was catching up with them and they took their foot off the pedal just a tiny bit. But that was all that Exeter required.
Exeter started the second half with a purpose which had been lacking in the first 40 minutes. They were in the Sarries’ 22 again within the first minute. Dollman broke dangerously but Ashton intercepted his pass. Exeter enjoyed a long period of possession spurred on by the Tomahawk Chop which rang round HQ. Exeter changed their front row. Sarries seemed happy to allow Exeter long periods of possession in their own half again forcing them to kick long for territory and when they did get over the gain line, the build up was so slow that Saracens could defend with some ease. Brits and Rhodes departed for Jamie George & Jackson Wray. Finally Exeter won a kickable penalty from a scrum. Steenson opted to put the ball in the corner. At last we saw the famous Exeter rolling maul which, even without Thomas the Tank, was unstoppable and over the try line with Yeandle touching the ball down. Credit to Barnes, he knew what he had seen and awarded the try without recourse to the TMO. Steenson matched Farrell with his touchline conversion to give Chiefs some hope at 23-13.
And now Exeter had begun to believe. They were back within 10 and they knew they had a weapon which could hurt the Champions. They drove again from a line out in their own 22 and won another penalty which was plonked up to half way. They won a penalty at the line out. Steenson again turned down the kick and the ball was back in the corner. Were we in for a repeat? This time Saracens defended well, the maul never got going and Sarries eventually turned it over.
There was a brief respite as Sarries attacked from a scrum penalty. Goode kicked ahead for Ashton to chase but Nowell showed superb defence to reach the ball, stay in field and engineer a clearance. Both sides were feeling the heat. Exeter had used most of their subs and Sarries were unlucky when a promising break was halted for a head injury to Armand. Play restarted with a Sarries scrum from which Exeter won a penalty. The new Exeter front row was gaining the upper hand and Mako in particular was bloodied and flagging so it was no surprise to see him replaced by Richard Barrington. Exeter were sniffing blood again and went back on the attack. Wyles picked up on a forward pass and set Alex Goode on a superb run which he off loaded to Itoje. Farrell continued the attack looking for Ashton out wide with the try line begging but for once the pass was a poor one and went into touch.
With 12 minutes left, there was a huge hand for the legend that is Charlie Hodgson, for the last time on a rugby pitch, together with Neil de Kock. Sarries showed that they too could put in a decent line out drive but it ended with a penalty to Chiefs which Steenson thumped up field. Now it was Exeter’s turn to drive from the line out forcing Itoje to concede a penalty. Steenson again went for the corner. Jim Hamilton replaced Will Fraser. The inevitable maul was again set up but that wiley fox Hamilton was able to stop its progress. Chiefs kept pushing, the Tomahawk chop again echoed round the ground, Taylor was lured out of the line allowing Slade to evade him and off load to Dolman who made Nowell work for it but the Cornishman evaded Goode and scored in the corner. The conversion was vital but never in doubt and Chiefs were back to within 3 points.
Could the impossible happen? Could it? There were just 6 minutes left now for a miracle. Saracens went back on the attack, clearly deciding it was better to play in the Exeter half. Goode found Bosch on the wing, he broke and slipped the ball inside to Ashton who saw Goode on his shoulder and although he was tackled by Short, he stretched his arm out over the line and scored the try. How fitting that the Premiership’s Player of the season should score the decisive try. Maybe Charlie had a tear in his eye but the less said about the conversion attempt the better. Still the lead was now 8 with just 2 minutes left. Exeter didn’t give up even then. A loud cheer greeted a Saracens penalty and that seemed to be that. Sensibly Charlie put it in touch deep in the Exeter 22. Once again from the line out, Sarries set up a drive. Charlie dropped it over the top. Ashton and Nowell landed on it together. Ashton celebrated a “try”. Finally “wavy” Davey got his moment of glory and it was clear that the grounding wasn’t clean. But any attempt at a quick restart was thwarted.
So just catch the drop out and clear it? Itoje got the ball but conceded an Exeter penalty. The clock was red now, the win for Exeter out of reach but still they didn’t give up and only after several minutes play was the ball turned over and the game ended.
So Saracens were victorious in a splendid final, played in the late spring sunshine and graced by both teams. It looked like a walk in the park at half time but to their huge credit, Chiefs made a game of it and very nearly pulled off the miracle.
Saracens are once again Premiership Champions. They have defended their title, the first time since Leicester in 2010 (and we know who were on the receiving end that day) and the first team to do the “Double” since Wasps in 2004. It was a match which lived up to its billing, a match where we said goodbye to Charlie Hodgson, where Owen Farrell truly stepped into Charlie’s boots. It was a match lit up by the fast feet of Alex Goode, man of the match, and the twinkling toes of Schalk Brits. To be honest it was a match where every one of the 15 who started and the 15 who finished stood tall. This Saracens team is a very very good one. The most scary thing for everyone else is that they will get even better.
SARACENS
Goode, Ashton, Taylor (Bosch), Barritt, Wyles, Farrell (Hodgson), Wigglesworth (De Kock), M Vunipola (Barrington), Brits (George), Du Plessis (Figallo), Itoje, Kruis, Rhodes (Wray), Fraser (Hamilton), B Vunipola
EXETER
Dolman, Nowell, Slade, Whitten (Campagnaro), Woodburn (Short), Steenson, Chudley (Lewis), Moon (Hepburn), Cowan-Dickie (Yeandle), Williams (Francis), Lees, Parling (Welch), Ewers, Salvi (Hortsmann), Armand
SCORERS:-
Saracens (28) Tries: Taylor, Wyles, Goode; Conv: Farrell (2); Pens: Farrell (3)
Exeter Chiefs (20) Tries: Yeandle, Nowell; Conv: Steenson (2); Pens: Steenson (2)
Attendance: 76,109
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:06:15:17:46:27 by Darraghgirl.
WE KNOW WHO WE ARE
CHAMPIONS OF EVERYTHING
WE KNOW WHO WE ARE
A great read for all Sarries fans in the after glow of simply our best season ever.
fixed the first paragraph for you - otherwise an excellent report as always
fixed the first paragraph for you - otherwise an excellent report as always[/quote
I was trying not to be provocative Jeremy!
The replacement Exeter front row looked far stronger than the starting one. Did anyone count the number of times jack nowell fell over? You might have understood it if he'd never played at Twickenham before.
The title of your article may well appear on some apparel!
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
brilliant and thank you
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