SHIP SHAPE AGAIN


By Behind the Bench
September 28 2016

All good things come to an end. Free wifi, "War and Peace", six month unbeaten runs. It's a mark of Saracens' resilience, though, that I, as many others no doubt, saw that half time score, and, thought, yes, the comeback is still on, given the recoveries seen at various times last season. This time it didn't happen, as Harlequins profited from two very sharp pieces of attacking play in a smart intercept and a long accurate pass to the wing, and the South West London side demonstrated some powerful defence hitherto lacking from their game up to this point. What of Sarries then? Quite rightly, Mark McCall emphasised how they rallied to claim a losing bonus point, and kept their hosts scoreless after the break, which was encouraging. They also made more ground (Alex Goode alone making 136 metres) and line breaks in attack, retaining all of their lineout and scrum ball, as did Quins, but, in turn, knocked on more regularly than the home side. 

Bristol's top flight history, although just resuming after a seven year pause, is not short of interest. Back in 2007, their defensive strength, which saw them come out on top in a series of tight games saw them finish third in the table. Since then, they were relegated, moved out of their traditional home at the Memorial Ground in Horfield to switch to the impressively rebuilt Ashton Gate on the other side of the city, now in common ownership with Bristol City football club. They lost in the play-offs in four of their six Championship seasons ahead of the last campaign success against Doncaster. In the aftermath of that overdue victory, Bristol made a number of experienced signings. Full back Luke Arscott made the short journey from Bath, whilst scrum halves Martin Roberts and Rhodri Williams were signed from Ospreys and Scarlets respectively, and utility back Jordan Williams was another arrival from Llanelli. Samoan fly half Tusi Pisi moved from Japanese side Sunwolves and centre Thretton Palamo switched from Saracens, having spent some time on loan at London Welsh last season, with fellow centre Will Hurrell added from Doncaster. Kiwi back Jason Woodward signed from the Hurricanes. In the forwards, Jordan Crane joined the back row from Leicester Tigers, alongside Northampton Saints; Jon Fisher, whilst former Saracens flanker Nick Fenton-Wells arrived from Bedford Blues and Georgian intenational Giorgi Nemsadze arrived from French semi-professional side Tarbes. Former Saints prop Soane Tonga'uiha, who nearly joined Saracens a few seasons back, rejoined the Premiership from Top 14 side Oyannax, whilst Ospreys Ryan Bevington was a further addition to the front row
 
What seemed a sizeable support travelled to Twickenham for the second game of the London Double Header. In an impressive display of running rugby, the West Country side made 16 line breaks and made more than twice as much ground than a seemingly off-colour Harlequins side, establishing a 14-3 lead just ahead of the half hour mark thanks to superb counter-attacking tries from Tom Varndell and Tusi Pisi, the latter as part of an all-action display. However, they paid dearly for their inability to close out the half as poor discipline gave Quins the positioning to claim two tries in as many minutes before the break. That said, Bristol retook the lead through Ryan Edwards, two monutes into the second half, and though boasting a 94% tackle success rate, 19 penalties conceded proved too many as Harlequins edged to a 21-19 win. A bumper crowd attended the home opener against Northampton Saints, not the first time Premiership rugby had featured at Ashton Gate, as matches against Bath had been moved here in the past. However, a very poor start saw the home side trail 23-3 in as many minutes, struggling defensively to cope with the visitors power and movement, and though they stemmed the flow in the second half to an extent, they could only claim one try of their own as Ross McMillan finished off an incisive move as it ended 32-10 to Northampton. If that offered some encouragement, then the third game, the 70-22 loss at Wasps offered nothing of the kind as the hosts made 745 metres, whilst the visitors missed 25 tackles, although at least earnt a trio of consolation tries. The run of challenging games continued last Friday night with the home derby against Exeter Chiefs bringing a 41-17 loss, and though having a high tackle success rate, they still conceded five tries, but did get three more of their own as their rolling maul caused some problems.
 
The quality of the Bristol squad, and indeed their performance at HQ, suggested that they are far too good to be in the relegation battle. That said, they need to pick up results, by correcting the number of errors in their games and improving their discipline, especially in defence. If they don't, Saracens would have the ability to capitalise on this, both through direct forward power, certainly in the lineout and scrum, where Bristol have struggled at times. and incisive counter attacking as they look to get back on the winning trail. Possible line up for Bristol has Jordan Williams at full back, with Edwards and Charlie Amesbury on the wings (Varndell left the field on HIA protocol against Exeter) with a centre partnership of Hurrell and Palamo (as Gavin Henson is injured) and Pisi teaming up with Will Cliff in the half backs. The pack has already been shuffled considerably between games, so we could see a front row of Tonga'uiha, McMillan and Gaston Cortes, with a second row duo of James Phillips and Mark Sorenson, and the back row formed of Fisher, captain Jack Lam and Crane. Saracens may opt for a couple of changes, although the options in the backs look relatively restricted, especially if Owen Farrell is not deemed ready to return. Hence, Goode should continue at full back, with Mike Ellery and Chris Wyles on the wings outside Nick Tompkins and Brad Barritt. Alex Lozowski should continue at fly half with Ben Spencer slotting in beside him. Forwards wise, the front row should contain Richard Barrington, Jamie George and Petrus du Plessis, with Jim Hamilton and Maro Itoje remaining in the second row, and a back row of Jackson Wray, Schalk Burger and Billy Vunipola.
 

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SHIP SHAPE AGAIN
Discussion started by TheSaracens.com , 28/09/2016 18:58
TheSaracens.com
28/09/2016 18:58
Many thanks Gerard



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2016:10:11:07:44:31 by Darraghgirl.

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TonyTaff
29/09/2016 10:55
Thanks Gérard, excellent as always.

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

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Squawker2
29/09/2016 17:20
I thought we should stop playing Maro, I mean, he's an okay player but 31 starting victories just isn't quite good enough

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Stuart Barnes is a Cock Womble

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The Bard
29/09/2016 20:26
Really thought the Vunipolas would sit this one out. Think we'll have to work pretty hard for this.

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Highbury Saracen
29/09/2016 20:33
Maybe they want to get most out of them before Eddie takes them?
Looking forward to see George & Maro in action together again!
We need to get a few back to their best before Wasps & Toulon
If Owen or Will would've been fit I think they'd have played Friday

European champions 2016 & 2017

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