By The Saracens
January 23 2022

We face London Irish for the 3rd time this season (strange how we have drawn them in all 3 competitions!) Thus far Irish definitely have the upper hand with a win and a draw and with both feet firmly placed in the Round of 16, their European journey is firmly on track. While Sarries were putting their feet up last weekend, Irish were all but cementing their play off place with a last gasp win over Edinburgh. So the big question today is who wants it more? Both teams are a mix of regulars and fringe players – what does that tell us? Frankly not a lot! Sarries have wheeled out all 3 Vunipolas in the starting 15 (with Mako taking on Captaincy responsibilities) plus Maro and Elliot Daly. Irish have decided to start their new England superstar Ollie Hassell-Collins. The weather is playing ball – cold but dry and still. Perfect for rugby.

Sarries start encouragingly and turn down a certain 3 points early on. I do wonder about the wisdom of this? Surely even in this competition, early points on the board are worthwhile. My fears are confirmed when after a couple of kicks to the corner, Sarries not only mess it up, but an attempted pass from Morris to Maitland is intercepted by James Stokes who runs the length of the pitch to score. Jennings adds the extras and instead of 3-0 it is 0-7. We all have our hands in our heads. Poor decision making, slow to reset the backline, generally pretty bad.

Daly takes things into his own hands with a fabulous 50:22. A delightful little offload from Billy (and yes The Gnome is watching) goes through the hands of most of the backs and finds Maitland out wide who scores in the corner. A tricky kick for Manu goes wide but we are back to 5-7. Irish win a series of penalties from the restart with Maro being penalised. He looks aghast and attempts a little remonstration with our referee, Adam Jones I believe, a Welshman with 3 Irish assistants. A word about Mr Jones, he is 28 and started refereeing when he was 12. This is just his 2^nd season as a professional referee. Most of his experience has been gained in the Welsh Premiership where he was voted Referee of the year for 3 years in a row. I don’t think Maro was impressed. Maro, being the incredible player that he is, plays on the edge. A top referee is aware of this, Mr Jones doesn’t seem to be and appears to penalise him in anticipation. Enough said, for now at least.

Fortuitous or not, Irish take advantage of their luck and score a 2^nd try in the corner. Having lost Rory Jennings to injury, Benhard van Rensburg kicks a nice conversion for 5-14. Irish then lose their 12, Matt Williams, to be replaced by Henry Arundell. Andy Christie breaks with the ball into Irish territory and offloads to Maro. Maro heads for the line with a lovely sidestep en route. He is brought down just short. Sarries make a bit of a meal out of recycling but eventually the ball comes out to Lewington who scores in the other corner. This time Manu kicks a lovely conversion and we are back in it at 12-14. Irish are still getting the rub of the green with the ref but once again Christie pops up with the ball, offloads to Manu and Van Zyl who finds Lewington again for his 2^nd try. Manu has another tricky touchline conversion but comes up trumps again. 19-14. Almost straight away, a bit of magic from Daly. He breaks from his own half then offloads to Maitland on the wing. Daly signals to Maitland to chip ahead which he does inch perfect and Daly collects and scores the bonus point try. This time Manu misses the kick (I suspect in no small part due to a very determined charge from one of the Irish boys which probably put him off). Sarries retain the ball until the clock ticks over and we take a break at 24-14.

Irish bring on the wonderfully named Lovejoy Chawatama for Marcel Van der Merwe and Chunya Munga for George Nott. While Sarries are still sorting their mouthguards, Irish score a pretty dire try when Juan Martin Gonzales appears to receive a forward pass, elbow Dom Morris out the way, break through a couple of tackles and score in the corner. Mr Jones doesn’t even check it with his TMO! (I assume there is one?) Dom hobbles off to be replaced by Loz. Van Rensburg pulls the conversion but we are back to 24-19. Another dubious penalty to Irish, a wonky lineout and Daly takes things into his own hands with his 2^nd delightful 50:22. It’s a shame the subsequent attack ends in a knock-on – that kick was worth a try. Jamie comes on for Woolfie and takes over the captaincy from Mako who is replaced by Mawi. Sarries finally win a penalty and Daly’s kick for the corner is sublime. Once again Sarries make a meal of getting the ball over the line but eventually Koch forces his way across. Manu converts and it is back to 31-19. He hasn’t been on the pitch long but Jamie’s exasperation with Mr Jones is plain to see. Janco Venter replaces Callum Hunter-Hill and Ben Harris comes on for Maitland. Our friend Lovejoy hobbles off forcing van der Merwe back into the fray. More changes as Vincent departs for Beaton and de Haas replaces Van Zyl (who looked much more confident this time). Reffell replaces Andy Christie who has done his international hopes no harm at all. Finally Sarries win a scrum penalty and once again Daly puts in an excellent kick. Unfortunately the catch and drive doesn’t work out (although it is difficult to see how the Irish defence was legal) and somehow Irish win a penalty. The inevitable handbags follows – something which often comes to pass when the referee isn’t in control. Irish replace Cornish with McElroy and Stokes with O’Sullivan (which I think means they now have 2 scrum halves on the pitch).

Sarries are attacking well but each time the move ends prematurely with a poor pass. Maro steals  from the lineout and sets up Loz who makes a lovely break but is caught 5m out. Mr Jones gives Irish the penalty. There are loud chants of “Oh Maro Itoje”. With 5 minutes left Harvey Beaton disappears into a ruck with the ball then somehow reappears the other side still holding the ball and scores. Manu lands the simplest of conversions for 38-19. Sarries don’t concentrate and from the restart, Arundell runs through most of the Sarries’ defence and scores in the corner. The conversion is missed but that was a soft try. 38-24. It’s a wake-up call because with the clock almost dead Irish offend a couple of metres out in front of the posts. In other circumstances surely a yellow but not today. Manu taps and goes, once again Sarries make a bit of a meal of it but eventually Mawi gets bundled over for number 7. Manu converts with the last kick of the match for 45-24.

Elliot Daly had one of those world class games, Maro was everywhere, Billy looked back to his rumbustious best and Tompkins and Christie both acquitted themselves well. Manu still looks off the pace but Van Zyl had a much better game. There were too many soft tries for my, and I suspect Mark McCall’s liking. Once again the refereeing wasn’t good enough – sadly this is becoming a bit of a recurring theme in both European Competitions. English and French referees are in a different league to those from the other nations but sadly English and French clubs can’t benefit from their expertise! (Although with an all English tie I don’t see why we couldn’t have had an English officiating team but there we go). So a decent win in the end and the bonus point for Irish ensures their qualification for the round of 16. Sarries rise to 3^rd equal on points with Brive but with a better points difference. Victory in France should ensure their qualification too. The European train is still on its tracks and heading for the Channel Tunnel. I might just try and persuade Mr DG we should take a  spring weekend in Brive

Saracens

Daly, Maitland (Harris), Tompkins, Morris (Lozowski), Lewington, Manu Vunipola, Van Zyl (de Haas); Mako Vunipola (Mawi), Woolstencroft (George), Koch (Beaton), Itoje, Hunter-Hill (Venter), McFarland, Christie (Reffell), Billy Vunipola

London Irish

Stokes (O’Sullivan), Redmond, Cinti, Williams (Loader), Hassell-Collins, Jennings (van Rensburg), White, Gigena (Dell), Cornish (McElroy), van der Merwe (Chawatama, Van der Merwe), Nott, Coleman (Cooke), Rogerson, Gonzalez, Cracknell.

SCORERS:

Saracens 45; Tries: Maitland, Lewington (2), Daly, Koch, Beaton, Mawi; Conv: Manu Vunipola (5)

London Irish 24; Tries: Stokes, Redmond, Gonzales, Arundell; Conv: Jennings, Van Rensburg

Referee: Adam Jones

Attendance 6,992