Sport In Pictures/Alamy

By Innings
January 15 2023

I am prejudiced in favour of late evening games.  Driving over 50 miles to the game takes far less time, parking is easy and the whole event leaves most of the usable day available for other activities.  Add in an eye-catching light show during the warm-up and it makes for a good frame of mind in which to watch the game.  Then add in a ridiculously talented hat-trick in an eight minutes spell, it all makes for a happy evening.

One oddity of writing up last night’s game is that neither commentators on the night nor Press reports mentioned the conditions.  Without the flags flying over the north and south stands there was little obvious evidence that there was a wind at all, but from my seat on halfway and fairly high up I could see clearly that high balls were wind-assisted travelling north to south but held back when kicked into it.  This advantage was most clearly seen very early on when Alex Goode’s perfect long crosskick from scarcely outside his own 22 line ended up being a 50-22 Sarries throw in.  Sarries were on the front foot at once, and it seemed only a deliberate knock-on by Lyon flanker Cretin could prevent a three-on-one overlap from scoring.  Perhaps Sarries were too far from the try line to make a penalty try an option, but a yellow card was inevitable.  Sarries took advantage.  Some fast accurate interplay between backs and forwards, including a neat chip by Billy that would please any flyhalf gave reason for Sarries to be expected to open the scoring.  It was to be so, but wholly unexpectedly in form.  Lyon had possession, but despite being a man down decided to play an expansive passing game.  It worked until it saw the easiest possible interception by Alex Lozowski, well inside the Sarries half.  Alex may or may not be the quickest centre in rugby, but with every Lyon player still advancing, having to turn and then chase, Alex arrived to open the scoring untouched.  It was excellently taken, but really Lyon had no business to be trying that sort of move at that moment. 

With Cretin’s card already expensive, it was about to become worse for Lyon and him.  As the yellow period was ending, Elliot Daly received a mid-field pass on Sarries 10 metres line.  I doubt that anybody had a thought of the next ten or twelve seconds; a break leftward through the Lyon line, a sharp turn right towards the post, skin the Lyon 15, Dumortier, and under the posts for 14-0.  Cretin returns, but Lyon are still unsettled and not ready for their own restart, which almost at once has Daly running through a poorly aligned defensive line and under the posts, 21-0.  Five minutes later saw what was for me a highlight of the entire game.  Sarries are pressing as Ivan van Zyl delivers crisply, as he does all game, from an apparently harmless ruck, through Billy’s tip-on pass to High Tizard, who draws the defence and delivers to Elliot, already sizing up the smallest gap on the outside.  Still plenty can go wrong, but somehow the finish is there, a dive towards the outside of the flagstick, but with that crucial right hand holding the ball one-handed and touching down almost impossibly close to both try-line and touch in goal.  There’s no conversion, so 26-0, and Lyon should be getting anxious about needing a riposte.  They get it at once.  Sarries are still pleased with the bonus point try after 23 minutes, and Lyon are through from the re-start and under the posts to record their first real spark in the game thus far.  26-7.

This does wake Sarries from dreams of a romp, and within five minutes a soft penalty by Lyon gives Sarries a series of pick and go drives on the Lyon try-line.  Marco Riccione is the final carrier, executing a small change of direction in his drive to burrow through for Sarries fifth try.  31-7.

I cannot say that Lyon are complacent, it feels more like shell-shocked.  The restart gives Elliot a chance to demonstrate again that a good boot and following wind can be devastating, in the form of a 50-22 from a step just outside his 22.  Some few driving phases give Andy Christie a well-worked try, that actually looks very easily taken, but that is because of the phases that have preceded it. 38-7

For the final minutes of the half, Lyon are at last doing what might have suited them better earlier; they start to play ball-in-hand rather than to kick aimlessly,  to begin with little to show for it, but then opening gaps and making progress.  Dumortier is proving for me that he is the outstanding Lyon player, and profits just before half-time with a try, the sides going in at 38-14.

The second half begins as the first ended, with slick work by Dumortier, again, and poor Sarries defence.  From almost his own 22, as if to prove that what Elliot can do, he can equal, the 15 carves through several poor tackle attempts to cover 70 metres and score, his second in just over ten minutes of playing time.

Lyon are running pretty hot now, and a Sarries statement is needed.  A Lyon attack begins on their ten metre line, but Dumortier is caught heavily by Ben Earl and driven back, ball pinned to his chest, about ten metres, where he cannot release the ball, giving a penalty in from of the Lyon posts.  Sarries need a points cushion, and some respite from the pressure that they are having to handle, so a three pointer by Alex Goode is the obvious, and successful, option.  41-21.

It seems as though Lyon have decided that rather than stumble out of this competition without really troubling anyone, they are going to make a game of this one.  Within a couple of minutes, they have scored again, their fourth and the try bonus point contribution, when busy number 8 Botha scores.  41-28 but with 20 minutes to go, so nobody would offer Sarries a cast-iron guarantee of a win.  For the next 20 minutes Sarries do seem to have a handle on the game, but this is because they are back to doing what they do well, defending for their lives during many multi-phase passages.  A consequence is a first, then second and game-ending, medical intervention on Maro’s ankle.  Lyon are still playing, looking for at least the consolation of a losing bonus to add to the try one that they have already.   I guess they would see getting the two points as a reasonable return on the day’s efforts.

With the clock running down, Lyon’s handful winger Tuisova receives a ball at pace and charges forward.  Passing Alex Goode he swats out a huge forearm, that catches Alex in the chest, whence it rides up and makes contact with the head.  A yellow card is certain, and we have seen red for similar contacts.  However, yellow is the decision, in my view correctly.  The incident galvanises Sarries.  Penalty to the corner.  Time up, but line-out taken, leading to a seventh try for Sarries, this one from Ben Earl.  Final score 48-28.

Sarries are certainly in the last 16 of the competition, deservedly so after winning three from three.  They will, equally certainly, face far better opposition than they have done thus far.  Such teams will not allow Sarries to underperform for long periods without consequence.  Sixty minute performance does not win knock-out games.

Line-ups:

Saracens: Daly, Malins, Lozowski, Tompkins, Maitland, Goode, Van Zyl; Mako Vunipola, George (capt), Riccioni, Itoje, Tizard, Christie, Earl, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Woolstencroft, Mawi, Judge, Isiekwe, Dan, Davies, Manu Vunipola, Lewington.

Lyon: Dumortier; Tuisova, Maraku, Godwin, Veredamu; Smith, Pelissie; Kaabeche, Marchand, Gomez-Kodela, Kpoku, Mayanavanua, Cretin, Sobela, Botha.

Replacements: Coltman, Taofifenua, Bamba, William, Goujon, Saginadze, Doussain, Arnold.

SCORERS:-

Saracens: Tries: Lozowski, Daly (3), Riccioni, Christie, Earl; Conv: Goode (5); Pen: Goode

Lyon: Tries: Maraku, Dumortier (2), Botha; Conv: Smith (4)

Referee: Andrea Pinardi

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DALY BREAD

Discussion started by TheSaracens.com , 15/01/2023 18:49

TheSaracens.com
15/01/2023 18:49

Thanks Philip, excellent write up
Have to say I think you were very kind about the Light Show - I thought it was pretty underwhelming!
Just a word for the Referee: wasn't exactly elated to find an all Italian team of officials but I thought they were excellent!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2023:01:26:16:47:42 by Darraghgirl.

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AP
15/01/2023 20:23

It may have helped that we had an Italian speaker too!

Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade

🌻🌻🌻

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derbyshire fan
15/01/2023 20:44

My family who were at the game (we didn’t fancy the late night drive back to Derbyshire) were very disappointed with the light show - a shame

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Duncan96
16/01/2023 12:02

Quote:

derbyshire fan
My family who were at the game (we didn’t fancy the late night drive back to Derbyshire) were very disappointed with the light show - a shame

Although enjoyable, especially as the teams came out, it was indeed a bit "oversold", especially when the fuses blew for some of the bulbs. However, I found the night time start really enhanced the occasion being brighter under the lights and more atmospheric.

If you have to drive back to Derbyshire how late do you feel is acceptable for a match to end -8pm?

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maynas
16/01/2023 13:05

I think if you are having a light show you perhaps should turn off the floodlights (as they do at Twickenham) as otherwise its Ike having a “light show” in daylight. It was pretty bad

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Duncan96
16/01/2023 13:18

Quote:

maynas
I think if you are having a light show you perhaps should turn off the floodlights (as they do at Twickenham) as otherwise its Ike having a “light show” in daylight. It was pretty bad

Quite right. and the only time they did that was as the teams ran out

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OldMarovian
16/01/2023 16:05

I didn't have tickets but also love "night" games.
I have no idea what the cost of the light show is versus the flame cannons but I'd go for the later every time. Tbh when it's dark for me you need very little in the way of lights to make a great atmosphere. I thought it looked good on TV. Not quite Jean-Michele Jarre but then I guess the budget wasn't either. Still great to see the club try something different.

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Sarriebone
16/01/2023 16:10

Agreed it looked good on TV but I wouldn't have classed it as a light show

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derbyshire fan
16/01/2023 17:08

@Duncan96 - we've been to games with a 5.30pm kick off, so I guess ending at 7.30 or so, and that hasn't been too late for us to get home. I suppose the latest I would want to get home from a rugby game is 11, so 8.30 pm is probably the latest we would want to think about leaving StoneX

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Innings
17/01/2023 22:41

The game, in European time, finished just before 11.00, which seems a bit silly, given that the opponents were a French side. And Yes, I was also a bit underwhelmed by the light show. Perhaps the fact that it took place while the teams were warming up meant that a darkened stadium was not an option. I didn't stay for the post-match edition, but I presume that a darkened stadium with thousands of people trying to leave was not a safe offering.

Innings

Points win matches: tries win hearts and minds.

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maynas
17/01/2023 23:04

There was the half time one they could easily have dimmed the lights, and when the players went off to get ready to start.

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OldMarovian
18/01/2023 10:43

RugbyPass mentions that on this day in 2020 Sarries were officially relegated.

A timely reminder of the quality of coaches, player and supporters the club has and what they've done over the past four seasons to get back to where they are now.
Cheers to Saracens

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TonyTaff
23/01/2023 14:00

Cretin by name ...

... 😁

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

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