By The Saracens
January 21 2024

Bristol made it easy for us. Going into this game against at less-than-full-strength Lyon team who haven’t won on the road since February last year, we need just one point. If we can’t do that then we don’t deserve to go through. And oh my goodness for much of this game it looks like we won't!

I have wondered, as I’m sure have many others, how a team which was head and shoulders above the rest of the Premiership last season have descended to the omni-shambles we saw in Bordeaux last week. What happened to those Saracens values that got us through our darkest hours in the Championship: honesty: hard work: discipline: humility. Saracens have been known for the way they look after their players: “We treat people incredibly well, and in return, we ask that they give everything when they come to work.”(Joe Shaw) Where was that at the Stade Chaban Delmas last Sunday. More than anything, I think it is this apparent loss of what has been at the core of Saracens’ success that has bothered me.

And so to 8pm on Saturday night: late night kick-offs are rare as hen’s teeth in Barnet but despite the cold the crowd is decent. Storm Isha is already poking her tendrils towards NW4. Lyon have left some of their biggest stars back in France:- Demba Bamba (sigh of relief), Thaakir Abrahams, Arno Botha and interestingly (given he is being linked with Saracens) Paddy Jackson. But Joel Kpoku is here with something to prove. Sarries have gone with the same front row who did pretty well in Bordeaux (Mulipola, Dan, Judge). Christie has a week off along with McFarland (who may have picked up a knock). Maro Itoje (MA) and Nick Isiekwe are the locks. Farrell retains his place despite his dire performance last week. Daly is fit and Segun and Cinti are on the wings.

Sarries seem to have won the toss because we are playing into a strengthening breeze in the first half. In fact it all seems to be going well. Dan instigates a break through Itoje & Earl and Sarries win a penalty in their own 22. Van Zyl is ahead of everyone, takes a quick tap and is over in the right corner. Faz misses the conversion but we’re OK with that, not an easy one.

It seems we have been lulled into a false sense of security because a loose pass from Faz is intercepted by Lyon’s little right wing dynamo Davit Niniashvili who sets off but we are reprieved when our referee, Sam Grove-White, decides he was off-side and Niniashvili has to come back. A couple of minutes later exactly the same thing happens again. Sarries are attacking hard but it is a careless pass from Van Zyl this time. From where we are sitting, pretty much in line, Niniashvili looks off-side but Uncle Sam doesn’t appear to even check, the try stands and Berdeu adds the extras. (Points to Gonzales for a good attempt to catch him).

The line-outs are a lottery – neither side is consistently able to find their man. The scrum, on the other hand, looks as solid as I’ve seen it for some time (although 3 scrums take an inordinate amount of time with the clock running when maybe Uncle Sam should have paused time.) Berdeu kicks an easy penalty to give Lyon a 10-5 lead. Sarries seem to be spending a lot of time in attack but they aren’t making much progress and inevitably someone drops the ball. A dangerous Lyon break by Niniashvili is terminated when he inexplicably passes to Maro. Sarries win a penalty which yet again is tapped again but this time Lyon are on the ball and Sarries lose out.  Lyon now have the momentum. A Niniashvili 50-22 bounces agonisingly on the line before landing back in play again. Lyon win the lineout for once but Sarries are able to turn the ball over and clear. Theo Dan kicks the ball downfield. Berdeu kicks another 50:22. Faz throws a wild pass to no one. Half time is approaching. Lyon seem to have scored again from a Kpoku charge down but he is offside. Lyon break from the scrum and Maraku scores right on half time. The ball just touches the line but it’s enough. Berdeu converts and the half time score is 5-17. We all decide the Challenge Cup might be a better bet anyway (although at this rate Bristol will pinch that from us as well).

The second half starts. Sarries have the wind behind them although they once again knock the ball on. Another quick tap penalty yields nothing as Lyon turn the ball over but Earl wins it back and from the attack Maro sneaks round the corner and scores Sarries’ 2^nd try. Faz lands the extras and the score is now 12-17.

With just over half an hour left we reach what appears to be something of a turning point. Faz tries to clear from his own 22 and is charged down. Somehow he reclaims the ball and tries again – with the same result only this time Kpoku gets his hands on the ball and Maraku gathersl and scores. The try is converted and it all kicks off. Kpoku seems to be at the centre of it and eventually everyone piles in. Uncle Sam decides Niniashvili was at fault so Sarries restart with a penalty. Mulipola and Judge give way to Crean and Hoskins. A blatant foul from Gouzou gives Owen the chance to add to the score and over it goes for 15-24.

Sarries flirt dangerously with the ball on their own try line but Daly is solid and they clear. Segun is popping up everywhere but doesn’t quite make it although he wins a useful penalty and Daly manages to find an enormous touch almost on 5m. Maro wins the lineout, hangs on to the ball and over they go for the try which Owen converts from wide for 22-24. The crowd, which was ominously quite in the first half, are starting to buzz. Shouts of “Sarries, Sarries” are enthusiastically joined. An ironic cheer greets a penalty for off-side. 2 huge tackles from Daly galvanise the crowd, and the team even more. A Faz penalty is charged down (would you believe it it’s Niniashvili again).  A second penalty finds touch. Sarries attack with a penalty advantage – it’s going nowhere so Owen tries a speculative chip for Segun. It is charged down – the 4^th charge down off Owen in the game. At least he sees the funny side and he takes the points anyway for a 25-24 lead. He seems strangely reluctant to point out to Uncle Sam that Lyon are conceding a lot of penalties in the red zone so the crowd try and do it for him and the warning is duly issued.

Sarries seem to have gone up a gear. Alex Goode reminds us of his sublime skill with a gorgeous 50:22. Knight replaces Billy and Simpson comes on for Van Zyl. Sarries try the catch and drive from the lineout, it is stopped but the ball comes across the field. Segun is almost over then the forwards take it up and Gonzales thinks he’s scored. Uncle Sam seems to be saying no but the TMO finds in favour of Sarries and what’s more, Uncle Sam does have his cards afterall and Niniashvili caps an extraordinary game by being sent to the bin. Credit due to Uncle Sam. Faz lands a tricky conversion for 32-24. Clear water AND the try bonus which ensures we are through to the knock-out stages.

Isiekwe gives way to Tizard as we enter the last 10 minutes. Segun almost clasps a Faz spiral bomb. Sarries seem to have their mojo back. They are throwing the ball about with something we’ve not seen much of recently: confidence. And Faz seems to be back at the helm, controlling things just like he used to do. Lyon look tired. Cinti scores a 5^th try in the corner and Faz converts just like the old days. 39-24. Game over. Hadfield comes on for Dan, Hartley replaces Tompkins and Parton comes on for Goode. In the dying seconds, Owen chips the ball across for Segun. It seems everyone wants him to get that try he so deserves but the chip is just too far and Segun is just not tall enough and the ball bounces into touch.

Game over! It is so good to see something like the old Sarries, even if it was just for the last 30 minutes. They’d be a decent team if they could learn to play for the whole 80! But almost more important, whatever happened in that melee behind the posts, it seemed to do something to Farrell. It was like someone had waved a magic wand over him and suddenly the old Farrell was back. Time will tell but maybe he has reached a decision about his future. We shall see.

Theo Dan got man of the match but honestly, what more does Maro need to do? Daly & Segun also put in good stints. Controversially though I think it should have gone to Niniashvili. The little man from Tblisi was everywhere, involved in everything. And credit to Uncle Sam for speaking to Lyon in French. More refs should do that.

Sarries will go to Bordeaux in April in the last 16. I’m not as pessimistic about that as some. Yes Bordeaux were something else last week, but Sarries didn’t turn up and most definitely helped them on their way. Things will be different by April. Players will be fit, Faz will have made his decision and hopefully everyone will be in a better place. Put it this way, I doubt Bordeaux will be over the moon at taking on a wounded Sarries.

Next Saturday Sarries take on Exeter in our last meaningful game for a couple of months. Then there will be time for some R and R. Time for niggles to heal and for those with longer term injuries to get fit again. Win or lose, how Sarries play next Saturday will tell us a huge amount about what the rest of the season holds.

SARACENS

Goode (Parton) Segun, Daly, Tompkins (Hartley), Cinti, Farrell, Van Zyl (Simpson); Mulipola (Crean), Dan (Hadfield), Judge (Hoskins), Itoje, Isiekwe (Tizard), Gonzales, Earl, B Vunipola (Knight)

LYON

Tchaptchet, Ioane (Godwin), Parisien, Maraku, Niniashvili, Berdeu (Smith), Rimet (Dumas); Rey (Taofifenua), Charcosset (Coltman), Tafili (Devisme), Kpoku, Vignolles (Lambey), Okuya, William (Goujon), Gouzou

Saracens (39): Tries – Van Zyl, Itoje (2), Gonzales, Cinti; Conv: Farrell (4); Pen: Farrell (2)

Lyon (24): Tries: Ninashvili, Maraku (2); Conv: Berdeu (3); Pen: Berdeu

Attendance: 8837

Referee: Sam Grove-White