Saracens
22- 6 Leicester Tigers
"Suddenly
the game goes from being in control of the game to not being in
control of the game - it gets away from you very quickly"
said
Richard Cockerill.
It was a glorious day at Allianz Park, the sun was shining and the atmosphere electric as ever, as Saracens and Tigers ran out to the roar of 9,982 supporters.
It
turned out to be nippier than I had thought and as I tucked into a
cheeky chicken baguette and a lovely cuppa, there was also a
strong Barnet breeze playing havoc with my barnet and I was in no
doubt it would affect the game too!
However
I was here in anticipation of a splendid game of rugby between two of
the top teams in the Premiership but to be honest, it wasn't as spicy
as I would have liked in the first quarter. I had expected much
more from the Saracens on home turf but it was Tigers who led on the
front foot and Freddie Burns the first to put points on the board
with a penalty.
Tigers
looked ferocious on the attack - just going through the phases and
making ground was creating an impact - and with Billy Vunipola not
retreating to stay on side, it saw Saracens penalised and the boot of
Burns again adding more points to the mix. Bizarrely the only team
who are renowned for clinical ability were stumbling slightly and it
wasn't going Sarries way at home early doors.
Impeccable play from the Tigers saw them win all their line-outs in the first quarter and Burns' boot controlled the game immensely finding touch deep in Saracens 22' on numerous occasions, playing to Leicester's strength, especially when Charlie Hodgson's penalty kick went wide in the whirling wind.
Impeccable play from the Tigers saw them win all their line-outs in the first quarter and Burns' boot controlled the game immensely finding touch deep in Saracens 22' on numerous occasions, playing to Leicester's strength, especially when Charlie Hodgson's penalty kick went wide in the whirling wind.
Sarries
were having a stinker so far and when Alex Goode kicked the second
penalty ... this time it bounced off the post! The whole of Allianz
Park groaned in unison; But a round of applause followed shortly when
Tom Youngs was yellow carded for an off the ball tackle.
Surely it had to go Saracens way in the final couple of minutes before half time?
Well it did, when Billy Vunipola finally touched down just on the threshold - pure class watching the replay – and Hodgson this time added the extras taking the London side to a half-time lead on the whistle.
Surely it had to go Saracens way in the final couple of minutes before half time?
Well it did, when Billy Vunipola finally touched down just on the threshold - pure class watching the replay – and Hodgson this time added the extras taking the London side to a half-time lead on the whistle.
This
was the momentum Sarries needed, especially with Leicester players
like Seremaia Bai and Matthew Tait who, on the attack, have this
incredible ability to storm and surge through any defence.
It just put a few Sarries mind’s at ease as we came to half-time.
HT 7-6
Back out and two minutes into the final forty, Sarries managed to put more than a few fans minds at ease with Marcelo Bosch storming down the wing to dot down accompanied by an eruption of cheering and probably a huge sigh of relief in the stands too.
It just put a few Sarries mind’s at ease as we came to half-time.
HT 7-6
Back out and two minutes into the final forty, Sarries managed to put more than a few fans minds at ease with Marcelo Bosch storming down the wing to dot down accompanied by an eruption of cheering and probably a huge sigh of relief in the stands too.
Saracens
were back to form and their fan’s heart rates had probably been
lowered somewhat by now. Hodgson’s boot complied and another try
followed in the same spot 7 minutes later courtesy of Chris Wyles;
but Hodgson stroked the ball wide. However as the game progressed
into the final quarter, he converted his first penalty of the
day.
But Tigers remained resilient on the attack and firmly cemented themselves in Saracens 22' for at least ten minutes, bashing and drilling at their defence but they came away with nothing to show for it with three minutes to go. It was painful to watch for the visitors but with no tricks up their sleeves to foil Sarries barricade, it couldn't really get any worse, could it?
Well
it did when Niki Goneva was sent to the bin. But actually, testament
to Saracens solid defence with a minimal amount of missed
tackles...
FT 22-6
And a heap of incredible ones from Man Of The Match, 'Big Billy'. He's just incredible to watch and delivers time and time again.
FT 22-6
And a heap of incredible ones from Man Of The Match, 'Big Billy'. He's just incredible to watch and delivers time and time again.
Mark
McCall spoke about Billy after the game;
"This kid's had a lot of big games...at some stage he will get a rest but he's phenomenal for us..."
Saracens lack of structure and control in the first half enabled Tigers to grasp that early lead with the visitors heavily in possession. But the home side turned it around in the second - almost going full steam ahead - but they must be ruing those ten minutes of Tigers battering play in their 22’, a last gasp attempt to score that elusive try but denying Sarries the chance to grab that bonus point win.
"This kid's had a lot of big games...at some stage he will get a rest but he's phenomenal for us..."
Saracens lack of structure and control in the first half enabled Tigers to grasp that early lead with the visitors heavily in possession. But the home side turned it around in the second - almost going full steam ahead - but they must be ruing those ten minutes of Tigers battering play in their 22’, a last gasp attempt to score that elusive try but denying Sarries the chance to grab that bonus point win.
That
said, it was a monumental shift from a strong unit who continue to
deliver and manage to regroup to show their clinical cohesion, when
it matters, yet again.
I wish you all the best next week Saracens in Europe!
I wish you all the best next week Saracens in Europe!
