The Joy of Six....
By TheSaracens
June 2 2023
Another Gallagher Premiership Final, and, I thought on the way to Twickenham, a step on from last season when we achieved more that I’d been expecting when looking forward during the summer of 2021, notwithstanding the disppointing performance against Tigers in the final, while this time more was expected and up to now more had been achieved. We had a very nice pre-match schedule to help ease the pre-match nerves I suffer badly from – especially before a game with a pot at stake – with a pint or two at the official pre-match gathering at The Shack by Twickenham station to be followed by the extravagant retirement treat of a day in hospitality with a group of friends. Sarries were more or less at full-strength – albeit minus Billy and Theo MacFarland whose superb seasons had both been cut short by injury – and Eroni Mawi was starting. Mako had been due to start the game from the bench but had seemingly suffered a late injury and was replaced by Robin Hislop. Sadly departing the club after this game were Jackson Wray, Duncan Taylor, Max Malins and Robin Hislop. Sale looked formidable with not only a coach in Alex Sanderson who had years of familiarity with our set-up but also the likes of George Ford (who of course started for Tigers in last year’s final) Manu Tuilagi, Tom Curry, Rob and Jean-Luc du Preez, Jonny Hill and Bevan Rodd. This would be the last game in Sharks colours for their captain, Jono Ross.
One quirk of the match was that a player starting on the Sharks bench, Tom Ellis, was guaranteed a winner’s medal whoever won as he’d played a few games for Sarries earlier in the season but, obviously, later joined Sharks – it seemed that under Premiership rules he’d played enough games for Sarries to qualify for a medal if we won, but would get one anyway if we lost lost for being part of the Sharks 23 on the day..
The stadium as bathed in sunshine as we battled our way to our seats – I’m sure your hearts are all bleeding when you read this but for some reason match seats at Twickenham allocated to hospitality “clients” are often nowhere near the lounges….
It was noticeable when the big screen focussed on the two teams waiting to come out into the sunshine that Owen was smiling – not the wry smirk we’d seen before the 2019 World Cup semi-final against the All Blacks but the look of a man who was going enjoy the day and whatever it brought.
Sarries began, in contrast to last year’s sometimes nervy final, with purpose and a bit of swagger.
Just 5 minutes in, Sharks’ understandable nerves perhaps caused the handling error which led to Sarries pouring forward and winning a penalty, which Farrell crisply dispatched for 3-0.
The first blood was quick to dry, though, as just 2 minutes later Sharks levelled to 3-3 with an equally crisp penalty from Ford following a strong response from Alex Sanderson’s men as they settled into the game – Tuilagi, in particular, looked be in good form at this stage as he looked something like the threat of old. n a Premiership Final and both fly-halves made an early mark, as Ford matched his childhood friend with a penalty of his own just two minutes later to level it up at 3-3.
Very sadly, and after only 10 minutes, George sustained a head injury, disconsolately leaving the field to be replaced by my vote for Tyro of the Year, the supremely talented Dan – already being spoken of as a World Cup “bolter”. With his temperament I actually think he’d handle it pretty well…..
Sharks had settled into the game now, although it was Farrell who kept the scoreboard ticking with a penalty for 6-3 on the quarter of an hour mark after an eventful minute in which the skipper had stripped Tuliagi of the ball and Malins had landed the first 50:22 of the game, although again Ford responded with a penalty just 3 minutes later to steady things for Sharks at 6-6.
This was shaping up into an absorbing encounter albeit that neither side had yet seriously tested the other, and it seemed to me that the free-running Sarries of 2023 were up against their physical and formidably well-organised counterparts from 2016. It’s an entirely understandable approach from Alex Sanderson, using similar methods to those of Mark McCall’s coaching team, of which we was a vital part, to establish his side at rugby’s top table.
Proceedings were briefly interrupted by a couple of idiots running onto the pitch - their purpose in doing so I won’t dignify further.
Following the swift resolution of the above matter, with the stewards assisted in removing said idiots by a clearly annoyed Tom Curry, the first real “moment” of the match came after 20 minutes when a lovely phase of passing play by Sarries set up Goode to launch a deft “grubber” kick into space behind the Sharks defence. Malins accelerated into space, but as he stretched to reach and ground the ball Curry stopped him with what was rightly adjudged to be a tackle of the ball – giving Sarries a penalty try for 13-6, and Curry a yellow card.
Daly was now on for Maitland.
Sarries were not able to capitalise on their numerical superiority as Sharks held their own impressively and just on the half-hour mark, following a Sharks penalty kicked to the corner which created ]Sharks’ first real spell of pressure on the Sarries line , Van der Merwe powered his way over from short-range, with Ford converting to level things up for a third time in the game at 13-13.
The game was moving towards the interval when Sarries once mote took control with a fantastic piece of play, Goode’s marvellous footwork bamboozling the Sharks defence and setting up Farrell to launch a trademark delayed pass to Malins who shimmied through to score, Farrell adding the extras for 20-13.
Sarries were denied the opportunity to strike a further blow to Sharks’ hopes when a lovely kick through their defence from Farrell was chased down by Daly who was narrowly unable to score.
I wondered during the interval if that might prove costly, as Sharks, quite rightly, were certainly not going to lie down. We downed our drinks as Alex Sanderson was doubtless exhorting his side to come out all guns blazing in the second half whilst Mark McCall was I’m sure preaching calm, control and use of wise, experienced heads.
The teams emerged from the shade of the tunnel for Act Two, and it was not surprise at all that Sharks nor only began purposefully but levelled the scores within 5 minutes of the restart – a “grubber” from Sharks forced Daly into turning but he was unable to cleanly take possession of the bobbling ball and in a pantomime moment I could swear I heard cries of “he’s behind you” as the pacy Roebuck purloined the wayward pill, kicked ahead and swan-dived over the line to Daly’s immense embarrassment. Ford failed to convert from out wide but the game looked ominously close at 20-18 with, for the moment at least, the momentum with the men from Eccles.
Sarries looked to have hit back quickly to restore their lead to a converted try but Daly, once more, was narrowly denied a try after being set up by a brilliant piece of play from the ridiculously talented Dan when his foot was determined to have strayed into touch before grounding the ball in the corner.
Farrell managed however put a little more daylight between the sides on 50 minutes with a penalty to take things to 23-18 but 3 minutes later Sharks took the lead for the first time in the game when Tuilagi, continuing to enjoy a vintage day, rampaged forward, powering his way through the Sarries defence and setting up Curry to put Rodd though to slide over. Ford made no mistake this time, and with Sharks having the metaphorical wind in their sails and rising levels of belief among both the team and the massed and commendably noisy ranks of their supporters the score stood at 23-25 with just under half an hour to go.
Sarries were not panicking at the turnaround in the scoreline and the momentum – we’ve all seen, perhaps a few times too many this season, that our team can managed its way out of adverse situations, and black and red hearts were gladdened on the hour by the sight of Taylor striding onto a pitch in a Sarries shirt for the final time.
Within 5 minutes of stepping into the fray, the hellishly unlucky and much-loved centre made a characteristically telling contribution to poceedings when, deep in Sharks’ territory he used his height to block Carpenter’s clearance. Sarries wasted no time in taking advantage of regained possession and the ball was worked wide to Daly, who gleefully charged over the line to at last register a deserved try. Farrell could not convert but on 67 minutes Sarries had edged in front again by 28-25.
Sharks seemed to lose heart at this stage as Sarries, like so many times before, gradually took control and on 72 minutes it looked like the coup de grace had been delivered when a superb break from a Malins, determined to leave Sarries on the highest of notes, set up Van Zyl to belie his slight physique by powering to - and so he believed across - the line.
After what felt like an eternity as match officials hmmed and hahed over endless replays from all available angles, it was ruled that the point of the ball had made contact with – so it appeared to me – a single blade of white-painted grass…. and our gifted and popular Bok was awarded a try. Farrell made no mistake with the conversion and with the end of the game in sight Sarries were a relatively comfortable 10 points ahead at 35-25.
Hislop was yellow-carded for a high tackle, and shortly afterwards we were treated to the extraordinary sight of a hooker (Dan, who else?) effecting a perfect 50:22.
Wray made way for a returning Mawi, and as Jackson left the field I’m quite mine was by no means the only throat with a lump in it….
the rest of the game was a matter of Sarries drawing on their big-game experience to manage out the time and when Farrell gleefully booed the ball into touch, that was it……..Sarries had claimed their sixth Premiership title and for those who ponder such matters, our journey back from that dark Autumn of 2019 was complete.
Reflecting as I wound my way back to the lounge, Sarries had shown much of the old and much of the new – our calmness and ability to see out games has remained, in harmony with the new and often spectacular style of rugby we’ve recently adopted.
I was left with a lot of respect for Sharks. As touched on earlier I see – and this is a compliment- a lot of Sarries in their play, and under the guidance of Alex Sanderson with that formidable squad at his disposal I see a repeat clash at Twickenham next year as a realistic prospect.
In terms of performances and moments:
Owen played, and led the side, superbly from start to finish and fully merited his Player of the Match award; Theo Dan, in his first “showpiece” game was nerveless in demonstrating his array of gifts; Jackson leaves us to remember a superb display to go with over 300 others; Duncan departs with yet another memory made, that game-changing charge-down, while Max leaves us with job done superbly (and maybe a tinge of regret?).
I assume Tom Ellis picked up a loser's medal as well, which would surely be unique (not to mention the basis for a pub quiz question in years to come...)....
TEAMS:
Saracens: Goode; Malins, Lozowski, Tompkins, Maitland; Farrell (capt), Van Zyl; Mawi, George, Riccioni, Itoje, Tizard, Isiekwe, Earl, Wray.
Replacements: Dan, Hislop, Judge, Hunter-Hill, Knight, De Haas, Taylor, Daly.
Sale Sharks: Carpenter; Roebuck, R Du Preez, Tuilagi, Reed; Ford, Warr; McIntyre, Van der Merwe, Schonert, J-L Du Preez, Hill, T Curry, Dugdale, Ross (capt).
Replacements: Ashman, Rodd, Oosthuizen, Beaumont, Ellis, Quirke, James, O'Flaherty.
Referee: Luke Pearce.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:06:30:17:12:17 by Darraghgirl.
I said a few weeks ago that I wasn't a fan of relaxed smiling Farrell but this game had won me over. Well to smiling one at least. His big grin as Sarries went down to 14 and Tompkins turn-over to end the game were two of my favourite moments.
I also enjoyed the chance to see both Malins and Daly play in the back three at the same time. The difference between two talented players, one brilliant player who understands the positions inside out, the other an incredibly gifted individual whose ability allows then to play a number of positions was significant. I'm intrigued how Daly fits in this coming season. As FB? as a winger outside Goode?
Even though I've mentioned it elsewhere, how good was Isiekwe? I think next season might be the one we see him kick on from his already excellent level and I can't wait.
It seemed to me that after Sale took the lead, Owen pretty much picked the whole team up by the scruff of the neck and told them we weren’t losing this ! Wow what a captain.
Quote:Darraghgirl
It seemed to me that after Sale took the lead, Owen pretty much picked the whole team up by the scruff of the neck and told them we weren’t losing this ! Wow what a captain.
Not by any means the first time he has done that. Our double in 2019 was littered with them even though he was not captain at the time. Newcastle for the Euro final: Leinster leading 10-0 with 3 minutes to half time - George Kruis happily-flattening-him tackle on [Sexton?] led to a penalty by Owen, and then a series of plays with his fantastic pass across Alex Goode to Sean Maitland who scored in the corner; difficult conversion, but never in doubt. 10-10 at half time. Leinster never came back from that.
Then in the Prem Final against Exeter - which really riled their 'bulldog chewing a wasp' leader - after Exe had gone into a difficult lead, that fantastic cross kick for a try by the bomb disposer, and Exe never really came back from that; despite their still being in the lead and scoring a late try, it was a complete momentum changer.
[Apologies for any incorrect detail in that - all from happy memory.]
Quote:Darraghgirl
It seemed to me that after Sale took the lead, Owen pretty much picked the whole team up by the scruff of the neck and told them we weren’t losing this ! Wow what a captain.
I've vacillated between thinking he should be the Captain and not, mainly early season. Too often he was still getting on the wrong side of referees or still arguing a point when a decision had been made. To me it seems he has been much calmer and more considered in the second half of the season if no less forceful. The test is always the games where things seem to be going against us as it's much easier to manage things off the front foot when the referee only sees your team "painting good pictures" Even though we didn't get a solution I thought his communication, and indeed Riccionis in seeking clarification, with Pearce re the scrum were good.
With Wray gone I hope that Sarries look for a new Captain in the pack. I'm not sold on Goode as Captain and in the (hopefully) unlikely event that Earl is surplus to Englands requirements I think he'd be a great shout. The rest of the time I'm very much convinced re Farrell now.
To echo a post elsewhere I think the performance of both Pearce and his team were the best I've seen in the Premiership all season. I actually think both Trys called to be reviewed which he initially thought were held up were right too so good work from the whole team.
No idea why Sale hardly ever challenged the lineout throws once Dan came on but wasn’t he just wonderful?
I’d say that was Malins best game for us. Would he have still left if it wasn’t for salary constraints? Not sure we’ll ever know.
That horrendous day at Cornish Pirates which left our future hanging by a thread is now firmly behind us.
Quote:The Bard
Would he have still left if it wasn’t for salary constraints? Not sure we’ll ever know
Yes. Money wasn't the major factor, playing at FB was.
Re Cornish Pirates, without the lows the highs wouldn't be so high
Quote:OldMarovianQuote:The Bard
Would he have still left if it wasn’t for salary constraints? Not sure we’ll ever know
Yes. Money wasn't the major factor, playing at FB was.
Re Cornish Pirates, without the lows the highs wouldn't be so high
I’m not entirely convinced by that, it’s a convenient line. I suspect he made a commitment to return during his year there.
Not sure about Owen qualifying as our best player just yet, Richard Hill actually did win the World Cup although nothing else! And you could argue for a number of years Maro was a much more influential player.
Quote:MonaghanBoy
In reference to Owen, I'm not sure if this is controversial or not, but I'd be quite confident in saying that he is our greatest ever player, even at the age of 31. He's second only to Goodey in terms of titles, but his attitude, leadership, skill and big moment mentality is greater than maybe any player I've ever had the privilege to see. He's won everything save the World Cup... and I suspect this year won't be his final attempt to win it.
He must surely be due an OBE for services to rugby!
Thanks for the report, as I didn’t get to see the game, but followed the last 20 minutes on live updates from a restaurant in Canada! Looking forward to watching the recording when we get home tomorrow!
Excellent job as always!!!
Quote:OldMarovian
Yes. Money wasn't the major factor, playing at FB was.
IMHO Max is a much better winger than he is FB.
I've said before he's the obvious heir to Goode in a way Daly or not other player is likely to be.
He has super high rugby IQ in terms of how he reads and reacts to space and whilst he may not be Goodes level at all times he has plenty of years to get there. His defence and speed may even suggest a higher ceiling.
As a second-playmaker he'd be much better utilised at FB even if he can do a great job on the wing.
I'd say that he's (until recently) our best option at FB apart from Goode but we'd prefer a centre who for all his other strengths still defends at FB and plays on the wing like it's his first season there ...
Equally i cannot see hom being picked at FB for England as long as Fredie Steward stays fit ….
The bar has been set so low at FB that actually catching the high ball is being seeing as a deifying quality! The reality is Steward is little else right now than a big Mike Brown. He's very young so who knows how he will develop but he's steady and predictable and unlikely to "unleash" players around him. I don't think Borthwick can see beyond the solidity but I think he needs to to get the most out of our back three.
The bigger issue is (for me) if you don't start Steward at FB does he even get in the team? Not for me and that seems crazy given he's a quality player. He isn't a winger though and gets exposed there to often when the pendulum defence leaves him out there. How many times do we need to see him give a winger the outside and see it taken for a try? We're currently at five and counting.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:06:11:17:21:21 by OldMarovian.
It's only this season that I've come to see Daly as the first choice 15, having previously seen him exclusively as an outside centre, but his early season form was sensational, and was, IMO, rightly ahead of both Goodey and Max. For all my predictions of Max at 15 and Elliot at 13, this season both players seemed to excel at 14 and 15 respectively, and became a lethal combination!! Daly elevated his game as a second playmaker to an Alex Goode level, with more space at fullback, and Max equally developed his role as a strike runner off Faz's inside shoulder. Early season, Daly's pace from FB seemed to be key to our "new-found" attacking game, something that was clearly missing during his injury.
Max is going to be a monumental loss - perhaps one of the biggest losses of a non-retiring player in recent history, along with Spencer and Skelton. But, currently, we're going to miss his qualities as a winger far more than as a fullback - something I didn't expect to say at the beginning of the season!!!
As for England?? I agree, OM, on Steward. He's exceptional under the high ball, but IMO that's a quality that should be required, and not a fullback's USP. England WILL NOT dominate France or Ireland or NZ in the forwards, so just picking solidity in the backs is going to lead to a VERY tough few weeks at the World Cup. With Faz at 10, Elliot or Max would be far more valuable assets at 15, especially with such a short time to develop some sort of attacking game for England's World Cup campaign. If I were Borthwick, I'd value club combinations massively! IF Faz is at 10, then players like Loz, Daly, Max, Goodey (hell, even Lewi!!) HAVE to come into consideration.
That said, that is pretty much Goode's situation. And he is a Quality Player.
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Quote:MonaghanBoy
It's taken a whole week for me to realise the headline was a pun. I'm an idiot, and this is why I don't write these reports.
Excellent job as always!!!
What promted you to realise? A quick scan of your bookshelf?
It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.
