The men from the east came bearing gifts.

By Jeremy O'Gorman
May 17 2006

Whenever champagne is in attendance, then gifts are not far away; so it proved on Saturday. Saracens, with nothing to play for in the last fixture but pride, threw the ball with abandon in a champagne style.

Unfortunately they gave three gifts to Irish speedsters who needed no encouragement. I can now understand what Shaun Edwards was on about last week, when his defensive system was blamed for Irish tries. It is a bit tricky to defend when the opposition turn over the ball ten yards behind all of your players.

 

My son, (as I have probably bored you to death with) was part of the honour guard (due to us moving to Wallingford), and, as a result, I was in the stadium at midday, whilst junior had a training session on the pitch. I was therefore treated to the full workout of the sides, with two wonderful sights: Cobus and Broster kicking the ball to each other and Andy Farrell jogging (yes jogging) around the pitch. He was collecting Cairns’ long throws and several times leaned and twisted to catch them. No discomfort, things look good for next year.

 

And so to the match: Sarries collect the kick-off and, in a sign of things to come, pass the ball along the line, well inside the 22, instead of kicking to touch. Ches is caught under the posts; scrum to Irish. We contrive to escape, due to a lack-lustre Irish attack and soon we are down the other end; a flowing movement and Tank is in under the posts. Champagne rugby indeed!

 

Soon after Irish stray offside and Glen converts the points. At this point Sarries are in complete control, with Thomas beginning to work his magic e.g. with a searing break inside the 22. Disaster – Glen is caught in possession, tries a speculative offload and Armitage (it had to be, didn’t it?) speeds away under the posts. Flutey misses a fairly easy kick, 10-5.

 

A couple of penalties are swapped, 13-8 with both sides still throwing the ball about and looking positive. Then the turning point of the match – the mercurial Frenchman sees a gap and chips through – a certain try seems on when an Irish hand grabs a shirt. Mr Davey ponders long and hard, seeming to prefer the advice of his touch judge from 30m over his own view from 5. Leguizamon is yellow carded and a penalty is given. Hugh goes for the scrum, but after four inconclusive shoves and grunts the whole thing comes to nothing. Then, to add insult to injury, Flutey kicks long and a jammy bounce sees Armitage in again. Flutey converts 13-15.

 

Again Sarries try to run from anywhere; another bad pass from Glen into the waiting hands of Topsy Ojo sees him speed under the posts 13-22. Undeterred, Sarries still are throwing the ball about and Ches seems certain to score but the pass from Scabs is forward and the half ends in frustration, with Simon in the bin.

 

The second half starts off with the most delicious move: Sprout collects a high kick, offloads to Hugh who passes to the mercurial Frenchman. Not to be denied this time he outstrips the defence to score in the corner. Glen misses the conversion 18-22.

 

Sarries lost Ryder almost as soon as Simon returned and the stage was set for the final departure of Kyran Bracken. The fez stood and applauded, with a few Irish joining in. It wasn’t until he was well off the pitch that the commentator announced his retirement (could have been more on the ball). Byrne also departed, the replacements being by Cairns & Moses.

 

Irish had a small period of play and were a little unlucky not to go over in the corner, but good defence and bad hands kept them out. Everitt added 3 points to put the Irish 7 up.

 

Sarries then had the best period of the day, encamped in the Irish half for virtually the last quarter; Tank was replaced by a very active Powell, Sprout by Seymour; Scabs by Del. Thomas engineered a classic break, but was stopped just short. Sarries put on the pressure with both backs and forwards, but could not break down a resolute Irish defence. Then just as it seemed the inevitable would happen and Sarries would get the try and a draw; Thomas threw out the last gift of the day and Topsy Ojo ran the length of the field unopposed.

 

All in all a disappointing end to a long day, and travelling home in a coach load of Irish supporters didn’t help. I still don’t know how we managed to lose a match that we probably edged 60/40 in effort, gain-line breaks and forward power. I just felt that if BJ had actually played we would have won; or if this wasn’t the last game of the season.

 

There were a few positives to be taken; Thomas looked back to his best, Powell looked sharp when he was on; the pack dominated and Ryder looks very keen. And Farrell was jogging.

 

       

 

 

  

 

 

SCORERS: London Irish: Tries: Armitage 2 (18min, 33), Ojo 2 (35, 77). Conversions: Flutey 2. Penalty goals: Flutey (26), Everitt (61). Saracens: Tries: Harris (5), Castaignède (42). Conversion: Jackson. Penalty goals: Jackson 2 (12, 24).

SCORING SEQUENCE: (London Irish first): 0-7, 0-10, 5-10, 5-13, 8-13, 15-13, 22-13 (half-time), 22-18, 25-18, 30-18.

LONDON IRISH: D Armitage; T Ojo, D Feau’nati (rep: G Tiesi, 61), S Geraghty, S Tagicakibau; R Flutey (rep: B Everitt, 41), B Willis (rep: P Hodgson, 75); M Collins (rep: N Hatley, 29), R Russell (rep: D Paice, 52), R Skuse, B Casey, N Kennedy (sin-bin, 71), D Danaher, K Dawson, J Leguizamon (sin-bin, 36-49).

SARACENS: T Castaignède; D Scarbrough, K Sorrell, D Harris (rep: A Powell, 67), T Vaikona (rep: R Haughton, 65); G Jackson, K Bracken (rep: M Rauluni, 52); K Yates (rep: N Lloyd, 49), S Byrne (rep: M Cairns, 51), C Visagie (rep: B Broster, 71), S Raiwalui (sin-bin, 38-49), T Ryder (sin-bin, 50-61), K Chesney, B Russell (rep: D Seymour, 61), H Vyvyan.

Referee: S Davey.

Attendance: 11,325.