Job Done, But Little Else on Show from Sarries

By Jason Harris
December 18 2006

After running in 11 tries against the same team just a week earlier, the Fez travelled in expectation, hoping that they would get a smimilar return against GRAN Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

However, the Italian side was a different outfit to the one that was hammered at Vicarage Road and prevented Sarries from creating much in the way of attacking rugby throughout, and having the better of the play for long periods, particularly during the first half.

Sarries, a team changed substantially from the one that won 71-16 at Vicarage Road, scored five tries in all to take the match 36-16; three of which came from five metre scrums and the other two from counter attacks following loose kicks by the home side.

There was little in the way of creativity behind the scrum and the forward exchanges were competitive. Sarries struggled to win and retain second phase ball against the big Parma pack for most of the first half, but eventually mananged to get into the opposition 22 on 18 minutes.

The telling difference was in the scrum where Lloyd, Ongaro, Visagie & co. were making merry while the GRAN pack headed backwards at a rate of knots.

Shunning a kickable penalty chance, Sarries opted for the scrum and as they headed for the line at a great pace, GRAN scrum half Matteo Mazzantini stuck in a boot as Gustard controlled the ball at the base. Referee Romain Poite had no hesitation in heading for the posts to award the penalty try which Glen Jackson converted.

GRAN fullback Rima Wakarua and Jackson exchanged penalties to make it 10-3 to Sarries before Rodd Penney scored try number two six minutes before half time.

A poor kick from GRAN was run back by Castaignede and Penney rounded things off with a 35 metre dash to the line with Jackson again adding the exras. Wakarua added two more penalties, the second with the last kick of the half, to make it 9-17 at the break.

It was more of the same in the second half as Sarries showed little in the way of attacking flair after Dave Seymour had crossed for the third try three minutes after the re-start. Again the move was a counter from a loose kick as Castaignede dodged the heavy midfield traffic to send the flanker in from 40 metres to score.

Tries four and five came from driving scrums with Mosese Rauluni and Paul Gustard being the benificiaries and Jackson adding two conversions out of three.

GRAN had their moment two minutes from the end as replacement wing Massimo "Il Professore" Ravazzolo crashed over from short range for a consolation try which Wakarua converted.

36-17 at full time, then; job done, but not in a remotely impressive fashion by a Saracens team that will resemble quite closely the one that will take the field at the Stoop on Friday night. A marked improvment will be required if they are to beat Quins, it has to be said.

GRAN Parma: Wakarua; Manu, Tiatia, Galante, Mannato (50' Ravazzolo); Arbizu, Mazzantini (74' Tebaldi); Alcacer, Mandelli (74' Buzaj), Derbyshire; Llanos, Pulli (50' Engelbrecht); Golfetti (64' Martinez), Festuccia, Artal (74' Goegan).

Saracens: Castaignede (74'de Vedia); Scarbrough, Penney, Farrell (31' Sorrell), Ratuvou; Jackson, Dickens (16' Rauluni); Gustard, Seymour, Vyvyan (74' Russell); Raiwalui, Chesney (65' Ryder); Visagie (70' Mercey), Ongaro (61' Byrne), Lloyd.

Scoring Sequence (GRAN Parma first):

0-7 (Penalty try, Jackson conversion - 18 mins), 3-7 (Wakarua penalty, 27), 3-10 (Jackson penalty 32), 3-17 (Penney try, Jackson conversion 35), 6-17 (Wakarua Penalty 40), 9-17 (Wakarua penalty 40+2) HT. 9-24 (Seymour try, Jackson conversion 43), 9-31 (Rauluni try, Jackson conversoin 53), 9-36 (Gustard try 73), 16-36 (Ravazzolo try, Wakarua conversion 79)

Referee: Roman Poite (France)

Attendance: 800