Will the Real Saracens Please Stand Up?

Only a few more wins
By T.O.K.S.
March 27 2006

What sort of rollercoaster ride is this? After a significant period of mistake-ridden, direction-less rugby Sarries have now produced two performances out of the top drawer to put both Sale and Worcester away and move significantly (though not totally) clear of the drop-zone.

Sarries knew that after a few poor home performances of late a fast start was needed to get the crowd behind them and the team believing in their own undoubted abilities. And a fast start was what we got. The opening kick-off was well taken by Chesney, the forwards undertook their first of many drives, the ball was re-cycled and Johnston kicked perfectly to the corner where Le Roux was forced to concede the line-out. Byrne hit his man and two phases later Tevita (will there ever be another game in the Premiership with two "Tevitas" in it?) went over in the right-hand corner with barely two minutes on the clock. Glen missed the extras but the marker had been put down. A penalty in the tenth minute gave Sarries an early 8-0 lead.

Drahm got Worcester on the board in the 29th minute after Sarries were offside at a ruck but the visitors were guilty of making too many mistakes and turning over too much ball in contact situations. And just before half-time their problems got worse. Byrne overthrew the line-out (one's never entirely sure with Shane whether this is on purpose or whether he's just missed his man!). Still, Johnston picked up the loose ball, broke through the first line of a Wuss defence that was as startled by the line-out tactic as the rest of us, drew the full-back and put Bartholomeusz in under the posts. Jackson added the extras and half-time was upon us, with Sarries 15-3 to the good.

As the second half started it was clear that the first score would be vital - would Wuss get themselves back into it or would Sarries manage to extend their lead? Followers of the Men In Black need not have worried. Moses had come on for the excellent, but unfortunately not getting any younger, Bracken at half-time and in the 52nd minute he broke through some weak tackling to score in front of an ecstatic South Stand, with Jackson again converting. So now, game almost safe and attention was turning towards a bonus point (for four tries, for a change!). We didn't have long to wait. Six minutes later, after more good work by the excellent Johnston, Scarborough was in, game was safe and we were celebrating a five-point win.

As so often happens at this point things then went a little flat for the final 20 minutes or so. All of the substitutes got a run-out (excellent experience-wise for the likes of young Donald Barrell). In the 70th minute Scarborough was bizarrely sin-binned for trying to intercept a Worcester pass and the Warriors sensed an opportunity to at least bring some respectability to proceedings. The previously-excellent referee Pearson became a little erratic in some of his decision-making and Worcester ran in two late tries to give their excellent travelling support some positives to take home with them. But overall Saracens had played well, Worcester hadn't been up to the same high standard they have set themselves (and attained) this season and Saracens fully deserved the win.

So to what can we attribute the vastly improved performances in the last two games? It surely seems too coincidental that the arrival of Eddie Jones has contributed to these last two games, but having a man of his undoubted knowledge and coaching ability in the camp can only be a good thing for the whole organisation. Saracens looked structured and enthusiastic and the game-plan combined the best elements of forward and back play. Sure, mistakes were made - they can't be eradicated overnight - but when a tackle needed to be made or a catch caught, someone always stepped up to the plate. With form like this Saracens can start looking up the table rather than down and, although results would have to go very much in their favour, Heineken Cup qualification is not beyond the bounds of possibility.

Team: Bartholomeusz, Vaikona, Johnston (Harris 70), Sorrell, Scarborough, Jackson (Bailey 76), Bracken (Rauluni 40), Yates (Lloyd 65), Byrne (Cairns 60), Visagie (Broster 66), Raiwalui (Barrell 61), Ryder, Chesney, Randell, Vyvyan.

Referee: Dave Pearson.