BIG GAME 4 - HARLEQUINS 11 - 19 SARACENS

It was always going to happen that Harlequins would lose their unbeaten Premiership record, sooner or later,  That it should happen at Twickenham before a world record crowd of 82,000 is unfortunate and that it should be Saracens who emerged as winners, by 11 – 19, rubbed salt into the wound,

Saracens did not allow Quins either space or time.  Their line speed was ferocious and they contested the breakdown vigourously and accurately.  They had the bulk of the possession and played with a limited game plan of slowing the game down and forcing kickable penalties.  In that they succeeded.  With Quins unable to play their usual game, their attempts led to errors and loss of possession. 

Clearly one of the targets of Saracens’ kicking game, it was Stegmann who committed many of the errors and that led to his replacement by Williams after only a little more than thirty minutes.  The strength of the defence, too, prevented Harlequins from injecting that pace upon which their attacking game thrives.  When in the final minutes of the half there was an opportunity to score, Quins were unable to break through having to be content with a penalty.

But to a great extent Quins were the authors of their own misfortune as an opening quarter, in which their lack of discipline gifted Owen Farrell nine points from three kickable penalties, was followed by an interception try from David Strettle picking off Marler’s obvious pass, and the conversion and another penalty from Farrell to open a lead which Harlequins could not overcome.  Nick Evans had earlier kicked a penalty and another with the last kick of the half to leave the score a 6 – 19 at the interval.

Quins were much more their usual attacking selves in the second half.  They dominated possession and for the whole of the second half Saracens were unable to add to their score. Though they were forced to defend with tackle after tackle as Quins probed and battered at the line.  Then, after great pressure on the Saracens line, a swift pass found Marler opposite a gap though which he went to score from three metres.  Evans’ conversion attempt veered away late, But Quins were back in the game.

Quins continued to press but had to defend occasional Saracens thrusts. A last ditch joint tackle from both Monye and Brown stopped a certain try.  When Quins broke through for an apparently certain score, Fa’asavalu could not hold on to the pass and knocked on with the line clear in front of him.

Saracens continued to slow everything down.  The ball was held in rucks interminably and their forwards ambled towards lineouts slightly quicker than agitated tortoises.  The crowd were unimpressed, but it served Saracens purpose. 

Eventually time ran out and with it Quins unbeaten Premiership record.  They had a couple of chances for Evans to salvage a bonus point, but they were declined to inject pace and in pursuit of the victory that eluded them.

Conor O’Shea’s post match comments were brief:  “To give a lead like that to the Premiership champions was going to be difficult to claw back," O'Shea said. "Our guys fought tooth and nail to get back into it and tried to play as much rugby as we could.  When you look back you will probably see three opportunities we didn't take. At this level you have to take them."

Harlequins Brown; Stegmann (Williams, 34), Hopper, Turner-Hall, Monye; Evans, Care; Marler, Brooker (Gray, 58), J Johnston (Fairbrother, 58), Vallejos, Robson, Fa'asavalu, Robshaw (capt), Easter.

Saracens Goode; Strettle (Wyles, 42), Farrell (Powell, 73), Barritt, Short; Hodgson, Stringer (Spencer, 60); Gill (Stevens, 58), Brits, Nieto (Smit, 60), Borthwick (capt), Kruis (Botha, 58), Brown (Wray, 73), Saull, Joubert.

Referee W Barnes (RFU). Attendance 82,000