Saracens: Leading the charge in Pool 5
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Saracens took a step towards the Heineken Cup quarter-finals on Friday with a 16-13 win over the Ospreys at Liberty Stadium.
As was the case last week, Saracens were able to build off the platform of a dominant line-out and held a 16-6 lead at the break as Ospreys tried in vain to find a crack in a very well-organised defence.
Indeed, the key to victory was the Sarries' impenetrable wall as Ospreys did most of the playing but struggled to breach the red-clad line with the regularity needed to force a positive result.
But the home side were determined not to give up their impressive home record without a fight and a strong second half performance - plus two yellow cards for Saracens - meant that the result was in the balance right up to the final whistle.
The back-to-back wins leave Saracens at the top of Pool Five, two points clear of Biarritz.
Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar's penalty in the twelfth minute cancelled out Owen Farrell's earlier effort to cap a fiery opening spell that saw a few handbags fly.
The pattern continued as Farrell and Biggar traded penalties while the pushing and shoving escalated and referee Jerome Garces needed a long word with the captains to try regain control of the match that was threatening to boil over.
Ospreys had been the more enterprising side but Sarries landed the first telling blow just before the half-hour mark when Charlie Hodgson charged down his opposite number Biggar and Ernst Joubert pounced on the loose ball to score behind the sticks, allowing Farrell an easy conversion.
Ospreys dominated possession in the first half, but were unable to secure the quick ball needed to work their way around Saracens' defensive line.
Saracens took charge of the game in the closing stages of the first half as Farrell added another penalty before Ospreys loosehead Paul James was sent to the bin for repeated scrum infringements.
Much to the frustration of the players and spectators not one scrum was completed in the whole of the first half.
The home side weren't doing themselves any favours as Biggar missed an easy penalty soon after the restart. The local fans were left further frustrated when Ashley Beck was denied a try by the TMO for making a double movement to get over the line.
The hosts were however handed a lifeline when Sarries hooker Schalk Brits was also sent to the bin (for an early engagement). Brits was as much a victim of the referee's failure to communicate adequately with the players as the English club's pack's overeagerness to get the jump on their opposition.
In the end neither sin-binning resulted in a change on the scoreboard. But monsieur Garces would continue to leave his mark on the game when Kelly Brown also saw yellow for obstruction.
This time Osprey did make the most of the opportunity as Biggar floated out a beautiful pass to lock Ian Gough who wriggled over in the corner for a try. Biggar's conversion narrowed the gap to three points, setting up a grandstand finish.
But despite Farrell missing a late penalty, Ospreys were unable to find the extra try they needed for victory and now drop to third in the pool with two rounds remaining.
The scorers:
For Ospreys:
Try: Gough
Con: Biggar
Pens: Biggar 2
For Saracens:
Try: Joubert
Con: Farrell
Pens: Farrell 3
Yellow cards: James (Ospreys - 38th min - repeated scrum infringement); Brits (Saracens - 51st min - repeated scrum infringement); Brown (Saracens - 63rd min - obstruction)
Ospreys: 15 Richard Fussell, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Jonathan Thomas, 7 Justin Tipuric (capt), 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Joe Bearman, 20 George Stowers, 21 Kahn Fotuali'i, 22 Matthew Morgan, 23 Hanno Dirksen.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 David Strettle, 13 Owen Farrell, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Mouritz Botha, 4 Steve Borthwick (c), 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Rhys Gill.
Replacements: 16 John Smit, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Carlos Nieto, 19 George Kruis, 20 Andy Saull, 21 Peter Stringer, 22 Adam Powell, 23 James Short.
Venue: Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Referee: Jerome Garces
Comments
makemehappy says...
@crunchfit - no sign of an citings yet, as far as I can see. Perhaps others are in denial?
Posted 13:14 19th December 2011
crunchfit says...
@makemehappy
Barnes, at least, mentioned the knee (when Jones kneed another player twice in the head) during the Sky broadcast. I only noticed the other two as they happened reasonable shortly afterwards. The elbows and headbutt weren't nearly as obvious, but easily visible on the broadcast nonetheless. They certainly happened and seemed intentional to me. Can't say I noticed the Saracens, a team who I am not a big fan of, provoking Jones at those times. As I said, I never knew he was a dirty player and have always liked him, but that was some dirty play to day. No denying it.
Posted 22:20 17th December 2011
7ton says...
I had the mispleasure of watching the game on TV and I almost switched it of several times due to the very poor standards and all the silly handbagging that went on. the only thing that kept me interested was the hope that the ospreys may snatch it at the end.
I did notice a couple of unsavory dirty incidents by Osprey players which may be what crunchfit is on about but I think the Saracens were just as bad.
Frankly this niggling was a very bad example of rugby and I really don't think either side deserved to win.
The last scrum in the final minutes of the game was typical of all the time wasting there was around the scrums in this game.
Posted 18:38 17th December 2011
makemehappy says...
@cruchfit - I must admit I couldn't notice the offences from the stand. What I could notice was the constant grappling and inflaming of just about everything by the Saracens front row. They really should have all been yellow carded. You really don't want that conduct in rugby, as it is the sort of thing that results in the offences you have suggested occured.
I would add that not a Saracens supporter in the crowd spotted and commented on the offences you outlined.
Posted 15:03 17th December 2011
crunchfit says...
Never realised Adam Jones was such a dirty player. I've always liked him. I saw knees, headbutts, elbows, on at least 3 different occasions at the breakdown. Very surprised. Wouldn't be surprised if he gets cited for at least one of them.
Posted 13:01 17th December 2011
makemehappy says...
Bit surprised that anyone would think the better team won. The Ospreys were awful, and the Saracens putrid. Considering Saracens did nothing all game, and the Ospreys were close to having 3 tries, at best Saracens were very lucky.
Please don't think I'm actually advocating that the Ospreys deserved to win either. This was a no-one game for the game of rugby. Destroyed by a pathically clueless ref, and a ridiculous amount of 'injuires' by saracens players who were constantly then able to play on.
I trust those in the IRB have a look at games like this to see what can be done. Otherwise the 7000 in attendance will be dwindling to just a couple of proud parents!
Hopefully this Heineken Cup exit (likely exit at least) will finally see the coaching team at the Ospreys removed. They constantly prove they are inept, so time for them to bugger off!
Posted 12:05 17th December 2011
damo says...
I totally agree, as a punter I have seen so many inconsistent calls at scrum time it has cost me so many times, in this game i feel he decided for the first 20 to give everything to Ospreys the second 20 to Sarries and the second half to Ospreys, better team won, feel sorry for Ospreys though they try hard
Posted 11:01 17th December 2011
tombomb says...
what an utterly crap ref he gives yellow cards for minor offenses all the time why? i for one have had enough of these self righteous arrogant french refs
Posted 02:18 17th December 2011
Bismo says...
agreed, the referee was terrible
Posted 23:13 16th December 2011
keste03 says...
Jerome Garces i an utter disgrace - ruined the game. but good win for Saracens.
Posted 22:19 16th December 2011