Northampton v Saracens: Five takeaways as Sarries left ‘furious’ by controversial match-winner after final quarter ‘capitulation’
Our five takeaways from Northampton Saints' clutch win over Saracens.
Following a 28-24 win for Northampton Saints over Saracens in the Gallagher Premiership, here are our five takeaways from an astonishing game at cinch Stadium on Saturday.
The top line
Northampton will go into next week’s Investec Champions Cup final on a high after Tarek Haffar came off the bench to score two tries and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
A remarkable turnaround saw Saints rally from 24-7 down after an hour to deny Saracens a win which would have catapulted them into the play-off places.
In a controversial ending referee Luke Pearce adjudged Fraser Dingwall’s pass had not gone forward in the final play, with the clock in the red, allowing Leicester-bound Haffar to claim the try and spark pandemonium at the Gardens.
Victory, but at what cost?
Saints left the field jubilant after a result which gives them a significant psychological boost heading to Cardiff for next week’s final against Bordeaux.
But it came at a high price with four players picking up injuries in a fiercely fought contest.
First-choice hooker Curtis Langdon suffered a first half ‘stinger’ which forced him from the field and leaves him facing a race against time to be fit for the European showpiece.
Temo Mayanavanua and James Ramm suffered ankle damage and Alex Coles also limped off, to give Saints’ medics plenty to do in the seven days between now and the biggest northern hemisphere club match of the season.
Saracens only have themselves to blame
The bewildered looks on the faces of Saracens players and staff at the end said everything about a final-quarter capitulation which threatens to end their season prematurely.
This was a match they had in the bag. The four-try bonus point was achieved on 44 minutes, they led by 17 points at a time when Northampton were taking off their key playmakers to wrap them in cotton wool ahead of Bordeaux.
They had brought intensity by the bucket load, arrived at half time with eight turnovers to Saints’ two. The home side simply could not cope with the back row of Ben Earl, Juan Martin Gonzalez and Tom Willis.
It was evident from the warm-up that the Londoners meant business. Captain Maro Itoje had his serious face on, Earl and Willis were clearly fired up by a determination not to find themselves playing bit parts on Henry Pollock’s latest showreel.
They will be furious with the decision to award Haffar’s winning try but they must look at themselves, at how they let their focus slip and their performance levels drop with the prize within touching distance.
What this result means for Saracens’ season
Up until the last play of the game Saracens were looking at a five-point return and leapfrogging Gloucester and Bristol into fourth place in the Premiership.
With Bath at home in the final round, they would have high hopes against an opponent already qualified for a home semi-final coming off a European Challenge Cup final (against Lyon next Friday).
They would have fancied their chances. They still might, but destiny is no longer in their hands. And they have been drained of life-giving momentum by the body punch of Haffar’s late winner.
Bristol will go into their final game, at home to Harlequins, with a two-point advantage, while Gloucester, at home to Northampton, have a significant edge in points difference.
Northampton have the spirit to trouble Bordeaux
Bordeaux are odds-on favourites to beat Northampton and win the Champions Cup fire the first time, but they would do well to factor in the never-say-die spirit of their unsung opponents.
Saints were not given a prayer against Leinster and we all know how that turned out. Every aspect of their performance at the Aviva was extraordinary. Fast forward to the Gardens for Saracens’ visit and here was further evidence.
It is impossible to exaggerate how deep Phil Dowson’s side had to dig to win this game. They were falling off tackles in the first half, four tries down inside 45 minutes.
Yet in their final home game as champions of England they somehow summoned a victory charge.
They did so after Coles and Tom Seabrook each fluffed golden try opportunities. Yet inspired by Tommy Freeman’s brilliant second half they refused to give it up as a lost cause.
Earl, Willis and Alex Goode deserved far better for their sterling efforts, but this is sport. You don’t always get what you deserve. A week from now focus switches to the Welsh capital. Don’t be too quick to bet against the Saints going marching in.