r/saracens

Jeeesus that got the Adrenalin pumping, for completely different reasons in each half. First half standard Bris v Sarries batshittery then we decided to try and shut up shop in the second half which we largely did very well, seemingly changing to a drift defence to marshal that Bris attack. Still a bloody stressful way to play trying to defend a 13 point lead in this league against this team. So much happened in not going to try and describe it but inteally thought Ridley had shifted us with the call on Batley, genuinely absurd to not even get a pen.

Some enormous performances today though. Tizard and George with immense shifts before they were subbed. Willis amazing as always. I honestly thought Maro was amazing though. Lineout steals, a menace at the breakdown and tackling everything.

Good

Fergus Burke - I’m coming round to him, the attack really fizzed in the first half and he was the main reason. Whether this is to do with the weather or if it is just him finding his feet - he has become a difference maker. Was his substitution tactical? or just because he’d run 20k by halftime with all the line breaks and needed a lie down.

Nick Isiekwe - Maybe a bit left field to pick him out but that hit on Thatcher in the act of scoring was a break of serve when the game was yo-yoing. He’s had a tough year, but I think he can bring a lot at 6 going forward and I’m glad he’s pulled through the hangover he had whilst filming with AOC and big Jim.

Olly Hartley - Janse van Rensburg is, for my money, the best 12 in the league and Hartley outshone him today. Big centres who can run through walls, goose step full backs and miss pass to the wings are unicorns. Sadly this does mean If he goes down the season is over.

Bad

Dynamic Situation - What happened to ‘always illegal’? I’d understand if he blamed the camera angles but it looked just at bad at full speed. Awful call and gave them a bonus point.

Charlie Bracken - He played well and it’s all good experience for him but on a different day the charge downs could have been a problem. He also fades in the second half, that’s probably due to the intensity of the game plan rather than any shortcoming of his own but it is a problem.

Owen Farrell - I love him, he’s the best fly half England has produced since Wilkinson (and I’d still pick Owen over him) and every bit the passing playmaker Ford is, but he was just a NFL punter today. When we had the ball in the second half Hartley and Tompkins could probably have nipped to the bar and come back when Caluori had knocked on.

Three finals down, three to go.

With Bath failing to do us any sort of favours on the weekend, we really are left with no room for slip ups in our next two home games. Gloucester at home, on the face of it, looks simple enough compared to our last two outings but they’ve hit on a mini resurgence following Skivington’s role being changed to focus on coaching and the return of some key injured players. A big part of that resurgence is one Tomos Williams, however I believe he is out with a shoulder injury for a few weeks which should be in our favour because he really has made them tick. Charlie Atkinson needs to be shackled after beating about 20 defenders last week but hopefully not in the way Faz did back in the Covid days. The other Atkinson is another stiff test for Hartley after a good performance v BJVR. Between those 3 and Ojomoh England are starting to get good options at 12. Glos centre partnership is very strong in general with Llewelyn too, it will key part of the match up. Loader has also been on fire, very physical seemingly breaking tackles for fun and will take some marshalling by Segun. I seem to remember in his Irish days we targeted him successfully under the high ball which may be of interest to a certain someone. A big threat comes at scrum time with Fasogbon and VRR going great guns at the moment. Street failed a HIA which could mean a mandatory 2 week lay off, while Riccioni seems to be injured again. That leaves a big job for Clarey and one of Beaton and Tietie who we’ve barely seen this season.

For us, well, if it ain’t broke…
I’d probably bring on Carré to start, he’s a better scrummager than Mawi and reminds me of Earl in that you think he’ll be an amazing bench option because of the running threat but in reality they seem to be better growing into a game. McFarland’s form has been so good there’s always an argument to bring him back but Isiekwe was great last week so no arguments if we stay as is.

On paper we should bring back the 5 points but Glos will as always want to spoil the party and pressure can do funny things to a team. I hope that we can continue the attacking verve from last week’s first half to build a lead and maybe leave it a bit later to shut up shop, purely for the sake of my blood pressure!

Looks like the revolving door at the RFU might continue, what on earth does Borthwick do to his staff?