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Bill Vunipola breaks London Irish hearts in last-gasp Saracens victory Billy Vunipola breaks London Irish hearts in last-gasp Saracens victory
(35 minutes later)
They could not have left it any later. This was a last-gasp win for Saracens, not their first even this early in the season, but it was the nerveless manner in which they took it that impressed. Most teams, when awarded a kickable penalty at a scrum with a minute to go would surely have gone for the draw, but Andy Goode, mysteriously handed the kicking duties ahead of Owen Farrell in the second half, had missed a couple of similar kicks. Charlie Hodgson, now on for Farrell, could have had a go, but he went for the corner, and after a devastating line-out and drive, Billy Vunipola scored a try to break London Irish hearts, even if the hosts take two well-deserved bonus points from the contest, having recovered from a shaky start to look every inch the worthy winners. They could not have left it any later. This was a last-gasp win for Saracens, not their first even this early in the season, but it was the nerveless manner in which they took it that impressed. Most teams, when awarded a kickable penalty at a scrum with a minute to go would surely have gone for the draw, but Andy Goode, mysteriously handed the kicking duties ahead of Owen Farrell in the second half, had missed a couple of similar kicks. Charlie Hodgson, now on for Farrell, could have had a go, but he went for the corner, and after a devastating lineout and drive, Billy Vunipola scored a try to break London Irish hearts, even if the hosts take two well-deserved bonus points from the contest, having recovered from a shaky start to look every inch the worthy winners.
It has been an encouraging start to the English season, if you like your players sharp and reactive, if you like your tries. Sure enough, there was something to cheer a mere 51 seconds in. And if you like your sharp, reactive players to be English, you were quite ecstatic, in this the week the benefits of union prevailed.It has been an encouraging start to the English season, if you like your players sharp and reactive, if you like your tries. Sure enough, there was something to cheer a mere 51 seconds in. And if you like your sharp, reactive players to be English, you were quite ecstatic, in this the week the benefits of union prevailed.
Billy Vunipola ran the first kick of the match back with some gusto, Richard Wigglesworth developed matters further with some quick feet, then Alex Goode had a go, before Owen Farrell sent Tim Streather over, past a bemused home defence. A robust scrum a few minutes later, featuring the England-qualified Kieran Longbottom, won Saracens a second penalty from as many scrums, and the visitors were leading 10-0 in as many minutes. Vunipola ran the first kick of the match back with some gusto, Richard Wigglesworth developed matters further with some quick feet, then had a go, before Farrell sent Tim Streather over, past a bemused home defence. A robust scrum a few minutes later, featuring the England-qualified Kieran Longbottom, won Saracens a second penalty from two scrums, and the visitors were leading 10-0 in as many minutes.
So far, nothing that was not to be expected, but Irish were not going to be cast adrift at their own party. They developed a penchant for the little chip in behind, which caused Saracens all kinds of bother – and the first instance followed a minute later. Shane Geraghty’s chip over the top had Scott Steele haring for the posts. He was cut down short, but a couple of phases later, Geraghty’s lovely pass created a try for Blair Cowan, who plays for Scotland. So far, nothing that was not to be expected, but Irish were not going to be cast adrift at their own party. They developed a penchant for the little chip in behind, which caused Saracens all kinds of bother – and the first instance followed a minute later. Shane Geraghty’s chip over the top had Scott Steele haring for the posts. He was cut down short, but a couple of phases later, Geraghty’s lovely pass created a try for Blair Cowan.
There has been much talk lately of Danny Cipriani as a brilliant former England fly-half now matured and offering himself as a viable contender. Geraghty ought not to be excluded from such conversations. He appears to have found himself again. His place-kicking was largely accurate, if a little ambitious at times, his range of skills extensive. Inside-centre, where he is playing these days, is not exactly a nailed-down position in the England set-up.There has been much talk lately of Danny Cipriani as a brilliant former England fly-half now matured and offering himself as a viable contender. Geraghty ought not to be excluded from such conversations. He appears to have found himself again. His place-kicking was largely accurate, if a little ambitious at times, his range of skills extensive. Inside-centre, where he is playing these days, is not exactly a nailed-down position in the England set-up.
Wigglesworth was next on the score sheet, streaking clear from a ruck after Chris Ashton had run back a punt downfield to open up a 20-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Irish had more tricks to brandish. Chris Noakes, a Kiwi signed from Auckland, sent over a wicked cross-kick, which Lewington plucked from the sky, cutting inside Longbottom and Goode for Irish’s second on the half-hour. Then it was Steele dinking a grubber kick behind the Saracens defence, which sat up for Lewington’s second. Wigglesworth was next on the score sheet, streaking clear from a ruck after Chris Ashton had run back a punt downfield to open up a 20-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Irish had more tricks to brandish. Chris Noakes, a Kiwi signed from Auckland, sent over a wicked cross-kick, which Lewington plucked from the sky, cutting inside Longbottom and Goode for Irish’s second on the half-hour. Then it was Steele dinking a grubber kick behind the defence, which sat up for Lewington’s second.
His hat-trick – and at last the lead for Irish – came a few minutes into the second half, after Geraghty’s penalty a few seconds in had brought them back to within a point. It was Steele again who put in the obligatory kick behind Saracens’ lines, and Lewington was on to it, streaking clear of the despairing defenders with no little amount of pace. His hat-trick – and the lead for Irish – came a few minutes into the second half, after Geraghty’s penalty a few seconds in had brought them back to within a point. It was Steele again who put in the obligatory kick behind Saracens’ lines, and Lewington was on to it, streaking clear of the despairing defenders with no little amount of pace.
The final half-hour become a nervy but enthralling contest from the tee between Geraghty and Goode. Two from the latter pulled Saracens level in the 55th minute, but a mighty kick from the halfway line, off centre, by Geraghty pulled Irish clear again early in the third quarter. By now the Irish’s replacement props seemed to have turned the tide against Saracens, but referee Luke Pearce, booed from the pitch for his troubles at half-time and full-time, for some reason found otherwise for that last penalty that Saracens kicked to the corner. The final half-hour become a nervy but enthralling contest from the tee between Geraghty and Goode. Two from the latter pulled Saracens level in the 55th minute, but a mighty kick from the halfway line, off centre, by Geraghty pulled Irish clear again early in the third quarter. By now the Irish’s replacement props seemed to have turned the tide against Saracens, but the referee, Luke Pearce, booed from the pitch for his troubles at half-time and full-time, for some reason found otherwise for last penalty Saracens kicked to the corner.
It had been a fine game in which scrum interpretations had played perhaps too big a role. Never more so than at the death.It had been a fine game in which scrum interpretations had played perhaps too big a role. Never more so than at the death.