Saracens suffocate Wasps despite fine tries from Christian Wade and Elliot Daly

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/mar/08/wasps-saracens-premiership-match-report

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England’s need for players who can offer the unexpected in attack being as crying as it is, some may find it hard to understand why Christian Wade and Elliot Daly are not members of Stuart Lancaster’s Six Nations squad. In defeat both these wonderfully talented young Wasps backs scored tries that have to be numbered among the contenders for the individual scores of the season.

Defeat it was though, Wasps’ first in the Premiership at their new home in Coventry. Absorbing the shock and refusing to panic after conceding those two outstanding tries in as many minutes after less than a quarter of an hour, and finding themselves 17-3 behind, Saracens put a characteristic squeeze on their opponents. They responded with two tries of their own and with Richard Wigglesworth outstanding behind the pack, barely allowed Wasps to cross the halfway line during a second period that was as attritional as the first had been open and exciting.

The only downside for Saracens, and possibly for England as well, was the loss of Brad Barritt in the second half. The centre, considered a good bet to be recalled against Scotland on Saturday, was hurt as he fell after challenging for a high ball with the Wasps fly-half, Andy Goode, and spent a long time on the ground clutching a knee. In the end he rose, waving away a stretcher, and limped off.

Having initially suggested the injury was to Barritt’s ankle rather than his knee the Saracens director of rugby, Mark McCall, said he did not know about the player’s condition. “The medics are looking at him, it’s early to say straight after a match. It could be either his knee or his ankle but we’re all very hopeful that it’s nothing too serious,” McCall said, confirming Barritt had gone for a scan. “He certainly deserves it not to be too serious. He’s playing great rugby for us and must be in contention to play for England. So fingers crossed he’s OK.”

Otherwise, though, McCall was delighted. “When you go 17-3 down the temptation is to go off script but the players showed clarity of thought and common sense, refused to be spooked and kept the pressure on Wasps for the next 60 minutes. They deserve great credit for that. We could have done better in the last 15 minutes, we missed a couple of chances when we were in their 22, but otherwise we were very impressive.”

So they were, on their own terms, starving their opponents of possession and effectively strangling the game, though not until the pack had pushed the No8, Jackson Wray, over the line and Wigglesworth turned the Wasps defence with a grubber kick that the wing Chris Wyles picked up and had the momentum to touch down, despite being tackled by Wade. Alex Goode’s kicking did the rest, leaving the Wasps director of rugby, Dai Young, a hugely frustrated man.

“Frustrated and disappointed actually because it’s no surprise what Saracens brought to the party, we knew they’d kick the leather off the ball and really chase hard, and it’s a matter of dealing with it and controlling it,” Young said. “We did that for the first 20 to 25 minutes, defusing the bombs and giving ourselves options to play, but after that we struggled to deal with the aerial battle, allowing them to squeeze us and keep us in our own half.”

His frustration would have been increased after seeing what Wade and Daly could do with ball in hand. An early turn and scamper by Wade after fielding a kick (he was immaculate under the high ball and in defence, all afternoon) led to him leaving the Saracens hooker, Jamie George, grasping at air, as one might expect.

But there was nothing predictable about the manner in which, having chipped the ball over the full-back, Ben Ransom, Wade outpaced the covering defenders while delicately dribbling the ball over the try-line before dabbing down. Barely a minute later Daly, given a yard of space 60 yards out, set off on a blistering, swerving run during which the wrong-footed Saracens defenders failed to lay a hand on him. “World-class finishes,” said Young.

“I don’t pick the England team but, put it this way, I wouldn’t swap Wade for anybody. Put him into a bit of space and he’ll cause any team all sorts of problems. He gets people on the edge of their seats every time he touches the ball.

“Elliot has just got better and better as the season has gone on, his distribution skills are good as well and he’s really bulked up in defence too. There’s two players who would have no problem putting a white shirt on.”

Wasps Miller; Wade, Daly, Downey (Masi, 63), Tagicakibau; Andy Goode (Lozowksi, 69), Simpson; Mullan (McIntyre, 69) Lindsay (Jackson, 69), Cittadini (Swainston, 66), Davies, Gaskell (Myall, 60), Johnson, Young (Thompson, 60), Hughes.

Tries Wade, Daly. Cons Goode 2. Pen Goode.

Sin-bin Thompson 65

Saracens Ransom; Ashton (Mordt, 72), Bosch, Barritt (Streather, 56), Wyles; Alex Goode, Wigglesworth (Spencer, 78); Vunipola (Gill, 63), George (Saunders, 78), Du Plessis (Figallo, 56), Hamilton, Hargreaves (capt), Itoje, Burger (Hankin, 78), Wray (Joubert, 72 ).

Tries Wray, Wyles. Cons Goode 2. Pen Goode 4.

Sin-bin Ashton 42.

Referee M Carley. Attendance 5,437.