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Another Six Nations headache for Wales as Dan Biggar off injured for Northampton
Injury-hit Saracens showed their resolve as they hit Northampton’s top-four hopes with a 27-21 win at Franklin’s Gardens.
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Saracens lost three players to head injuries during the first half, with captain Wray, centre Duncan Taylor and full-back Alex Goode all forced off.
Northampton looked in control at 12-0 and 15-8 up at half-time, but Saracens took advantage of yellow cards for Lewis Bean and Taqele Naiyaravoro, with Jack Singleton and Nick Tompkins scoring, and Ben Earl rounded things off with an interception try.
The Saints, who had scored twice in the opening seven minutes through Fraser Dingwall and Harry Mallinder, kept coming but were dealt a fourth successive defeat in the Gallagher Premiership.
And there was more bad news for the Saints as Wales fly-half Dan Biggar was forced off in the first half with what looked to be a worrying injury ahead of next weekend’s Guinness Six Nations match versus England at Twickenham.
(Continue reading below…)
The Gallagher Premiership could be set for a Guinness Six Nations player release standoff
Northampton had got off to a slick start as Alex Coles and Mallinder combined to set up England centre Dingwall for the opening score of the match.
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Biggar missed the conversion, but Northampton were soon scoring again as Mallinder flew through a gap and stretched out an arm to get the ball down. Biggar made amends with a much easier conversion attempt and the Saints were 12-0 up after just seven minutes.
But Saracens responded well this time and Rotimi Segun found space on the right before racing past two Saints players to score in the corner. Manu Vunipola missed the conversion from the touchline, but he was on target with a penalty soon after as Saracens stretched the Saints defence again.
Interesting call by the Northampton CEO ahead of Saturday's visit to Franklin's by the Londonershttps://t.co/GKnGNJLy8U
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 29, 2020
Mallinder was soon notching a penalty after he took the No10 jersey when Biggar was forced off. Saracens then lost skipper Jackson Wray along with Taylor and Goode.
Northampton lost Bean to a yellow card four minutes after the break as his arm made contact with the head of Saracens scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth. Naiyaravoro was then sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on close to his own line.
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Saracens took immediate advantage as hooker Singleton powered over from a lineout drive, with Vunipola’s conversion levelling the scores at 15-15. The Saints were soon behind as Tompkins glided through to score with plenty of numbers out left as Saracens streamed forward. Vunipola made it 22-15 with the conversion and the hosts were now really up against it.
The @johnbarc86 Column
As a former Test skipper, John has a very simple solution to those harassing referees: #SixNations #GuinnessSixNations https://t.co/BhWwpV1GYe
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 29, 2020
But Mallinder narrowed the gap with a penalty, but Saracens struck with a sucker punch, Earl pouching an intercept and racing in for the score to take his team 27-18 up with little more than 20 minutes to go.
Saracens back Matt Gallagher was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on as Northampton tried to respond, and Mallinder landed a penalty to give his team late hope. Alex Lewington was sent to the bin late, but Saints could not profit as they failed to turn things around.
– Press Association
WATCH: The most ridiculous finish ever to a match
Comments on RugbyPass
True Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
21 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
10 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
78 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
21 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
10 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
2 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
16 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
21 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
21 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
21 Go to comments