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Saracens player ratings vs Bordeaux | Investec Champions Cup 2023/24
Player ratings: Saracens had an almighty task trying to beat Bordeaux-Begles in France following their 55-15 shellacking in January, and they fell well short again.
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A 45-12 loss does not look as bad, but it was not much better in truth as the hosts raced away in the second-half.
The London outfit were comprehensively beaten up, bringing their Investec Champions Cup campaign to an end, and with it ending the European careers in black for the contingent of Saracens who are set to leave at the end of the season. Here’s how the players rated:
Saracens XV
15 Elliot Daly – 5
Prevented all 151kg of Ben Tameifuna from scoring with some sensational try line defence in the opening ten minutes, but manhandled by Tevita Tatafu for Bordeaux’s second try after the break.
14 Sean Maitland – 5
Hard to pick holes in a player’s performance after they could barely get involved in the game. Perhaps could have helped Daly out more to bundle Tevita Tatafu when Saracens were still in the game early in the second half.
Match Summary 
1
Penalty Goals
0
6
Tries
2
6
Conversions
1
0
Drop Goals
0
116
Carries
89
9
Line Breaks
2
14
Turnovers Lost
17
3
Turnovers Won
5
13 Lucio Cinti – 4
Maybe had an even quieter game than Sean Maitland. Should have asked for the match ball after the final whistle just to see what it felt like.
12 Nick Tompkins – 6
Didn’t see a lot of action ball in hand, but was called upon a fair amount in defence as Bordeaux peppered his channel. Stood up to the challenge and even added a breakdown penalty.
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11 Alex Lewington – 4
A nice 50-22 early on, but missed a crucial tackle in build-up to the first try of the match. Produced a shocking knock-on when a try looked likely, which would have clawed his side back into the match, but didn’t make the same mistake late on.
10 Alex Goode – 5
Had big boots to fill replacing Owen Farrell and tried to impress his own style on the game with some probing kicks and jinking runs but rarely had any go-forward. Loose pass for Louis Bielle-Biarrey first try as he tried to force the game.
9 Ivan van Zyl – 3
Had a tough afternoon against a bruising Bordeaux pack, and was caught out on a few occasions by them with ball in hand. Sloppy distribution from the base at times.
1 Mako Vunipola – 5
Pinged at the scrum on one occasion, but contributed to Sarries’ first-half defensive effort before only lasting ten minutes after the break.
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2 Jamie George (c) – 5
Like most Saracens players, it’s hard to judge Jamie George on anything other than his defence as that was all they had to do most of the time. Strong in that department.
3 Christian Judge – 4
Marched back ten metres after a penalty, which was not needed in a game when his side were under the cosh.
4 Maro Itoje – 4
Industrious in defence as ever, but his yellow for an intentional knock-on was akin to a goalkeeper diving to save a shot rather than an attempted catch. Proved costly and should not have come from a man of his experience.
5 Hugh Tizard – 5
Threw his weight around for the 50 minutes he was on the field, which was all he could do really.
6 Theo McFarland – 7
The pick of Saracen’s forwards. Integral to their strong defensive effort early on, and caused some trouble for the hosts’ lineout.
7 Ben Earl – 5
Busy performance but didn’t produce the breaks and powerful runs we have grown accustomed to from him recently. Penalised while trying to stop a juggernaut pack at the breakdown. The way he was suppressed perhaps summed up the chasm between English and French sides.
8 Billy Vunipola – 5
Left the field after an hour in what was his last Saracens performance in Europe. In the end he suffered the same fate as many of his teammates up front- battered and bruised.
Replacements
16 Theo Dan – 6
Made another statement to start with some punchy carries during his cameo.
17 Eroni Mawi – 6
Won a scrum penalty within minutes of coming on and carried well.
18 Marco Riccioni – 4
Quiet in his half hour on the field as it was basically one-way traffic.
19 Juan Martin Gonzalez – 4
Not a lot of mention.
20 Tom Willis – 6
Not pleasant coming on when your side are second best, but got a try to salvage some credibility.
21 Gareth Simpson – 5
Failed to track Damian Penaud’s run for Bordeaux’s third.
22 Manu Vunipola – 5
Looked lively on the few occasions he got the ball in his hands after coming on.
23 Olly Hartley – N/A
Comments on RugbyPass
Poetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
2 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
2 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
90 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
90 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
90 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
90 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
90 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
90 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
90 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
90 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
90 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
90 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
90 Go to comments