Saracens player ratings vs Leicester | Gallagher Premiership final
Saracens player ratings live from Twickenham: All week the vibe had been that Mark McCall’s Saracens were on the verge of Gallagher Premiership title glory, but Leicester had other ideas on a seismic afternoon at English rugby HQ that culminated in a welter of excitement.
Instead of the gripping contest enjoying an extra-time sequel after Owen Farrell had tied up the scores with four minutes remaining, Freddie Burns landed the final’s deciding drop goal to secure the Tigers their 15-12 win and leave the London club – last year’s Championship champions following their automatic demotion for salary cap breaches – out for the count. Here are the Saracens player ratings:
15. Alex Goode – 5.5
Appearing in his 235th Premiership match, a one-club tally only bettered by two people across the league, he had an iffy performance that began with an early sitdown from Matias Moroni. It continued with the concession of a scrum-five and he then couldn’t get low enough to prevent Jasper Wiese from scoring. It didn’t improve massively in the second half either, Wayne Barnes admonishing him at one stage for trying to restart play from the incorrect mark.
14. Max Malins – 5.5
The top try-scorer this Premiership season with 16 from 14 appearances, his silky running wasn’t all that evident with Leicester aware of the danger. Two second-half moments summed up his frustrating day – having possession stolen on the floor after a carry and then losing his footing and failing to prevent Leicester from pulling off a 50:22.
13. Elliot Daly – 6
Spoke during the week about the savoury partnership forged in recent months with his inside buddy, Nick Tompkins, and the pair began well until they couldn’t help their defence sufficiently absorb the loss of the yellow-carded Aled Davies. Spent the second half on the wing following the injury exit of Sean Maitland. Made one excellent catch ahead of Chris Ashton under a Burns cross-kick.
12. Nick Tompkins – 6.5
Earned Farrell his first points off the tee when tackled late and he went on to have a fine opening period in which his running caused Leicester trouble. Was defensively strong in the second period before heading off on 71 minutes.
11. Sean Maitland – 5
Didn’t feature much during the one half he played in. The one moment where his presence was noticeable was the edge that Freddie Steward created in the lead-up to the opening Leicester try. Gone injured at the interval.
10. Owen Farrell – 7
Doggedly dug his team out of a hole with the accuracy of his place kicking and his determination to find a way back, but he couldn’t provide the winning impetus, Burns stealing his thunder.
9. Aled Davies – 6
This classy purchase by McCall couldn’t make amends for his needless yellow card sustained when clattering into the head of Julian Montoya on 26 minutes when Saracens scrambled following a lost lineout. The two tries Leicester scored were leaked during his absence.
1. Mako Vunipola – 7.5
Had the crowd oohing with an early crunching tackle on Guy Porter but he encountered a balance issue soon after at a scrum that cost a free. Went on to enjoy an immense match, though, particularly when blasting forward off one Farrell offload with Saracens 6-12 down. Gave everything during his 67 minutes.
2. Jamie George – 7
Came across in his recent media duties sounding like a competitor back at the peak of his powers. He wasn’t quite fully at that level here but was one of the key figures who made sure Saracens kept it a one-score margin before they forced their way to parity.
3. Vincent Koch – 7.5
His final match for Saracens after six seasons at the club was ultimately a collective disappointment but there was much pride in what he contributed. At the heart of the scrum penalty win on his own five-metre with Leicester looking to add to their six-point second-half lead.
4. Maro Itoje – 7.5
Didn’t do anything particularly devastating that had him standing out but his tenacity in the trenches in preventing Leicester from coasting was one of the prime reasons we had a thrilling last-quarter conclusion.
5. Nick Isiekwe – 6.5
Magnificent off the bench last week when dethroning Harlequins, he was promoted to start but his accuracy wasn’t where it was seven days ago. A missed lineout catch just after George Ford had exited highlighted how it was a much tougher afternoon for him. His fumble then ended the first half on a sobering note.
6. Theo McFarland – 6.5
The find of the Saracens season, someone who only made his first Premiership start in January but who since went on to make the spot his own. He was energetic in what he did but the attacking incision he enjoyed in recent months wasn’t fully reprised here and he departed on 60 minutes.
7. Ben Earl – 7
Breezed into the decider as the Saracens player with the most game time this season (1,680 minutes), but last weekend’s hat-trick hero struggled to influence proceedings with the ball on this occasion. Still, he got his tackles in often and was a vital defensive cog when the pressure was on.
8. Billy Vunipola – 8
His 23rd Premiership start of the campaign, a club workload the out-of-favour England No8 had never before experienced, he was immense in the carry with his numbers delightfully high. Would have been annoyed with the first-half penalty where he illegally played the scrum-half and there was an argument that Saracens throughout were much too dependent on him to gain metres. Scrambled excellently in defence when needed and finished by earning the penalty that saw Farrell tie the scores.
Replacements:
23. Alex Lozowski (for Maitland, half-time); 20. Andy Christie (for McFarland, 60); 17. Eroni Mawi (for M Vunipola), 21. Ivan van Zyl (for Davies, both 67); 22. Duncan Taylor (for Tompkins, 71); 19. Jackson Wray (for B Vunipola, 76).
Lozowski had his frustrations but the bench highlight was the fabulous attack featuring Mawi, Christie and Taylor that got Saracens motoring and chasing down Leicester’s lead.
Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
8 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
8 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
8 Go to comments