No Saints / Sarries thread?

[TJ1]

First topic message reminder :

??

watching the game - hoping for a good one

[thebluesmancometh]

Nothing going Sarries way now

[nathan]

Wiggleworth just lost it

[formerly known as Sam]

Sarries are looking a bit fiesty now. Where was that in the first half?

[thebluesmancometh]

'Theyve sorted the scrum out afterall, what are they going to do for the next 12 months?'

[thebluesmancometh]

Hartley looking good, but he always does for his club. why can't he do that on the int stage?

[nathan]

I can't tell on this stream, is it raining?

[thebluesmancometh]

Another simple drop for Farell...

I really hope he and North get rejuvinated when they travel, both players really need it!!

[Looseheaded]

This interviewer on the sidelines is beyond irritating, have had to stop watching.

I enjoyed that game, commiserations to Sarries who, whilst I dislike their style of play, have been bloody effective and class this season.

[TJ1]

Sarries couldn't do it today tho. A bit disappointing and nothing like the quality of yesterdays Glasgow / Leinster game. Too much claiming of fouls and playing for penalties.

[Metal Tiger]

Frankly I am stunned by how poor Sarries were today & how much Saints stepped up. I could be wrong but is that the 1st time that 1st place has lost to 4th in the play offs?

[HongKongCherry]

Frankly I am stunned by how poor Sarries were today & how much Saints stepped up. I could be wrong but is that the 1st time that 1st place has lost to 4th in the play offs?

Sadly not

[mbernz]

Quality win from Saints, I hope they bring that level of play to the final, they've been a bit hit and miss this season. Glad for Saints departing props to get the trip to Twickenham as well, they haven't had a great year or so, but I've largely enjoyed what they've added to the AP over the last number of years when I've watched Saints.

Sarries had a poor game by their usual standards, they clearly missed their first choice backrow and Barritt showed what he adds to a side by his absence, he may not be the most impressive in attack, but his organisation in the midfield gives the players around him a great platform to perform on.

On the Lions front Hartley looked good, not doing anything too fancy that might grab a lot of people's attention, but involved in most things good, all over a lot of the breakdown and tight stuff, with some nice handling as well. Vunipola didn't get much opportunity to show anything, Farrell looked poor, and Stevens not worth his place apart from maybe as an experienced scrummager to give all the players in front of him practice in training.

On the England front Wood, Dickson and Lawes all proved why they're going on tour to Argentina in the summer. Wigglesworth, Tomkins & Strettle didn't look great by comparison, no doubt partly because they were playing in a team on the backfoot, but quite aside they really did make some poor decisions. The fullbacks didn't get a huge amount on the ball, but Foden came out of the game ahead imho.

[doctor_grey]

No Saints / Sarries thread?

No Saints / Sarries thread?

No Saints / Sarries thread?

ha ha ha, hee hee hee

No one loves Saints but me.

I can be as juvenile as can be

And I are celebrating though you can't see.

p.s. Boddington's is very, very good to me..............

[LondonTiger]

Frankly I am stunned by how poor Sarries were today & how much Saints stepped up. I could be wrong but is that the 1st time that 1st place has lost to 4th in the play offs?

Sadly not

Aye that was a shock result and a half tight one as well., Of coursethe victorious 4th place team got stuffed in the final.

[LondonTiger]

Oh and Doc

[Hound of Harrow]

I thought Hartley had a great game, Manoa too.

Saints made the most of the chances they got, and at least one was from good counter rucking. Will Fraser was a big miss for Sarries today.

[B91212]

Well happy with that result, really didn't expect it. Very impressed with Saints defence, especially in the first half. Sat back to much at the start of the second half and never felt comfortable until a couple of minutes before the final whistle.

From a Saints point of view I too felt Hartley & Manoa did well and although Day gave away a few pens for not rolling away (rightly given although he looked trapped) I felt he had another good game. Never massively eye-catching but Saints always seem to play markedly better when he is available.

Feel for Saracens with how their season has faded away in the last few weeks. Ultimately I think that injuries to key players were the reason they lost today. Is Berger injured? if not then surprised he didn't come in for Fraser instead of Saull or Brown didn't move over and Kruis start.

[beshocked]

Firstly well done Saints. Good luck in the final.

Saints showed the intensity and put a performance necessary for an important match like this. Defensively ferocious and aggressive in the contact. Very clinical too.

As for my own side - nowhere near good enough. Intensity wise I don't think they turned up. Saints looked far more fired up.

The crowd was probably the highlight. Saracens fans were actually quite vocal for once. The fans were more fired up than the players.

The writing was on the wall after the team didn't perform vs Toulon. Again another lacklustre performance.

Dominated at the breakdown,lineout misfiring, high error count, poor decision making, missed kicks - not good enough.

After the Ulster game I was really optimistic but after that things failed to go to plan.

Can't make excuses for injured players. No team should rely so much on certain players.

Saracens' defence is far better when Barritt is there in the centres but the defence should be watertight without him.

I have to change my tune on Farrell Jr. Really disappointed with him. Based on that performance and coupled with his performances vs Toulon and Wales he shouldn't be touring with the Lions.

Also I have to backtrack on Lawes. I criticised him before the game on these boards but he really put in a decent shift.

[LondonTiger]

Beshocked,

dissapointing end to the season, yet progress has still been made. McCall will learn from this and Saracens will be better next season.

[beshocked]

Progress? I don't think so personally.

Losing a playoff semi at home is not that at all.

Mark Mccall and the rest of the Saracens squad need to have a hard look at why the wheels have fallen off at the business end of the season.

Far too much reliance on certain players - completely in contrast to this supposed strength in depth.

Lack of composure. Players simply not performing to their best ability. Wasted opportunities

Simple basic skills not being implemented.

Saracens rely on structured play but against Toulon and Saints there was no structure. Just a disorganised mess in my opinion.

Saracens did not perform anywhere near the level expected in those two matches and that disappointed me a lot.

One thing I definitely expect is Saracens to front up and perform to their best ability - I don't believe in either game they did that.

[Jimpy]

I wonder if Saints' inconsistency will come back to haunt them at Twickenham. Tigers favourites?

[LondonTiger]

Well, I have not seen saints play with that level of intensity all season. Can they bring it back again in two weeks time?

[HammerofThunor]

Potentially, with the thrashing Tigers gave them in their mind. But Tigers are definately favourites. Hoping for a Saints win personally, if only for the fact they haven't won it yet.

[beshocked]

Tigers should win but as the match showed yesterday Saints do have some fire in the belly.

They'll relish being underdogs again.

[doctor_grey]

In the cold sober light of the day after a glorious win, it is easy to see where Saints performed, and where the challenges are for the Finals.

Saints first half intensity was terrific. Unfortunately, Saints dropped off a bit after Lawes went off and again during Elliot's Yellow card. Saints are a team which need everyone firing to have a shot.

Manoa simply keeps improving. Was very powerful from Number 8. Needs to have more opportunities to run with the ball. On defense he really helped close Sarries down.

Burrell seemed to tackle everything that moved. Hope he is starting against Tigers.

Hartley was terrific, as well. Great leadership and strong play. Need him to be the same.

Saints played to their strengths very well. If Tigers take them on straight up, as I expect, and are successful, Saints will have a long afternoon. If Saints keep the upper hand, it will be a very interesting final.

[Eustace H Plimsoll]

I'm a Tigers fan and before yesterday would have been pretty confident about the prospect of facing Saints in the final. Before the playoffs I definitely would have picked them as the team I would be least worried about in the top 4.

But I'm being made slightly nervous by their return to form. Specifically I'm concerned that their areas of strength seem to coincide with our current areas of weakness due to injury.

For a start, their scrum seems to be going well. Their front three of Mujati, Hartley and Tongauiha is pretty fearsome. For Tigers, on the other hand, Mulipola has been weak in the set piece recently, although marauding in the loose. We definitely miss Ayerza at LH. We also have Youngs at hooker, and although I think he's a great player, he is not the most powerful scrummager and is still learning. All in all I can see us going backwards at scrumtime.

And then there's what was Saints' most obvious strong point against Sarries: their physicality in contact and around the breakdown. Ed Slater is injured for Tigers and against Quins we played Parling and Kitchener. Both played well, but if that combo turns out again I worry that the likes of Samu Manoa and Lawes could have the edge when it comes to physicality in those important opening phases of the game. Tigers always look better with a big lump at number four, be it Slater or Deacon. This was exposed earlier in the season against Bath, when we started with Mafi and Parling. We couldn't stand up to their intensity and brought Slater on in the second half, but it wasn't enough to save a result.

I still think Leicester will be favourites, but the above is enough to give me a few doubts...

[doctor_grey]

Doubts? We like doubts.
Please let them wash over you like a warm shower. And your team, as well. Just until the end of the month.
'tis all.
Thank you for the favour.

[doctor_grey]

There is absolutely no need or reason for this post.
I am still celebrating the Saints win over Sarries, so by virtue of this needless post, I am moving this thread to the top.

Not sure if this is characterised as childish or merely juvenile. Your choice.

[doctor_grey]

C'mon you Saints.

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