Having lost in South Africa, this was a match Saracens really needed to win. The match started with an uncharacteristic Theo McFarland error as he knocked the ball on from the kick off. So, an early scrum! The Connacht 9 delayed the put in and Saracens were awarded a free kick to get the ball out of their own half.
Connacht won the line out but Bundee Ali knocked on, 2nd scrum. Saracens cleared the ball from the scrum and it was thrown out to Sean Maitland who was bundled into touch.
Juan Martin Gonzalez gave away a penalty, won the ball back, got highly involved then found himself on the end of an Owen Farrell kick through, he took the ball on the 22 and basically powered forwards with a couple of Connacht players on his back, a cracking try! His leg drive was a sight to behold! Owen Farrell sent the conversion to the right of the posts.
Connacht were able to gain some territory when a penalty was awarded against Saracens in the scrum, the kick was very close to, but not out of bounds. Saracens haven’t been great at defending the maul close to their own line this season and this was no exception, Byndee Aki scored as the maul rolled over the line. Jack Carty converted the try for Connacht to take the lead.
Saracens blew a good opportunity when their line out ball, after being awarded a penalty for a high tackle, went to Connacht hands. I do wonder if Farrell would’ve taken the points, rather than the kick to touch, if he felt his kicking was on point. Farrell did take the 3 a couple of minutes later from a penalty in front of the posts. Saracens regained the lead.
A mention for the Connacht shirts, they looked like they’d been washed with a pink or orange cotton shirt, not sure they were meant to be that colour!
Farrell gave away a penalty in the ruck in the Saracens half, Saracens defended the initial maul, but Carolin Blade burrowed under his forwards to score Connacht’s 2nd. Carty added the extras. That was the visitors in the lead again.
Farrell gave away another penalty in the Saracens half, having reacted badly to a tackle, it would’ve been a line out. Poor form by many Saracens fans to boo the kicker. Carty stretched the lead.
Saracens had a good opportunity with a maul close to the line, Farrell was unhappy with the decision to award possession to Connacht and went to question the ref, it felt like he was very wound up again. Saracens were awarded a penalty from the resulting scrum. Saracens had another penalty awarded as they attacked with a quick tap. Farrell kicked to touch this time.
Saracens rolled over the line with a couple of backs involved. Jamie George being in possession of the ball to score. The conversion went to the left of the posts this time.
I’m typing Farrell a lot, he missed touch with a penalty kick, luckily the Connacht clearing kick wasn’t a great one giving Saracens a good attacking platform. Saracens won a penalty and Farrell kicked this one through the posts, phew!
Farrell’s next kick to touch was a belter, and Saracens rolled over the line again, with Jamie George again in control, they were playing with a penalty in their pocket. The kick was out wide, and was missed. But the teams went in at half time with the score on Saracens 21 Connacht 17.
It was interesting to see Mark McCall walk off with Farrell. He came back on after half time and seemed to be in a different frame of mind. He got involved with some magic, playing with a penalty in their pocket it was Alex Goode who had the foresight to kick the ball over the head of the Connacht defenders for Ollie Hartley to run in and score, the try was between the posts and converted.
Jamie George made an outrageous pass out of the back of his hands in one attack before breaking through, he along with Gonzalez seemed to think they were backs! Saracens were awarded a penalty duly converted by Farrell, Cian Prendergast was awarded a yellow card.
Sean Maitland was next on the score sheet as Connacht found themselves stretched out on the left wing, a lovely long pass from Farrell saw Maitland going in. The kick was out wide again, but went through the posts this time.
Ivan van Zyl on as a sub had an immediate impact, stealing the ball it was thrown wide to Cinti, who showed his speed to run along the touch line to score. No added extras this time.
Mari Itoje who’d had a good game was shown a yellow card after going into a tackle upright with Paul Boyle, head contact was made but a side step saved him from seeing red. Boyle subsequently went off for an HIA.
Connacht struck against the 14 men quickly with Shayne Bolton doing really well to stay in, as did Aki! JJ Hanrahan scored what was a lovely try. The conversion was good, as was the try in spite of a review after the fact!
Ollie Hartley scored his 2nd after a great kick through by Nick Tompkins of all people! It was almost served up to him on a plate! The conversion took Saracens to 50.
Connacht were next on the scoreboard with a try for Joe Joyce, as they drove from a line out. Hanrahan kicked the ball wide.
Saracens returned the favour a couple of minutes later with Theo Dan in charge of the ball as the maul went over the line. The kick, hit the posts.
Rather than kick the ball out , with the clock past 80, when they could Saracens kept the ball in touch, they lost it and Cian Prendergast scored for Connacht getting their bonus point try. Hopefully that’s to going to be too costly!
The final score was Saracens 55 Connacht 36, a good and much needed win for Saracens. Juan Martin (I’m a back really) Gonzalez was awarded the player of the match accolade.
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