365 Sporting Days

Saracens found themselves in the last chance saloon in this competition after succumbing to a record defeat in Bordeaux. A win by Connacht against Bristol meant the task was a less onerous one, with a bonus point of any description with a less than 20 point gap. Whether this team could bounce back was open for debate, with top spot beckoning for Lyon as a big incentive for them to win this one.

Pre match was dinner at the Metro with Munster v Saints on the TV, we left before the end but they won by 3 points having been down to 14 for all of the 2nd half and 13 some of both halves, that’s highly impressive!

On to the match, Ivan van Zyl took advantage of an early penalty, he took a quick tap and ran in from close to the line to score. The conversion looked to be on track but swerved away from the posts.

The first scrum came from a knock on after a high kick, Lyon came away with the ball, they didn’t get too far on the first attempt. Lyon learnt the difficulty of kicking in this artificial pitch when their 13 kicked the ball dead, the 2nd scrum was therefore deep in their half. Van Zyl came away with the ball, Rotimi Segun threw a slightly wild pass, which left Alex Goode little option other than a kick to touch.

Saracens returned to the Lyon half with the ball, only to lose it to Lyon hands, from a pass by Farrell, they weren’t 10 so Niniahvili was called back. Saracens then conceded a penalty allowing Lyon to clear the ball. Saracens won the line out, but Niniashvili took a pass from Van Zyl this time, that interception resulted in a try for the visitors. The conversion was in front of the posts and good.

Lyon kicked straight out after winning the ball from the kick off. Saracens won that line out but not the next. The ball was knocked on by Saracens as Lyon attacked. The scrum was re-set before Lyon came away with the ball, they passed with high energy before the ball was dropped.

Another scrum re-set before Saracens came away with the ball, Saracens tried to run the ball out, but it was knocked on again.

Lyon came away with the ball, then a penalty as Saracens failed to release, they also came away with 3 points. Giving them a 5 point lead.

Niniashvili Looked to be away again, luckily his pass went to Maro Itoje. Saracens won the line out after the ball had cleared, Saracens were nearly hauled back into their own half after a mistake by the assistant ref, the eventual line out seemed to be way short of where it should’ve been.

Niniashvili kicked a great 50/22 as play progressed, giving Lyon a great attacking position. One they failed to capitalise on. I must give credit to the referee for speaking both languages during the game!

Theo Dan (Hooker) put in a great kick after Saracens turned the ball over, but eventually we had another knock on and scrum. That resulted in another great 50/22 for Lyon. Saracens won the line out then a penalty as Lyon were offside as Van Zyl tried to kick away. Lyon were penalised in the line out.

Lyon ended up with the ball and on the attack, after Saracens knocked on , the 2nd knock on resulted in a scrum in the Saracens 22. Lyon scored through Maraku on the stroke of half time. The conversion was good and the teams went in with the score on Saracens 5 Lyon 17.

Owen Farrell kicked off the 2nd half, Lyon took the ball but kicked out just past their 22. Saracens knocked on as they attacked after the line out.

Maro Itoje scored for Saracens, not long after he’d had the ball ripped from his hands, a wild Lyon pass was taken by Saracens hands. The conversion was good which narrowed the gap to 5.

Farrell was charged down, twice! First time the Lyon player fell over, the second player didn’t, Maraku scored an easy try. There was a bit of pushing and shoving with Niniashvili being penalised, the try stood and the conversion was good, but the restart was a Saracens penalty.

Saracens won a penalty as play progressed as Van Zyl was played, Farrell took the 3.

Lyon were playing some great rugby, Saracens took a chance with a quick throw in, with the ball going to Elliot Daly who cleared to half way.

Farrell was penalised for not releasing the ball, that man Niniashvili being the man over the ball. He enjoyed that one! Saracens then won a penalty in their own half. One Daly kicked very long! Saracens went over with a second try for Itoje, it was almost straight from the line out. The kick was a tough one and good!

Farrell dropped the ball in the Lyon half for yet another knock on, Saracens were awarded a free kick in the scrum, the only one in the game that wasn’t completed. They took a scrum, their put in this time. Saracens came away with the ball, with Lucio Cinti taken into touch.

Saracens were awarded a penalty, the Farrell kick was, charged down. I have never seen that before! The next kick by Farrell made touch and was cheered. Playing with a penalty in his pocket Farrell was charged down again. He took the 3 points to put Saracens ahead by a single point.

Alex Goode put in a lovely 50/22 after a great hit by Toby Knight in midfield, he’d had a wayward pass thrown his way by Gareth Simpson. Saracens scored through Juan Martin Gonzalez, the conversion was good. Just so I have to type his name again Niniashvili was shown a yellow card. A memorable game for him.

A/The Lyon coach was very animated on the touch line and may have helped the assistant ref see a high tackle, it was a high tackle, but interesting to see. Lyon knocked on as play progressed from the line out.

With 5 minutes remaining Cinti scored out wide on his wing, a great pass from Goode. Segun had been involved in the build up, he’d been having a great game again. A great kick from Farrell added the extras! Theo Dan was awarded Man of the Match, in a much better performance from Saracens it could’ve been one of several players.

The second half of this match was one of the most Saracens like performances I’ve seen for a few weeks. The final score was Saracens 39 Lyon 24, phew! Both teams will progress with a hard away Round of 16 for Saracens, but at least they live track fight another day.