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If ever there was an incentive for Saracens to kick on in the Heineken Cup it was watching Toulouse crash to the shock of the round last week. - 13/12/2013 00:23
If ever there was an incentive for Saracens to kick on in the Heineken Cup it was watching Toulouse crash to the shock of the round last week.
Saracens will be desperate to emulate last week’s bonus-point win in Italy after watching the four-time European Champions miss the chance to seize control of Pool 3.
Sarries completed a thorough job against Zebre by scoring five tries to take maximum points from the Stadio XXV Aprille. And Marc McCall’s side then watched with relish as pool rivals Toulouse slipped up at home to Connacht.
That surprise as the Stade Ernst Wallon will also serve as a reminder of the dangers of under-estimating any opposition, though director of rugby McCall insists Saracens will not fall into the same trap.
“What pleased me most (last) week was how good our preparation and mentality was,” said McCall.
“We actually gave them a lot of respect in the build up to the game and we knew how difficult it could have been. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday training was at a very high level and I suppose we have to do the same this week and make sure we have the correct attitude ,which I’m sure this group will.”
Saracens have lost their last two ‘home’ games in the Heineken Cup, though the first was at Twickenham in last season’s semi-final against Toulon and the second came at Wembley against Toulouse in Round 2. This week they return to Allianz Park aiming to protect their unbeaten run of seven against Italian opposition.
Chris Wyles became Saracens’ leading try-scorer in the Heineken Cup when he scored the eighth of his career against Zebre last week. Along with Chris Ashton, they make up half of the leading try-scorers in this year’s competition with three.
Zebre are still searching for their first European win in only their second season in the Heineken Cup but aim to build on their improved second-half display last week.
“We defended much better after we came out of the dressing room for the second half and used our kicking game in attack to put pressure on Saracens and cause them some difficulties,” said head coach Andrea Cavinato.
“The nature of that recovery is a starting point for the game in London. We will prepare a lot on our defence and on having more quality in our management of the ball.”
Saracens turned on the style to celebrate their first Heineken Cup contest at Allianz Park by running riot with nine tries and send Zebre crashing to a heavy Pool 3 defeat. - 14/12/2013 17:13
Saracens turned on the style to celebrate their first Heineken Cup contest at Allianz Park by running riot with nine tries and send Zebre crashing to a heavy Pool 3 defeat.
The try bonus point swept Sarries up to 15 points with their trip to Toulouse in Round 5 in the New Year set to decide the group winner and with it automatic knock-out stage qualification.
Saracens scored five tries in the process of winning 39-10 at Stadio XXV Aprille a week earlier and it all added up to 14 tries in the back-to-back fixtures as they bid to qualify for the prestigious knock-out stages for the fourth time in the last five tournaments.
Back rower Jackson Wray was named man of the match but it was England winger David Strettle who claimed the honour of scoring the first tournament try at Allianz Park as he finished with aplomb after collecting Ben Ransom’s pass for his seventh of the season.
Owen Farrell – who had opened the scoring with a simple penalty goal – converted from the left hand touchline and then a line-out provided Saracens with a fine attacking position.
Jacques Burger made the most of that position as he emerged from a pile of players celebrating his score.
Farrell was off target with the conversion but when Zebre’s openside flanker Nicola Cattina is sin-binned for taking George Kruis out in the air at a Saracens line-out, Jamie George crosses for Saracens third try and this time Farrell converts well from the left hand touchline.
It took Mark McCall’s men just 26 minutes to bank the try bonus point, Farrell feeing Chris Ashton who looped around from his right hand wing and sent Duncan Taylor free with a superb inside ball.
The centre raced clear and returned the ball to Ashton who drew the Zebre full-back to give Richard Wigglesworth the run in to score.
Farrell converted for a 26-points half-time advantage and added the extra points again when there was more of the same in the second period, Ransom scoring try No 5 courtesy of a bulldozing carry from No.8 Billy Vunipola and a blistering break from George.
Taylor made it six different try sorers and celebrated by becoming the first to collect a brace with a quick-fire double as Zebre saw Saracens top the half century of points.
And the pain was not over for the Italian side as Vunipola and Ashton both cashed in during what was virtual one-way traffic.
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