THROWN TO THE WOLF PACK
Warriors can’t cope with slick Saracens
You couldn’t say Glasgow Warriors hadn’t been warned. Huge banners celebrating the quality of the Saracens ‘wolf pack’ were displayed all over Allianz Park.
They lived up to their reputation as they hunted down Glasgow Warriors from the first whistle on their way to ending their European Champions Cup dream at the quarter-final stage.
Saracens’ nickname is based on their ability to outmuscle and run ragged the opposition, which they did with ease against a Glasgow side with no answer to their power, pace and physicality.
The fact four Glasgow players needed treatment inside the first ten minutes — with co-captain Jonny Gray having to be replaced early on — tells you all you need to know about which side won the physical battle.
Pick of the reigning European champions’ wolf pack was England international No 8 Billy Vunipola, who ran all over Glasgow. owen Farrell ran the show from fly-half while winger Chris Ashton was a constant threat.
Ironically the one Scot who improved his Lions prospects wasn’t on the Glasgow side. It was Saracens winger Sean Maitland. He scored a try and, like the rest of his team, was superb in defence.
The only time Glasgow looked like making an impression was when Lee Jones scampered through for a try early in the second half to close the score to 14-8. Even then, Russell’s conversion hit the post and the Warriors’ window of opportunity was slammed shut.
This was Glasgow’s first time in the European Champions Cup quarter-finals and they didn’t do themselves — or their 6,000 travelling supporters — justice.
The die was cast in the first minute when Vunipola brushed aside the not inconsiderable figure of prop Zander Fagerson.
It started a move that ended with Ashton being bundled into touch two metres short.
The Saracens winger came even closer when it took a terrific Jones tackle to force his foot into touch as he crossed the line.
It was so close that French referee Jerome Garces had to go to the TMo, Eric Gauzins of France, before ruling it out.
Such was the physicality of the challenges, centre Alex Dunbar had to go off for ten minutes for a head-injury assessment after a clash with Jamie George.
Saracens’ other wing Maitland was the next to nearly score when the TMo was called into action yet again before deciding his foot had been bundled into touch by Stuart Hogg.
Desperate to get some points on the board to show something for all their pressure, they called on Farrell to put over a penalty from in front of the posts to open the scoring.
Scotland international Jim Hamilton did Glasgow a favour when he was penalised for being off his feet at a tackle, which allowed Finn Russell to put over a simple penalty.
Another Farrell penalty was followed by a major blow for Glasgow when co-captain Gray failed a head-injury assessment after catching an accidental elbow from Farrell.
Farrell showed he was human by missing a long-range penalty attempt before making up for it by putting the ball straight between the posts at the next attempt.
Glasgow’s brave defence eventually conceded a try when Ashton touched down after some clever play.
He took a pass from Alex Goode before using his momentum to roll over twice to get over the try line despite a brave tackle from Russell. Glasgow felt there was double movement but referee Garces was having none of it.
The home side had a third tryscoring attempt cancelled out by the French referee and his TMo but this time it was much more clear-cut. Even Ashton seemed to realise he had a foot in touch after a tackle by Hogg.
Glasgow got the perfect start to the second half they needed and should have been playing against 14 men for ten minutes.
First Jackson Wray caught Russell late. Then he mistimed a tackle on Jones and took the Glasgow winger out when he was still in the air. The French referee did not consult his touch-judge or even the TMo for once which saved the Saracens flanker a yellow card.
Jones handed his team a lifeline with a superb try moments later.
He gathered a perfect cross-kick from Russell before breaking two challenges to score.
Russell’s conversion attempt came back off the post.
Glasgow then gifted Saracens a try after falling off tackles. Farrell set up a scissors move with centre Marcelo Bosch.
Russell, Greg Peterson and then Fraser Brown all failed to stop the Argentine, who waltzed through to score under the posts. Farrell’s conversion took the game even further away from the Scots.
Saracens made the game safe when Brad Barritt scored in the corner, followed by another from Ashton to rub salt in the wounds.
Glasgow claimed a consolation try when the only decent move of the day from their pack led to Ryan Wilson diving over. Russell’s missed kick ended proceedings.