Strettle rolling back the years

THERE is life in the old dog yet. David Strettle may be the oldest winger in the Premiership but, at the grand old age of 35, he rolled back the years to snatch a Saracens victory with two tries in three minutes.

All of the build-up had been about Strettle’s opposite man — 19st 7lb debutant Taqele Naiyaravoro — but it was the England veteran who stole the show.

If Northampton can take anything from this defeat, it is the comfort that it was not half as bad as last season, when they conceded 237 points in four games against the champions. Saints were leading 27-26 after 73 minutes before Strettle, re-signed from Clermont on a one-year deal, showed pace to move Saracens back towards the top of the Premiership.

‘He’s a beautiful athlete,’ said Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall. ‘If you want to be a runner, that’s the way you should run.’

Some of the hype about Naiyaravoro was justified. Franklin’s Gardens was woken by the shudder of the Fijian Wallaby after a quiet opening. He ran over Liam Williams and his next collision with Billy Vunipola was felt in most of the East Midlands.

‘We didn’t get the ball to Taqele enough times,’ said Saints head coach Chris Boyd.

‘He is handful in flight — we need to find a better way of getting ball to him.’

An abdominal injury meant Owen Farrell was limited to watching, but the England star is expected back next week.