Sarries awake from siesta in nick of time
SARACENS spent the early part of the week sunning themselves in Barcelona and it took a full 45 minutes for them to shake off the holiday spirit before despatching a game but ultimately outgunned Bristol outfit.
An error-strewn first half display could perhaps be excused, given the monumental nature of last week’s effort against Munster, but Saracens’ accuracy improved markedly thereafter as they closed to within two points of leaders Wasps.
Centre Nick Tompkins was the catalyst with a try and an influential all-round display, while departing prop Petrus Du Plessis bagged his first two tries for Saracens, adding to a typically opportunistic effort from England wing Chris Ashton.
Job done, but rugby director Mark McCall pulled no punches, admitting: “We weren’t really at the races in the first half. I guess inevitably there was a hangover from last week and it’s hard asking the squad to go back to the well.
“It just wasn’t as big a game as last week, but we have certain standards and it was disappointing we fell short of those. We weren’t physical and made poor decisions, but the second half was much better.”
Saracens began on the front foot with Billy Vunipola and George Kruis punching holes in Bristol’s rearguard. However, constant knock-ons allied to impressive foraging work from visiting flanker Olly Robinson prevented an early breakthrough.
Saracens butchered a clear chance when Alex Lozowski picked off Alby Mathewson and made 60 metres, only for Ashton to shell his pass.
Ashton then appeared to be baulked as he chased a Tomkins grubber and Ashton was soon frustrated again when a marginal offside call denied what would have been a fine individual score.
Gavin Henson slotted the resultant penalty to put Bristol ahead.
Henson quickly doubled his side’s advantage and the Saracens errors’ multiplied as Alex Goode knocked-on twice in quick succession before Bristol, growing in confidence, forced a scrum penalty that Henson converted for 9-0.
Owen Farrell reduced the arrears after Saracens won a scrum penalty, but Maro Itoje’s failure to gather a lineout typified their woes as Bristol led 9-3 at the break.
Saracens restarted as they left off, Chris Wyles failing to gather Tompkins’ grubber before the latter knocked-on. However, they finally clicked into gear on 45 minutes when Ashton capitalised on good work from Tompkins to chip and dot down. Farrell converted to nudge Saracens ahead and they almost had their second try when Tompkins, stepping in at first receiver, sent Mako Vunipola through a gap. Brother Billy was unable to gather his offload but Saracens were on a roll and try No.2 arrived when Farrell kicked to the corner, Itoje collected and Du Plessis joyfully crashed over.
Lozowski’s neat pass enabled the excellent Tomkins to bag a third try and Saracens huffed and puffed, with Farrell and Lozowski going close, before Farrell again found the corner and a second try from Du Plessis secured the try bonus point.