Itoje ensures Sarries don’t lack firepower
BRAD Barritt’s face was left cut and bruised as Saracens were made to scrap their way to a crucial bonus-point victory over Euro minnows Lyon.
But the former England centre admitted it was worth the pain despite the two-time European champions huffing and puffing in the Pool 3 clash at Allianz Park.
Mark McCall’s men made it two opening wins to their Champions Cup campaign, having overcome Glasgow last week, and were thankful for a late fourth try from replacement wing Alex Lewington.
Barritt said: “We were probably 80 per cent at our best in this game which, fortunately, was good enough to get the win. It wasn’t pretty but we got the job done and have five points from a European victory which we can take forward.
“Lyon are a pretty hard team to break down and beat. Their Top 14 position (3rd) shows that, and we expected a tough time out there. We gave away cheap points but left a few of our own on the field but we still got the four tries.”
Lewington made sure of the bonus point three minutes from time after Sarries had controlled the first half and threatened to cruise away from Lyon, only to make life hard for themselves in the second half.
Barritt and Owen Farrell refused to admit they missed injury victims Billy and Mako Vunipola but they certainly lacked that extra aggression and drive those two England forwards bring at their best.
They still had a certain Maro Itoje at his rampaging best, producing the moment of the opening half for the first try, ripping the ball from lock Etienne Oosthuizen and racing half the length of the field for a superb individual effort.
Farrell, who had kicked an early penalty, slotted the simple conversion and was doing so again when Lyon scrum-half Jean-Marc Doussain spilled a kick through inside his own 22 and wing Sean Maitland was on hand to stroll over for the second try.
Fly-half Lionel Beauxis kicked Lyon’s first points with a penalty, and they almost took advantage when George Kruis failed to grab a low kick through, and flanker Dylan Cretin attempted to take advantage. But he also knocked on with the line in sight.
Barritt joined in as his forwards drove Lyon back over their line and the centre grabbed the ball and claimed the try with Farrell kicking the extras.
After a few near misses, Lyon finally broke over the Sarries line for their only try. Hooker Virgile Lacombe dived over from a ruck after heavy pressure on the Sarries defence, and Beauxis converted.
Another rampaging Itoje burst took him past three tacklers. He off-loaded to Ben Earle but the replacement was denied by a last ditch Pierre-Louis Barassi tackle.
However, there was no stopping Lewington as he burst across field and had too much pace for the defence, touching down in the corner for the allimportant bonus point.
Victory was sealed but Sarries will need to raise their performance in their double header with Cardiff Blues.