MAGICAL MAKO’S THE LYON TAMER
Prop Vunipola eases Sarries into last eight
ANOTHER Mako Vunipola masterclass sent Saracens soaring on in Europe — top seeds and blooming as other English clubs wither.
They are the only unbeaten team left, securing their last-eight place for an eighth consecutive year, having only dropped two points.
And Vunipola continued to embellish on the traditional role of a prop, providing the assist to two of the four tries, not that it was a shock to his captain Owen Farrell.
‘Mako does that in training all the time,’ he said. ‘He picks his head up and plays what is in front of him, it’s no surprise. He’s always like that and backs it up with a bit of physicality as well.’
Director of rugby Mark McCall was delighted that Billy Vunipola came through his second game back after breaking his arm three times in 10 months. ‘Billy was on a different level as well,’ he said. ‘To come to Lyon and get a bonus point is massive for us and sets us up for next weekend with a huge game against Glasgow. We’re in a good position, in the quarter-finals. We want a home quarter-final now.’
Lyon have not lost here in the league all season, scoring an average of 42 points, but they have not faced a defence as tough as this.
In the first half, Saracens kept the French to just an early Jonathan Wisniewski drop-goal until late on.
But some tackles were high and at the end of the half flanker Schalk Burger was lucky to escape sanction for a hit on Alexis Palisson which caught him round the neck.
Referee Andrew Brace reviewed, but decided it was not worth a card or a penalty and Saracens had an 11-point half-time lead.
Two wonderful Mako Vunipola passes set up the first-half tries. Both showed Sarries’ patience. The first saw Nick Tompkins jink past full back Toby Arnold when Mako Vunipola (below) stretched the defence with a fine tip-on pass to his centre.
The second was even better. Billy Vunipola fizzed a pass to Alex Lozowski from a lineout, Tompkins took it on and then the next phase went to Mako Vunipola. He fixed the Lyon defence and flicked inside to Jackson Wray who charged through. For a prop, for anyone, it was marvellous. Farrell kicked both conversions. Tompkins soon had his second — Saracens forwards drove a lineout, the 23-year-old burst from the back and scrambled in with three men clinging on to his back. Farrell duly converted. But Maro Itoje gave away a silly penalty — slapping the ball out of replacement scrum-half Charl McLeod’s hands illegally — and was sent to the sin-bin.
Immediately Lyon levelled the numbers on the field after replacement prop Albertus Buckle was caught stamping on Will Skelton.
Normal service resumed from Saracens’ next turnover. Alex Goode fed Ben Spencer who sped between the posts. Farrell converted.
And finally, with 10 minutes left, Lyon had their try. Palisson skated in and then converted.
In their debut season dining at Europe’s top table, Lyon have looked like they do not know which piece of cutlery to use.
But Saracens have a smorgasbord of talent to take them further once more in the Champions Cup.