Gallagher Premiership & Six Nations CALL TO BIG GUNS
MARK MCCALL has brought back his star names as Saracens attempt to block London Irish’s path to the play-offs. The Exiles will secure a top-four finish if they win their last two games, starting away to their already qualified capital rivals today (3.00).
Their task appeared easier a fortnight ago, when director of rugby Mccall indicated he would wrap his big players in cotton wool until the play-offs.
But having seen his Sarries side well beaten at Northampton last weekend, Mccall has quickly recalled Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and Mako Vunipola.
Irish have not played a competitive match for four weeks and last notched an away league victory at Saracens in 2014. But one loss in five London derbies this season gives them belief.
Head coach Les Kiss said: “Without a doubt we love the derbies and they’re brilliant occasions.
“The fact that we did well just before Christmas against Saracens (winning 29-20 at home) is testament to the boys rising to that challenge.
“But this is Saracens, there’s a lot to get ready for and we accept we are going to have to be at our best to get this job done.”
Kiss predicts Saracens will be “hurting” after their 38-29 loss to Saints and out to right some wrongs – and he is demanding his players keep their concentration.
“We aren’t going to stop people talking about anything beyond the regular season,” he said. “But until it’s reality, we have to stay grounded and stay focused.”
In yesterday’s Premiership games, EXETER sealed their Champions Cup spot with a nailbiting 22-21 victory over BRISTOL. Joe Simmonds’ lastminute penalty won it for the Chiefs, who played most of the game a man down after Dafydd Jenkins was sent off.
BATH boosted their Champions Cup hopes by scoring six tries in a 45-35 win at HARLEQUINS.
And second-placed SALE scraped a 25-22 victory at GLOUCESTER.
ENGLAND maintained their Grand Slam collision course with France in the Tiktok Six Nations thanks to a 48-0 victory over Ireland in Cork.
Simon Middleton’s side led 27-0 at half-time thanks to tries by Sarah Beckett, Tatyana Heard, Ellie Kildunne, Marlie Packer and Morwena Talling.
Ireland made life difficult in the second half at Musgrave Park and became the first team to deny England 50 points this year, though late tries were added by Amber Reed and Alex Matthews (2).
This was England’s 23rd successive Six Nations win and only France, who play Wales in Grenoble today, can deny them a fifth successive title.
Scotland celebrated their first win, 29-21 against Italy.
AIDAN O’BRIEN’S River Tiber was introduced into the Coventry Stakes betting in the wake of a sparkling debut in the Irish Stallion Farms Maiden at Navan.
The Wootton Bassett colt was sent off the 5-6 favourite but even so, connections will have been delighted with what they witnessed.
Ryan Moore pressed the button just over a furlong out and River Tiber –who cost 480,000 guineas – streaked to a 10-length victory over Zona Verde with Betfair going 8-1 for the Ascot contest.
ISAAC SHELBY ran out an impressive winner of the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury, in which hot favourite Chaldean dramatically unshipped Frankie Dettori on coming out of the stalls.
The Group Three trial was supposed to be the ideal stepping stone for Chaldean en route to the 2,000 Guineas.
However, his race was over before it began, with Chaldean jinking to his left as the stalls opened, as Streets Of Gold went the other way, and Dettori coming off to his right.