Vunipola and Itoje shine as Saracens cruise into last four
Billy Vunipola and Maro Itoje starred as Saracens delivered a “reality check” to Gloucester at Kingsholm, dismissing them with a statement performance to book a place in the European Challenge Cup semi-finals.
In his first appearance for a fortnight, Itoje scored one of his team’s five tries to complement his typically disruptive defence. Vunipola was imperious, scattering would-be tacklers throughout, as England head coach Eddie Jones watched from the stands. Alongside them in a steely and streetwise pack, Theo Mcfarland, the towering blindside flanker, continues to impress.
Saracens come alive when they scent silverware, and were ominously dominant in the West Country drizzle. Mark Mccall, their director of rugby, lauded Vunipola as “incredible” afterwards and suggested Itoje was “back to somewhere near his best”.
“Good players relish big games in this kind of atmosphere,” Mccall said. “We’ve certainly got those in our dressing room.”
An excitable Kingsholm crowd needed little encouragement following Gloucester’s 64-0 thrashing of Bath last Saturday. But after some patient phase-play, Owen Farrell kicked a penalty for Saracens when Val Rapava-ruskin overbalanced at the breakdown. Itoje, his knee healed, then forced a turnover. Farrell’s fizzing pass allowed Vincent Koch to slice Gloucester and Aled Davies was in support to score.
Gloucester suffered another setback when Ollie Thorley, on his 100th appearance, was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Davies.
Vunipola, looking fired-up, punctured the gain-line and another infringement allowed Farrell to make it 13-0.
In the 26th minute, Jamie George was sin-binned for a high tackle on Jordy Reid. “Always cheating, same old Sarries” sung home supporters. Two further offences, a failed Itoje jackal and an early counter-drive from Tim Swinson, finally offered a foothold to Gloucester. This time, their maul marched over. Jack Singleton, a graduate of the Saracens academy, dotted down.
Vunipola and Daly, far more successfully, assumed line-out throwing responsibilities during George’s sin-bin. A mass bout of push-andshove was sparked by Koch and Charlie Chapman to keep Gloucester fans engaged. But Farrell added a third penalty and Itoje thwarted yet another pushover chance for the Cherry and Whites.
Adam Hastings reduced Gloucester’s deficit to eight points but Saracens responded in devastating fashion. Farrell freed the busy Rotimi Segun and, from a scrum, Vunipola barged close. Itoje finished, with Farrell converting, for a 23-8 advantage.
Rapava-ruskin conceded a cynical penalty, for which he saw yellow, and Nick Tompkins burst over off the resulting maul. Farrell bisected the posts. Then Itoje rose, the backs piled in and George capped it off. Farrell converted again.
Gloucester opened up to hearten the spectators that did not make early exits and Louis Rees-zammit bagged a wonderful solo try consolation, but not before Duncan Taylor had sent the Saracens tally past 40 with an interception. Truly, this was close to Saracens’ best.
“Obviously the scoreline isn’t flattering, but it gives us a reality check of where we are,” Skivington admitted afterwards.