Biggar leaves Sarries on brink
A SWANSEA stalemate has Saracens staring at a Champions Cup exit after Dan Biggar’s late leveller.
Owen Farrell and Biggar hit five penalties each in a tense affair which leaves the champions having to rack up a big score at home to Northampton next week if they are to qualify as a best runner-up.
The Ospreys could yet put a spanner in the works, but they have to win in Clermont next weekend.
With light rain falling at the Liberty Stadium, it made the match a little messy. Billy Vunipola (pictured right) and Will Skelton punched early holes in the Ospreys defence but though the Welshmen did not succumb to the barrage, they did concede penalties. They fell foul of referee John Lacey’s whistle six times in the first half and Farrell duly kicked over three of them for points.
Biggar answered with two strikes of his own to leave Sarries 9-6 up at the break.
What was slightly alarming, for Saracens and England fans at least, was that Billy Vunipola did not appear for the second half. He looked to have injured his right forearm attempting to make a tackle. Flanker Michael Rhodes went at half-time too, meaning huge upheaval in the Saracens back row.
Biggar drew the Ospreys level with another penalty before Farrell restored Sarries’ slender advantage.
The game was a pretty dire spectacle, with both sides unable to sustain periods of possession without infringing. The partisan home crowd were growing increasingly tired of Lacey’s decisions, of course until he gave them something, but to be fair the official was not having a great time. His next big decision was correct though. Substitute Chris Wyles was rightly sent to the sin bin for taking out Sam Davies in the air. With Sarries now down to 14 the Ospreys had their chance with 15 minutes to go and Biggar soon levelled when Saracens were pinged right in front.
Parity lasted barely two minutes, however, as another infringement allowed Farrell to slot his fifth penalty. There was still time for drama, though, Juan Figallo collapsed a scrum in front of his posts and Biggar levelled it up again with seconds to go.