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Champions Sarries begin with a win

Saracens’ Owen Farrell at Newcastle Falcons

Premiership champions Saracens began the new season with an impressive 32-21 win at Newcastle Falcons on Sunday.

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Newcastle enjoyed an impressive campaign last time out, but they struggled to stay with the visitors at Kingston Park as Alex Lewington crossed twice to set up an opening-weekend win.

Lewington’s first try on the stroke of half-time and the follow-up conversion from Owen Farrell – last season’s leading points scorer – opened up an eight-point lead after Jamie George had crossed earlier on.

Mark Wilson twice scored after the restart as the Falcons threatened a fightback, with Lewington responding to the first score to keep Sarries in front.

The task became a little more tricky when the visitors were reduced to 13 men following a pair of yellow cards, but Nick Tompkins returned from the sin bin to score with four minutes remaining and settle away nerves.

Finally out of sight, Farrell, consistent with the boot throughout, dispatched a penalty to cap the scoring and ensure a fine start to the campaign for the champions.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
Mick Cleary: 'These blokes have done the jersey proud, with their buy-in and with their relish.'

Jesus PR that’s another great conclusion. I can definitely see it as blocker to bringing through new talent in time for the WC. NZ underwent a lot of change in 2018 following the Lions tour, in part thanks to key injuries. Despite the revenue spending Aaron Cruden (getting frail even at his young age then) and Lima Sopoaga (along with Julien Savea), 2 of the 3 1st5s in the Lions squad, both left before the 2019 WC for example. But when we apply your logic, their delayed departure prevented Richie Mounga and Damien McKenzie (the 15 who got injured and threw a spanner in the works) from brought through in what would possible now be considered the preferred WC preparation. Ditto on the win with a scramble of constant change their all the way through to their WC 3rd/4th playoff.


Theres certainly cause to account for certain circumstances eventuating being influenced by a Lions tour. But as both nations here select from domestic players only, theres also cause to put similar emphasis on the contracting model in general, as sometimes you can hold on too long. Ireland has a similar model, talking to another irishman here he suggests it has lead to selecting based on contracts, money being spent on a player centrally contracted. So I would not so much worry about fatigue (in part because some incomplete analysis I had done on all.rugby shows the Irish contingent have low minutes this year) but continuing to select underperforming and aging players. When in a pure context of building for a WC, one would normally want to move on an develop the future.

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