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No rustiness as Saracens run in 9 tries against Worcester

By PA
Billy Vunipola /PA

Saracens cruised to a convincing and entertaining 61-29 win over Worcester Warriors at the StoneX Stadium to cut the gap at the top of the Gallagher Premiership table to five points.

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The hosts showed no signs of rustiness after almost three weeks without a game as they crossed nine times in total.

Alex Lewington and Billy Vunipola scored two tries each and further scores from Nick Tompkins, Alex Goode, Nick Isiekwe, Ben Earl and Max Malins sealed a hugely comprehensive win.

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    The visitors did score three wonderful late tries to secure a bonus point of their own as Francois Venter (two), Gareth Simpson and Ashley Beck crossed after the break, adding to Joe Batley’s try in the first half.

    Saracens have 37 points from their 10 games while Warriors stay in 10th as they suffered their seventh defeat of the campaign.

    It was a blistering start from the hosts and Lewington had his first when he finished in the corner.

    Saracens were crushing the Worcester pack at the scrum and Vunipola touched down as he pushed the set-piece over the try line to take the lead to 12-0.

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    Goode then ghosted through the Warriors’ already tiring defence for the third before Tompkins secured the bonus point with the fourth try.

    Worcester were struggling for any kind of possession in the Saracens half and were continuously being forced backwards by their relentless hosts, who had their fifth try of the afternoon when second-row Isiekwe showed off his pace to dummy past Fin Smith and dive over for a popular score.

    Saracens v Worcester Warriors - Gallagher Premiership - StoneX Stadium

    Warriors finally got on the scoresheet after some sustained pressure in the Saracens 22 enabled Batley to crash over but Lewington then scored from the final play of the half as Alex Lozowski’s fifth successful conversion took the home side to 40 points.

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    It was an encouraging start to the second period for the away side, however, as Venter bulldozed through tacklers to stretch over and score their second try.

    Saracens roared back instantly as Earl profited from a mix-up under the high ball between Andrew Kitchener and Simpson.

    Saracens v Worcester Warriors - Gallagher Premiership - StoneX Stadium

    Vunipola added an eighth try from another successful driving maul from close range before Malins stormed through a gap to make it nine.

    But then came the late show from the away side, who scored their third after a lovely flowing move ended with Venter touching down.

    The bonus point was then secured with four minutes to go when Batley and Ted Hill combined to take play into the 22 before Simpson sniped around the fringes for a try.

    Another play from one 22 to another then provided Smith the chance to kick to the corner where Beck was there to collect, but the Warriors’ fifth try was not enough to stop a Boxing Day defeat.

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    Comments

    1 Comment
    S
    SL 1299 days ago

    Since when is 15 days almost 3 weeks?

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    D
    DarstedlyDan 45 minutes ago
    New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

    Italy have a top 14 issue too, that’s true. I doubt SA are overly pleased by that, although it’s countered somewhat by the fact they would expect to thrash them anyway, so perhaps are not that bothered.


    The BIL teams are (aside from Ireland) A/B teams - still with many A team players. I would rather the England team touring Argentina be playing the ABs than this French one.


    France could have reduced the complaints and the grounds for such if they had still picked the best team from those eligible/available. But they haven’t even done that. This, plus the playing of silly b@ggers with team selection over the three tests is just a big middle finger to the ABs and the NZ rugby public.


    One of the key reasons this is an issue is the revenue sharing one. Home teams keep the ticket revenues. If the July tours are devalued to development larks then the crowds will not show up (why go watch teams featuring names you’ve never heard of?). This costs the SH unions. The NH unions on the other hand get the advantage of bums on seats from full strength SH teams touring in November. If the NH doesn’t want to play ball by touring full strength, then pay up and share gate receipts. That would be fair, and would reduce the grounds for complaint from the south. This has been suggested, but the NH unions want their cake and eat it too. And now, apparently, we are not even allowed to complain about it?


    Finally - no one is expecting France to do things the way NZ or SA do. We oddly don’t really mind that it probably makes them less successful at RWC than they would otherwise have been. But a bit of willingness to find a solution other than “lump it, we’re French” would go a looonnng way.

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