Saracens avenge losses by thumping Championship leaders Ealing
Saracens successfully negotiated the toughest assignment of their Greene King IPA Championship season to date by crushing leaders Ealing 48-20 at StoneX Stadium.
All of the club’s England contingent, including captain Owen Farrell, were present for the five-try victory but it was South African World Cup winner Vincent Koch who took star billing by crossing in each half.
Alex Lewington, Aled Davies and Nick Tompkins also touched down against opponents who won both previous encounters in a pre-season warm-up competition, although most of Saracens’ internationals were absent for those games.
Farrell kicked 23 points, missing just one shot at goal, and the only worrying moments of a sunny afternoon in north London were injuries to Jamie George and Billy Vunipola, but both England forwards were able to carry on.
The win lifts Saracens up to third in the table, five points behind Ealing with four matches of the regular season remaining as they step up their push for an immediate return to the Gallagher Premiership.
The Championship winners are decided by a two-leg play-off and on the evidence of this encounter, Saracens will be strong favourites to rejoin the top flight, with the rivals likely to meet again in June.
It was Ealing’s first defeat of the season and the first time they had dropped any points, having amassed a maximum 30 from their six outings.
Early Saracens scrum infringements went unpunished when Craig Willis failed with a routine penalty, but there was no mistake from Farrell shortly after as the hosts drew first blood.
A break by Elliot Daly that was continued by Jackson Wray sent Ealing skittling backwards and with space created on the right by sharp hands, Lewington was able to run in the first try.
With Farrell adding the conversion and a penalty, a commanding lead had opened up, with Saracens’ backs especially threatening as offload after offload kept moves alive.
The pack took charge in the 25th minute when a series of drives originating from a line-out ended with Koch forcing his way over.
When Ealing tried the same forward-led approach over a sustained period they were met with a wall of black shirts and eventually resorted to slinging wild passes that were closed down with ease.
But Saracens continued to be pinned back in their half and eventually cracked, a line-out drive brought down over the line, prompting Craig Maxwell-Keys to award a penalty try and show Wray a yellow card.
Now Ealing trailed only 20-13 but three penalties in succession from Farrell dramatically swung the game towards the hosts.
George took a heavy blow, giving the British and Irish Lions a scare, but the England hooker climbed to his feet and took part in a renewed Saracens attack, although he continued to clutch at his ribs.
His presence helped Koch over for his second try as Ealing cracked before a line-out drive and it began to look ominous for the underdogs as Vunipola, Maro Itoje and Davies took part in a powerful raid that ended in a turnover on the opposition line.
Davies then dived over for the bonus-point try after finishing a break begun by Wray and taken on by Sean Maitland, who supplied the scoring pass.
Guy Thompson powered over in the closing stages to improve Ealing’s score but Tompkins had the final say with a try under the posts for Saracens.
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John, McKenzie was 10 years ago and he only lasted 15 months until the disgustingly unfair affair that brought him down. I thought that if he didn't get another gig over Eddie V2 then he was done. I read that he had been approached but declined to put his name in the ring.
There are no potential Wallaby coaches outside of McKellar unless you have some inside info?
Go to commentsThe way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.
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