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Visser snatches Quins derby win over Saracens
By Peter Thompson
Tim Visser's late try snatched a dramatic 20-19 win for Harlequins in an almighty Premiership derby tussle with out-of-sorts Saracens at The Stoop.
Quins dominated for long periods against their London rivals, but an early try from captain Brad Barritt and 14 points from the boot of Owen Farrell looked to have given Sarries a first win in five in all competitions.
The European champions had lost on their previous two trips to Quins, though, and were beaten again after Alex Goode failed to gather a cross-field kick from the influential Danny Care and Visser was on hand to touch down in the corner two minutes from time.
Sarries are nine points behind leaders Exeter Chiefs after a third Premiership loss in a row, but it all started so well for them on Sunday when Barritt went over inside two minutes after Vincent Koch made a break and Jamie George fed his supporting skipper.
Farrell converted and added a penalty to go beyond the 1,000 point mark in the Premiership, but that was not a sign of things to come as it was Quins who piled on the pressure without reward.
That was until England scrum-half Care produced a moment of magic, launching a pinpoint cross-field kick to set up Charlie Walker for a richly deserved try on the right flank to breach a stoic Saracens defence 25 minutes in.
Another two Farrell penalties put Mark McCall's men 16-8 up following one from James Lang, in for the unwell Marcus Smith, but Care caught the visitors out again with a perfectly weighted kick over the top for the rapid Walker to claim a double 10 minutes from time.
Lang added the extras and there was a final twist when Goode misjudged another cross-field kick from Care with time almost up and a grateful Visser was left with a simple finish, moving Quins up to seventh.
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Latest Comments
Italians defended well. Luckily the scrums went well for the ABs.
Go to commentsYou were 'valuing' the players by you saying "they are not greats" though, I was pointing out another reason why they are greats, inside the team I mean (which is more important to selections on the pitch stuff).
Someone like TJ would be bitterly disappointed he didn't play on this end of year tour. He is still good enough to come on in that France game and ensure the team get the victory (with regards to how well Ratima had been playing). At the very least this is a 'sorry you didn't get that chance' offering, he's not here to get token farewell games, he will be playing to try and prove that he should have been on the pitch last week.
The other decision to play your best over the future is really personal though so can agree with your reasoning. Just sharing a slightly different perspective. I'll have to check the ratings and see how they went.
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