Sleightholme and Mitchell steer Northampton to victory at Saracens
Around this time last year, Northampton surrendered a big lead in the final quarter to lose yet again at Saracens. This time, they did not.
Saracens found themselves in the news this week, not for the usual excellence of their play, but the decision of their – and England’s – captain, Owen Farrell, to step away from the international game for a while. If this performance was anything to go by, Farrell’s presence is more important to the teams he plays in than his bewildering number of critics might realise.
Maro Itoje, long reckoned to be a future England captain himself, stepped up here but Saracens could not quite shake off the cold to respond to the challenge of the visitors. Itoje was among the senior players to show enough in the final quarter to help secure a bonus point at least, but it was an inspirational performance by another recent England captain, Courtney Lawes, that helped to keep the champions at bay.
Northampton were also without their captain. The week had begun with the news of Lewis Ludlam’s injury, to compound the rumours of his departure to the south of France next season. The Farrell news soon trumped that. Then Mark McCall’s response later in the week suggested the anger over Farrell’s treatment by fans and media, both social and mainstream, ran deep within the club.
It came as some surprise, then, to see Saracens start in such subdued fashion. They were also without other England internationals. Ben Earl is among those with long-term injuries, while Elliot Daly and Jamie George were given time out, the latter not released from the bench till early in the second half.
Northampton hardly tore into the match, but they hogged most of the possession in the first half. Fin Smith, himself returning from injury, missed his first shot at goal but landed two penalties midway through the first period. Northampton led 6-0 at the break without really threatening the Saracens 22, let alone the tryline.
Actually, it was the Saints’ defence that really excelled when called upon. Saracens cranked up the pressure in the buildup to half-time, as they are wont to do. Time and again they were forced into errors by Northampton’s aggressive defensive line, with Lawes and Alex Coles to the fore.
Lawes, who has also stepped away from international rugby – although his absence will be for good – was particularly inspirational. Saracens’ efforts reached a pitch a couple of minutes before half-time with a perfectly set lineout and drive from five metres out. Lawes insinuated himself into the heart of it, and those telescopic arms sacked the entire effort. Northampton won a penalty at the subsequent scrum.
Saracens brought on a couple more England internationals early in the second half, George and Mako Vunipola, after not a lot seemed to change after the break. And their predicament deepened when the visitors struck from long range.
What a try it was. Running from their 22, George Furbank, captain for the day, made the first cut down the left, which was developed by Tom Pearson. When the ball came back right, Fraser Dingwall’s improvised chip to the wing was gathered in space by Ollie Sleightholme, who sauntered home.
The reaction was inevitable, if still a little laboured. Saracens sent three penalties to the corner and struck at the third. Nick Tompkins, Billy Vunipola and Itoje made dents, before Mako sent the ball wide, where Manu found Tom Parton for a reply on the hour.
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Manu missed the conversion, but that was the least of Saracens’ problems. Northampton had by then brought on an England international too. Alex Mitchell was sprung clear by some fabulous handling among some of Northampton’s replacement forwards. The England scrum-half glided past Alex Goode to the line.
At 18-5 with less than quarter of an hour remaining, Saracens had the test champions are supposed to relish. They duly responded with a try five minutes later. Itoje carried and Goode produced one of his special chips behind, for which Alex Lewington won the race. Manu Vunipola converted from the touchline – and we had our finale. Lawes rose to pinch a couple of late lineouts from out of the sights of George, no less, and Saracens were denied.