Saracens Player Ratings vs Vodacom Bulls: Maro Itoje has a stormer in blustery 27-5 Champions Cup win
12/07/2024 02:22 PM
Saracens secured their first win of their 20245/25 Investec Champions Cup campaign with a 27-5 win over the Vodac om Bulls. The stormy conditions at the StoneX Stadium made for a difficult afternoon for attacking flair, yet Sarries surged to a win through four tries from their forward pack.
Rhys Carre, Jamie George, Tom Willis and Ben Earl all got on the score-sheet, with the North Londoners off the mark in club rugby’s pinnacle competition.
The swirling winds of Storm Darragh were felt down at the StoneX Stadium, with difficult kicking conditions defining the low-scoring first half. Fergus Burke struggled to find touch on a handful of clearence kicks, with the ball sent back in-field by the strong gusts. The Bulls were first to break the deadlock, as Willie le Roux sent a miss pass out wide to Sebastian de Klerk. The flyer skipped past Elliot Daly’s tackle attempt, and dotted down in style to open up the visitors checkbook.
The strong winds made the subsequent conversion an impossible task from out wide, with Saracens levelling the match to 5-5 after 23 minutes. Shorts picks over the gain-line was the order of the day, with Welsh prop Rhys Carre battering his way over for the crucial yards. After Burke sent a close range conversion into the posts, the New Zealander did manage to add some points off the tee in the first 40 minutes. Nick Tompkins had the honor of holding the ball on the tee, with Burke sending a penalty through the sticks for an 8-5 lead at half-time.
Bulls dropped to 13 men early in the second half, as they picked up two yellow cards in quick succession. Replacement lock Jannes Kirsten and try-scoring wing Sebastian de Klerk were sent to the bin, and Saracens took advantage right away. Jamie George led the charge, as the England hooker grounded a strong rolling maul. Saracens followed this up with a try from Tom Willis, as the back-row broke through the Bulls from close range, who had begun to capitulate when playing into the wind.
Saracens hit their revered top gear into the final quarter of the match, with Ben Earl having a try-scoring impact off the bench. The back row muscled his way along the left wing, for a strong solo score from 10m out.
SARACENS:
Tries: 4 (Carre 23′, George 49′, Willis 57′, Earl 64′)
Conversions: 2 (Burke 49′, 57′)
Penalties: 1 (Burke 36′)
Drop Goals: 0
Yellow Cards: 0
Red Cards: 0
STARTING XV: 1. Rhys Carre 2. Jamie George 3. Marco Riccioni 4. Maro Itoje 5. Nick Isiekwe 6. Theo McFarland 7. Juan Martin Gonzalez 8. Tom Willis 9. Ivan van Zyl 10. Fergus Burke 11. Rotimi Segun 12. Nick Tompkins 13. Lucio Cinti 14. Tobias Elliott 15. Elliot Daly
Replacements: 16. Theo Dan 17. Eroni Mawi 18. Alec Clarey 19. Harry Wilson 20. Ben Earl 21. Gareth Simpson 22. Tiff Eden 23. Tom Parton
VODACOM BULLS: 5
Tries: 1 (de Klerk 11′)
Conversions: 0
Penalties: 0
Drop Goals: 0
Yellow Cards: 2 (Kirsten 46′, de Klerk 49′)
Red Cards:
STARTING XV: 1. Gernhard Steenekamp 2. Johan Grobbelaar 3. Francois Klopper 4. Ruan Vermaak 5. JF van Heerden 6. Marco van Staden 7. Cobus Weise 8. Cameron Hanekom 9. Embrose Papier 10. Johan Goosen 11. Devon Williams 12. David Kriel 13. Canan Moodie 14. Sebastian de Klerk 15. Willie le Roux
Replacements: 16. Akker van der Merwe 17. Alulutho Tshakweni 18. Mornay Smith 19. Jannes Kirsten 20. Marcell Coetzee 21. Keagan Johannes 22. Aphiwe Dyantyi 23. Harold Vorster
SARACENS PLAYER RATINGS vs VODACOM BULLS
1. Rhys Carre 7
The Wales capped Test match loose-head had a strong effort, as he started off his afternoon by winning a scrum penalty. The prop scored Sarries’ opening try, as he battered his over the whitewash to score.
2. Jamie George 7
The swirling winds were a test of Jamie George’s abilities at the line-out, but the England captain picked out Itoje at the back despite the pressure from both the Bulls and the wind on the 5m. George releaved Burke of kicking duties after the repeated failed attempts, and stuck the ball up the jumper with a quick tap.
George entered a war of words with Le Roux, after the hooker is denied a quick tap by the referee. Grounded the rolling maul for Saracens’ second try, with the pressure on a 13-man Bulls.
3. Marco Riccioni 6
Started off his afternoon by winning a scrum penalty against the powerful Bulls pack. The Italian international followed this up with some strong carries over close range.
4. Maro Itoje (c) 9
Itoje’s afternoon started with a late hit on Willie le Roux and denied Ivan van Zyl’s interecept. The lock piled on the pressure when the Bulls attempted to maul, and made amends as he won two turnovers when defending the first half set-piece. Caught up in an early scuffle yet kept his side in check. Another big turnover from the lock as he steals the ball at the breakdown at 63 minutes. Flew out the the line with an air-borne superman style steal of the ball with 10 minutes remaining
5. Nick Isiekwe 6
Nick Isiekwe goes high to collect the front line-out ball. Solid collaboration in the air despite the conditions. The lock gave away a penalty at the breakdown just before half-time as the Bulls kicked to corner. Made amends in the second half with a tireless work rate before departing five minutes from full-time.
6. Theo McFarland 6.5
Nice offload from McFarland to Itoje to keep the ball alive in the close quarters. McFarland stared down a Bulls player after an off the ball collision, the Samoan international did well to not rise to the challenge as Saracens had attacking possession.
7. Juan Martin Gonzalez 6
Big early hit on Bulls lock, that took the big man off his feet. Won a turnover at the breakdown early in the second half.
8. Tom Willis 7.5
Over the ball for a strong turnover at 30 minutes and backed this up with another key steal two minutes later. Willis picked with power from the back of the scrum. Popped up for a try out in the left corner, as Sarries established their dominance on the match.
9. Ivan van Zyl 7
Tried a couple of tricky chips kick against the conditions, yet the ball is caught in the gusts and bounces into the bulls hands. Van Zyl was brought down at the back of a scrum, but the Bulls were penalised for going too early. The scrum half took quick taps gets warm reactions from fans as the kicks fail to find touch.
The travelling Bulls subs shouted ‘well done Ivan!” rarther sarcastically, as the scrum half threw the ball out into touch. No love lost from van Zyls former teammates.
10. Fergus Burke 7
Burke had a difficult day from the boot, with most of his efforts to find touch blown backwards or even staying on the pitch. Struck the post from right in front, as the wind hindered his impact. Did manage a first half penalty through the sticks, with the assistance of Nick Tompkins. Made a massive hit at the hour mark, as he drove a Bulls man back over his own try-line for a Saracens 5m scrum.
11. Rotimi Segun 7
Segun surged the Saracens forward and showcased his slaloming footwork and stepping ability. Caught on of Burke’s touch-finders with one foot in touch, in a lapse of concentration from the wing. Chased down the back-field kicks with the second half wind behind Saracens, yet could not keep up with the fierce gales. Put in some strong fends as he worked his way up the artificial turf.
12. Nick Tompkins 6
Tompkins tried to offload but got repeatedly wrapped up when he attempted to release the ball to the outside backs. Given the duties of holding the ball on the tee.
13. Lucio Cinti 6.5
Powerful runs at the hard-hitting Bulls defenders, the Pumas man was nullifed in the first half. Linked up well to feed the ball to the outside backs.
14. Tobias Elliott 5.5
A quieter first half from Saracens latest wonderkid to break onto the StoneX scene. Linked up well in the back-field with Daly, but looked to be chilly stood out on the touch-line.
15. Elliot Daly 7
Missed a try-saving tackle on de Klerk, as theBulls struck first blood. Daly was solid under the high ball despite the torrential conditions, and linked up as a unit with Tobias Elliot and Segun. The England star took over clearance kicks add extra oomph into the exits.
Replacements
16. Theo Dan (on 62 for George) 6
17. Eroni Mawi (on 53 for Carre) 7
Immediate impact with a carry along the left touch-line, in the lead to Tom Willis’ try.
18. Alec Clarey (on 64 for Riccioni) 6
19. Harry Wilson N/A (on 75 for Isiekwe)
20. Ben Earl (on 53 for Gonzalez) 7
Made his mark with a second half try, as he took the ball on along the left wing and muscled his way over from 10m out.
21. Gareth Simpson (on 67 for van Zyl) 6
22 Tiff Eden N/A (on 75 for Burke)
23 Tom Parton (on 67 for Elliott) 5.5
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