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Newcastle 17 Saracens 12

Credit to Newcastle fully deserved the win. Abysmal from us across the board. I can’t think of one thing we did well today. Lineout was shocking, attack was non-existent, discipline particularly in the first half was unacceptable. Summed up by a bloody awful clearout by Tizard at the end targeting Arnold’s knee and getting a deserved red card. We looked like a team who hadn’t played together before and I suppose in a lot of ways we are just that following the international break but you can’t excuse not even getting the basics right. Probably the only person to come out with any sort of credit was Segun.

Worrying performance to lead us into the champions cup against the Bulls next week.

Petition: https://chng.it/M95ZFZYRW6

A lot of hard yards in there.

Hi, just booked tickets for a friend and I to see Saracens on 1 Feb 2025 (first ever live club rugby match). Would like to see the Ireland v England game (wince) on TV so any suggestions as to where we can see it without missing too much? Can go home to Harpenden but will no doubt miss the first half - mentioned Harpenden as if travelling would prefer to go nearer to home.

Thanks.

Saracens 28 Harlequins 26

Finally managed to make it to a prem cup match and what a day to do it! Bloody awful weather and all things considered both teams did well to score as many tries as they did.

Before kick-off we had our now customary last minute changes due to injury. Clarey and Hallett injured. Balmain, Hoskins and Angus Hall in.

First half the wind and rain was in our faces and Quins immediately used it to their advantage, kicking to the corner and mauling over. A bit of a theme of the match was their maul dominating ours, I’m guessing due to the big difference in size and experience in the respective back 5s of the forwards.

However, we responded beautifully. Roti claimed the kick off down the middle and in a sequence of play that was to prove our slickest in the match we went through multiple phases and eventually, Hartley (I think, lack of replays on the big screen mean I could be doing someone dirty here) put a lovely grubber through as he was being tackled and Elliott did well to sprint through and dot down.

Quins responded a good try, Quins managing to cut through the rush defence.

It was nice to see our scrum on top throughout the half and eventually we won a deserved pen. Eden put a great kick in to tough against the wind and after seemingly a million pick goes, eventually Sylvester reached a long arm over. Great work from the forwards. Sylvester looks like a good prospect.

Thanks to a brilliant conversion from out wide and a later penalty we went in to the sheds 17-12 up. A great effort considering the conditions but also helped by Quins inability to account for the wind with their kicking.

The second half was one that only a mother could love to be honest. The weather if anything was getting worse and both teams struggled ball in hand. We started with a man advantage after David had been yellowed for taking a man in the air late in the first half. With the wind at our backs we camped in Quins half with multiple pens and lineouts but failed to take advantage, instead Quins took the lead from an Anyanwu try. If he’s off to France then that’s a blow to Quins and England I think.

From then on we largely controlled possession and territory without being able to make it count. Backs moves were understandably at a minimum and crashing Hartley and Spink up was too easy to telegraph. We also started to lose the battle in the scrum once Balmain and Carre went off and Quins brought on Kerrod and Wyn Jones. With our maul going nowhere all match, we started to take the 3 on offer and moved ahead after two penalties.

The key moment of the match happened when Quins kicked through and Angus Hall (who is rapid btw) made a great break in broken play. With no support he kicked through and forced Quins to carry the ball over the try line. Scrum 5 to us and with the forwards just about holding on, Hartley (who’d carried into traffic all day without much return) received the ball and crashed through a number of tackles to score the decisive try with only a few minutes to go. I’m a bit confused as to what happened next, Eden went to take the conversion but the ball fell off the tee during his run up. He stopped and tried to re-place it instead of going for a droppie and Quins players ran up but didn’t grab the ball. Eden slotted the conversion but it was not allowed (fine with that) but then Quins we awarded a pen from kickoff. If anyone can explain what happened there I’d be very interested to know! Quins then scored after a bit of back and forth.

Very happy to get the win in difficult conditions and Quins picking a large amount of first teamers. I thought the forwards were excellent winning the collisions in the loose and we kicked a lot better in the conditions.

Hard to pick out individuals because it was so scrappy. Balmain got the scrum working well (love that we’ve got another prop with a proper bit of girth), Sylvester looked sharp and I’m sure I’m missing a ton of hard work by the back row. Eden kicked beautifully off the tee but I think Hartley is my player of the match for two massive contributions to two of our tries.

Next week back to the big boys table and an away match at Newcastle. It’ll be interesting to see who’s fit and who Smally picks with Champions cup on the horizon.

I’m not sure if Swiel is injured but I make that 6 choice fly half at this stage!

There might not have been any Saracens matches at the weekend but we've still got a special episode!

Duncan is joined by a Saracens legend, with hot-stepping and elusive winger David Strettle collared for a chat about what took him from Rugby League to Union, Rotheram to Quins to Sarries to Clermont and back.

We also look ahead to this weekend's double against our local rivals, with Quins in the Prem Cup on Saturday and in the Duel on Sunday.

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We all know Willis should’ve been playing for the full England team but hopefully he shows what he can do. Great for Tizard to get recognition for stepping up this season, massive improvement from him.

Completely random and irrelevant I know, but can anyone remember if Spencer has played win for Sarries when he was with us? I have a strong feeling he did but can’t find any proof. If someone could shed some light that would be great!

Nearly 150 points scored at the StoneX this weekend so plenty for us to discuss on the show this week - plus post match reaction from Alex Austerberry and Gabby Senft, and a catch up with Olly Hartley who hopefully will be back on the pitch soon!

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Does anyone know the deal getting away tickets for prem cup at Ealing, assume it’s not tickets on the door?