Two-try salvo from Saracens' Jamie George suffocates the life out of Wasps

Watch rugby writer Paul Smith's on-the-whistle video summary from Saracens vs Wasps at Allianz Park, then read his match report.

Saracens reminded the pretenders to their Premiership and European crowns exactly why they hold both titles with a 30-14 bonus point win over Wasps.

The men-in-black’s remorseless, grinding rugby which is built on suffocating defence, a robust setpiece and meticulously planned tactical kicking game was simply too much for Dai Young’s team.

Although the visitors remained within a score of their hosts for 65 minutes, eventually the pressure told, and produced two further scores for replacement hooker Jamie George.

These supplemented first half efforts from Mako Vunipola and Mike Ellery, to which Wasps responded with the best score of the day, created by Danny Cipriani and finished by Josh Bassett.

This result knocks Wasps from the summit of the Premiership for the first time this season ahead of a five-week spell which contains only one domestic league game.

The visitors were forced into a last-minute reshuffle half-an-hour before kick off when Tommy Taylor was struck down by illness. This handed a Premiership debut to Tom Cruse, and a spot on the replacements’ bench to James Gaskell.

The hosts took an early lead with a try from a close-range lineout. Schalk Burger regathered a deflected chip and when Wasps were penalised on the ground, the defending champions went to the corner, then drove England prop Vunipola over.

Wasps struggled to generate quick ball from the breakdown in the first quarter, and consequently played most of their rugby behind the gainline. Former Wasp Alex Lozowski and Brad Barritt made half breaks for Sarries, and Wasps launched Ashley Johnson and Nathan Hughes at the hosts’ midfield, but much of the action took place between the two 22 metre lines.

Ashley Johnson of Wasps breaks away from Mako Vunipola of Saracens

Saracens conceded nine penalties before the break, and when Mike Rhodes was pinged in the tackle acting captain Gopperth put the visitors on the board from 20 metres.

However, the hosts struck back immediately through a Lozowski scrum penalty, awarded when Juan Figallo demolished the visitors’ front row.

A moment of Cipriani brilliance then created a superb score. The fly half stepped Billy Vunipola on halfway, then sent Bassett racing to the line for his third try in as many games.

It seemed likely that the sides would remain level at the break, but Saracens’ famed defence forced a second try on the half time whistle. Maro Itoje charged down Dan Robson’s clearance, then the Fez Heads kept the ball patiently until Richard Wigglesworth’s long pass released winger Ellery to the corner.

This gave Saracens a five point interval advantage, which Wasps nearly wiped out at the start of the second period, only for Lozowski’s scramble defence to defy Elliot Daly’s chip-and-chase. Nonetheless, Gopperth did soon reduce Wasps’ arrears to two points with a routine 25 metre penalty after the hosts obstructed support runners in front of Christian Wade’s darting break.

Lozowski restored the home side’s five point advantage with a 20 metre penalty when Wasps infringed on the ground, but missed from similar range a few minutes later. This enabled Gopperth’s third penalty, awarded at the breakdown, to again bring the visitors back within two points with 15 minutes remaining.

It looked set for a grandstand finish, but Saracens had different ideas and clearly demonstrated why they are so difficult to beat. Strong carries from Billy Vunipola and George enabled the hooker to pop up a second time and force his way over for a try which Lozowski improved.

The game was up for Wasps when Bassett received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle with four minutes remaining, but this still left time for Sarries’ forwards to drive replacement hooker George over for his second and their bonus-point-clinching fourth try.

Teams:

Saracens: Sean Maitland; Mike Ellery, Marcelo Bosch, Brad Barritt (Nick Tompkins,76), Chris Wyles (Matt Gallagher,65); Alex Lozowski, Richard Wigglesworth (Ben Spencer,69); Mako Vunipola (Titi Lamositele,76), Schalk Brits (Jamie George,50), Juan Figallo (Petrus Du Plessis,61); Maro Itoje (Jim Hamilton,76), George Kruis; Michael Rhodes (Jackson Wray,51), Schalk Burger, Billy Vunipola.

Wasps: Rob Miller (Kyle Eastmond,60); Christian Wade (Frank Halai,69), Elliot Daly, Jimmy Gopperth, Josh Bassett; Danny Cipriani, Dan Robson (Joe Simpson,40); Simon McIntyre (Matt Mullan,55), Tom Cruse, Marty Moore (Jake Cooper-Woolley,55); Matt Symons (James Gaskell,62), Kearnan Myall (Joe Launchbury,38); Ashley Johnson (Alex Rieder,62), Thomas Young, Nathan Hughes.

Referee: Matt Carley

HT: 13-8

MOM: Billy Vunipola

Attendance: 9911

Scorers:

Saracens:

Tries: M.Vunipola, Ellery, George (2)

Conversions: Lozowski, Spencer

Penalties: Lozowski (2)

Wasps:

Tries: Bassett

Conversion:

Penalties: Gopperth (3).

Champions Cup: The Four Standout Ties Not To Miss This Season

The remoulding of Europe’s premier competition didn’t exactly go down well on its introduction three years ago, but there’s little doubting now that establishing the Champions Cup has created a competition in which one mistake could prove to be lethal and every single group offers up some mouthwatering clashes.

Following on from Wednesday’s draw in Neuchatel, Switzerland, here are four ties that you would be best advised to park yourself in front of the TV or in the stands for.

Racing 92 v Munster

Normally the match-up of Leicester Tigers and Munster would steal the show after so many European classics over the years, but the two sides met as recently as last season in the pool stages. Therefore, this time around, the plotline of Ronan O’Gara, the Racing 92 assistant coach fresh from winning the Top 14 title in Barcelona, returning to the province where he played his entire career is very special.

Europe’s all-time leading points scorer and appearance holder will no doubt have a lump in his throat returning to Thomond Park for the first time since his retirement. That’s all before remembering that Racing, so hungry for success before the domestic triumph, will be desperate to add a European crown to their collection after missing out in this year’s Champions Cup final.

Connacht v Wasps

PRO12 champions against the rising force (well certainly the richest) of English rugby. Connacht only lifted the PRO12 title to the shock of everybody but themselves a few weeks ago but expectations are already rising about whether or not they can repeat or match last year’s shock factor by progressing in Europe.

Both teams will have been pleased by the prospect of 8-10 points from playing Zebre twice across the group stages, and Wasps will also have a chip on their shoulder following last season’s semi-final defeat to eventual champions Saracens. Considering what Connacht have already achieved and the names being added to the Wasps squad – Danny Cipriani and Kurtley Beale headlining the incomings – this fixture could be very special.

Saracens v Toulon

The reigning champions taking on their predecessors – that should be enough to lure you in. Saracens don’t want to be a one-title wonder; their aim is to emulate Toulon and win multiple trophies to become a dynasty.

History tells us that going back-to-back in Europe is enormously hard – only Leicester (2001 and 2002) and Leinster (2011 and 2012) have managed it. Along with, guess who, Toulon. Saracens by far and away were the best side in Europe in 2015/2016 and Toulon will be enraged by finishing their campaign without any silverware to their name. These two also have history – the 2014 final – adding some extra spice to what will be a mammoth match-up over the two games.

Exeter v Clermont v Bordeaux-Bègles

Premiership finalists for the first time in 2015/2016, Exeter Chiefs’ rise shows no signs of slowing down. They made this season’s European Cup quarter-finals off the back of Clermont’s implosion at home to… Bordeaux-Bègles. Pairing these three together the following season only seems right after that day of drama to decide the quarter-finals spots, and there are plenty of additional subplots at play as all three sides prepare to do battle once more.

Can Exeter’s squad handle two tough trips to France and improve on last season’s two defeats? How will Clermont bounce back after missing out on the knockout stages for the first time in four seasons? And will UBB, one of the fastest rising sides in France with flash new signings in Rebels lock Luke Jones and Leinster’s Ian Madigan, be able to cause an upset?

Fixtures have yet to be confirmed but the tournament gets underway in mid October.

England’s Danny Cipriani plays down training ground spat with Mike Catt

Danny Cipriani says he still dreams of playing for England again and that he has a “good working relationship” with national team assistant Mike Catt.

Cipriani was not part of England’s failed World Cup campaign but he hit the news this week when reports emerged of a pre-tournament training ground bust-upwith the Red Rose attacking skills coach Catt.

England have played down what they described as a “robust conversation” which came about following a “misunderstanding”, and Cipriani also appears to have drawn a line under the incident as well.

The Sale fly-half wrote in his column in the Sun: “There has been a lot said about a training ground incident I had with Mike Catt this week when I was with England.

“But I respect what happens in the England camp and what goes on there, stays there. We spoke and addressed the issue the next day and we have a good working relationship.”

The flashpoint happened the day before England’s World Cup squad was officially announced in August, with Cipriani discovering the previous evening that he was to be omitted from the final 31 with George Ford and Owen Farrell getting the nods.

England would go on to suffer World Cup ignominy as the hosts were knocked out before the end of the group stages following back-to-back defeats to Wales and Australia.

That has led to speculation about the futures of the England coaching team and some of the team, but Cipriani says there is no need to panic and has called for unity.

The 27-year-old is also hoping he can push his claims for an international recall in the buildup to the Six Nations.

“We now need to regroup and rebuild. Whatever happens, we need to move forward as one now,” he wrote.

“I don’t think there’s a reason to panic and think that the English game is doomed. There are still a lot of world-class players in that England squad.”

He added: “For me, playing for England is still my dream. The commitment and drive to put on the white shirt is still there. Everyone is going to go out there and put their hands up and say ‘pick me’.

“Sale Sharks are now my priority along with getting stuck into the season. If I play well for them, that’s all I can do to be selected for the Six Nations squad.”