Premiership–round 18

Sarries showed their title-winning credentials by defeating the champions, writes Felix McCabe…

Aaaaaand we’re back! The finest that English rugby has to offer and at full strength now that the stars of the international game have returned. Their inclusion has added a much-needed edge to some teams and brought a bit of temper to the others. This weekend’s biggest clash was always going to be the table-top clash between Saracens and Harlequins at Allianz Park. Sarries saw their prodigy kicker, Owen Farrell, return to action and he brought his international form with him. Securing 17 points from his boot as well as a beautifully-timed cross field kick–rivalled only by O’Gara’s to Shaggy in Croke Park–into the hands of Will Fraser, who touched down unchallenged.

Tempers were still running high after England’s comprehensive loss at the hands of Wales last weekend. Quins’ Joe Marler found himself in the bin for intentionally not allowing to Saracens to recycle the ball during a moment of intense pressure from the visitors. Saracens used this time to rack up 11 points, a good use of the extra man. Saracens later found themselves on the end of a yellow card when the ever-tempered Chris Ashton tackled Maurie Fa'asavalu high. This was Ashton’s fourth yellow of the season and one has to wonder if Mark McCall is thinking whether the English winger is too much of a liability for his team at this crucial juncture in the season. McCall’s comments after the game would suggest nothing of the sort, defending Ashton to the last.

Conor O’Shea’s comments after the match reflected his disappointment. There were ‘too many errors and [we] turned the ball over without really building phases’ said the Irishman, who also highlighted his team’s lack of physicality as another contribution to the loss. ‘[They] were worthy winners’ admitted O’Shea ‘but we will see them again.’ Saracens victory sees them secure the top spot and the way they’re playing now, building on international strengths, you could see them getting quite comfortable up there.

At the other end of the table things have taken a bit of a turn. London Welsh now circle the drain after they suffered a 5 point deduction for fielding an ineligible player. New Zealand-born, Tyson Keats, has lined out for the Oxford outfit on ten occasions this season even though he hasn’t technically been granted playing visa. Former team manager, Mike Scott, failed to complete the scrum-half’s paperwork at the start of the season and covered up this fact with ‘false information’. Further to the 5 point deduction, Welsh have been fined £15,000 for the infringement. Scott has criticized the judgement and claims the RFU should also be held liable for their lack of vigilance in the matter.

The main effect of the judgement has cost Welsh on the Premiership table, seeing Sale Sharks move ahead of them after their 1 point victory over Bath on Saturday. London Welsh have appealed the decision and should hear back in the next day, but until then, the 5 point deduction stay in place. This coupled with a loss away to Gloucester at the weekend puts Welsh firmly in sights of relegation. Going to the Shed and coming away with a victory is never an easy task, but London Welsh were well up to the task this weekend. A late penalty from Freddie Burns broke Welsh hearts and denied them a famous victory against the mighty Gloucester, who maintained their 5^th place spot.

Gloucester’s nearest rivals, London Wasps, are undergoing a few changes at this end of the season as well. Irish businessman, Derek Richardson, is leading a consortium aimed at taking over the club and securing them financially for the near future. The takeover deal includes plans to upgrade to a new stadium. Richardson has already injected £1 million into the club at Christmas and this takeover deal is a smart match for Wasps moving forward.

Speaking rugby, Wasps were unlucky when they met Northampton Saints on Saturday. Discipline was a big problem for the Londoners, who only had 50 minutes of the game with their full contingent. An Elliot Daly try, beating a poor tackle from Ben Foden, was a rare highlight for Wasps on the day. The Saints’ victory, their fourth in a row, keeps their dreams of the playoffs alive. Wasps will have to go forth and face Saracens next week whilst their rivals, Gloucester, will host Harlequins at Kingsholm. Two difficult games for these two teams aspiring for the playoffs.

Elsewhere this weekend, Sale Sharks recorded a 14-13 victory in the snow over Bath. A late Tom Brady try all that was needed to put the home side ahead for a massive victory. Worcester put in a disappointing shift against London Irish at the weekend. They never seemed to get into the game, despite putting some good phases together. The weather wasn’t great. Richard Hill, Worcester’s director of rugby, conceded that ‘on a cold and wet day like [that] you need your forwards to take control…[t]hey didn't and we had no answers to their driving maul’. It finished 26-6 to London Irish. The last of the weekend’s action was a low-scoring, kick-battle between Leicester’s Toby Flood and Exeter’s Gareth Steenson. Flood won the battle 4 kicks to 3 and launched the Tigers into second place, leap-frogging Harlequins along the way. They will defend this table position next week against the Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens. That’s one not to miss.

Felix (@felix_mccabe): Blogger, eternal student of business & law, sunshine rugby player with a passion for music and fitness. Coffee is essential. Leinster fan and Irish proud.