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Saracens 55 Northampton 24: Sean Maitland leads first-half blitz to sink sorry Saints
This was painful viewing for the rest of the Premiership. But for anyone associated with Northampton watching Saracens run in seven first-half tries at Twickenham, this was closer to the type of practices banned by certain Swiss conventions.
There is no shame in losing to the European champions when they are in this type of mood. At the age of 36, Schalk Brits may have delivered his greatest performance, which as the greatest hooker in Premiership history is saying something.
He had a hand in five of the nine tries that Saracens scored, including an outrageous one-handed assist. “He’s Peter Pan,” Mark McCall, the Saracens director of rugby, said. “He’s an explosive athlete and his athleticism hasn’t gone away at all. His body is sore after games, but it was a stunning performance today.
“This is his ninth season at the club and he’s been a star from Day One. He seems to save all of his best performances for Twickenham. I can remember so many breaks he’s made here. He’s a phenomenal player and hopefully we can give him a really good send-off this year.”
Vincent Koch, Schalk Burger, Alex Lozowski and Brad Barritt were also superb, while wing Sean Maitland grabbed a 14-minute hat-trick.
For Northampton, there is losing and then there is this, a wretched humiliation against a team they once considered rivals. Indeed, this was nominally a repeat of the 2014 Premiership final, in which Northampton were crowned champions through Alex Waller’s try in the last minute of extra time. Saints were even sporting the same luminous lime strip, but they were a pale green imitation of that side; at times, they barely resembled a Dog & Duck XV.
Since that final, the clubs have gone in opposite directions. Jim Mallinder, the Northampton director of rugby, was already under pressure after two seasons outside the top four. The 41-3 half-time scoreline was well within P45 territory. Questions also have to be asked of the on-field leadership of captain Dylan Hartley.
Fortunately, Saints were better after the break – they could not have been any worse – ‘winning’ the second half 21-14. Even if that restored a measure of pride, it remained the most hollow of victories, given that Saracens may well have applied a mercy rule at half-time.
Defeat of any kind against Leicester this Saturday at Franklin’s Gardens would surely be a death knell. One game into the season and Mallinder is already aware that Saints supporters’ knees are jerking rapidly. “We have played in some big games against them but next week is going to be big,” Mallinder said. “It’s vital for us that we get a win and get our season going.
“It was infuriating, it’s embarrassing, it’s disappointing. You think you prepare properly and you think we had a good pre-season. We thought we were ready for it, but clearly we weren’t. The first half, Saracens were clinical. Everything they did they put us under pressure, the turnovers, they scored at will. I think we can fix this without a doubt. We’ve got the players who can do that, but we certainly need to step up.”
Being kind, you could argue that Northampton were missing their three headline signings of Cobus Reinach, Piers Francis and Rob Horne, as well as George North. But then you remember that Saracens were missing the Vunipola brothers, Owen Farrell, Jamie George and Liam Williams while losing George Kruis after 25 minutes to a foot injury that will be assessed this week.
There can be no mitigation or excuses for the poverty of Northampton’s first-half performance. It was only the fourth time in Premiership history that a team have conceded seven tries in a half, with Northampton joining Rotherham (twice) and West Hartlepool in that particular hall of shame.
If there was any doubt about how Saracens would respond after spending most of their pre-season sunning themselves in Bermuda, then it was quickly dispelled.
Lozowski, the flyhalf, delayed his pass perfectly to send Barritt over for the first try on nine minutes.
Three minutes later, Richard Wigglesworth profited from more slack defending after Koch and Burger had led a superb breakout. By now, the writing was well and truly on the wall. A turnover inside the Saracens 22 resulted in Barritt sending a perfect pass for Maitland’s first. Saracens had registered their bonus point inside half an hour, faster than any team managed in the whole of last season, through Lozowski, after Brits pulled off a wonderful one-handed pass, of which Kobe Bryant would have been proud.
Brits, who has announced he is retiring at the end of the season, again provided the scoring pass for Maitland’s second. The hat-trick was a snapshot of Northampton’s manifold failings as Maitland had all the time in the world to tap the ball down after Barritt’s grubber kick. The sensational Koch, the tighthead prop, wrapped up the scoring for the half after making another charge through Northampton’s non-existent defence.
Their bloodlust sated, Saracens’ tempo dropped in the second half while Northampton were no doubt reminded of the merits of tackling and ball-carrying by Mallinder at half-time. Flanker Tom Wood scored two tries, the second after prop Alex Waller broke free, and Lewis Ludlam, a rare bright spot for Saints, got the other. Saracens had to be content with just two more tries through the evergreen Brits and Ben Spencer, the replacement scrum-half.
Northampton were in the hunt for an attacking bonus point at the death, but that would have been far more than they deserved. Saracens, meanwhile, have sent an ominous message to the rest of the league that they are back, better than ever.
Try, Ben Spencer! Saracens 55-24 Saints, 69 minutes
Saracens have nine tries and a half century. Again, it comes from a Saints lineout error. Saracens pounce and Jackson Wray surges into the 22. Michael Rhodes goes close and Spencer, on for Wigglesworth, dummies and darts over. The conversion is good.
Saracens 41-3 Saints, 42 minutes
Schalk Brits statrts the second period with a diagonal runs and a rubber. Because, why not? Sean Maitland is clutching his shoulder, though. That doesn't look good.
Meanwhile, Saints break through Luther Burrell, Harry Mallinder and Alex Waller but Nathan Earle gets back to strip the ball in a cover tackle.
Try, Sean Maitland! Saracens 34-3 Saints, 35 minutes
This is a total comedy of errors from Saints. Ahsee Tuala drops a high ball, Saracens have broken field to run into and Brad Barritt stays really calm. He waits for Northampton's wide defenders to push up and threads through a grubber. Maitland saunters through to score.
Try, Sean Maitland! Saracens 29-3 Saints, 32 minutes
Wow. Saints win a penalty when Schalk Burger makes a high tackle. Then it all goes wrong.
Dylan Hartley's lineout throw sails over the top, Schalk Brits (hooker) makes an audacious offload to Vincent Koch (tighthead), who releases Maitland. The 2013 Lion skates away, beating Mallinder to score in the corner. Lozowski cannot convert. But this one is long gone for Northampton.
Try, Alex Lozowski! Saracens 24-3 Saints, 30 minutes
Yikes. Saracens go into midfield and bounce back to the blindside when Maitland frees Brits. An overhead offload from the South African hooker finds Wigglesworth, who is dragged down within two metres. Lozowski can dot down unopposed. The fly-half converts.
Saracens have the bonus point, equalling the fastest bonus point recorded across the whole Premiership season in 2016/7.
More bad news for Saints - Christian Day is of injured.
Try, Sean Maitland! Saracens 17-0 Saints, 21 minutes
That's all Alex Goode. The full-back runs back a clearance from Ben Foden, bustling through about three tackles to the edge of the 22.
Schalk Burger carries it on, linking with Wigglesworth. Goode steps in at scrum-half and Lozowksi frees the backline. Sean Maitland scampers over close to the right touchline. No conversion but Saracens look severely ominous.
TRY, Richard Wigglesworth! Saracens 12-0 Saints, 11 minutes
Harry Mallinder's restart does not go 10 metres and that is all the invitation Saracens need. Schalk Brits hits a gorgeous line to get in behind Northampton and the interplay is superb.
Saints scramble well to delay the inevitable for a couple of phases but Wigglesworth wriggles over off the shoulder of Schalk Burger. Lozowski adds the extras this time.
TRY, Brad Barritt! Saracens 5-0 Saints, 9 minutes
That's all too easy. Barritt starts the movement by charging into midfield and the forwards take over from there. They build momentum and Itoje's pick-and-go brings Saracens into the shadow of the posts.
The ball comes left and Alex Lozowski pops a short pass to Barritt, who crashes over. The conversion is missed, but that's an imposing start from the European champions.
Saracens 0-0 Saints, 5 minutes
Saracens win a scrum penalty but miss touch thanks to some acrobatic work from Northampton's back three. Mallinder goes high and Wigglesworth responds with a box-kick. Nathan Earle is up to challenge but spills.
Oosh. Big contact from Itoje on Lawes...and then Nic Groom goes out on the full. Saracens lineout close to the Saints 22.
Big Jim
Mr Mallinder has said that Northampton's pre-season has revolved around plenty of rugby. That sounds obvious, given their jobs, but most clubs share their focus between skills and fitness. For Saints, the balance has been titled in favour of the former.
That could mean some expansive stuff today.
Legal matters
We've been canvassing opinions on the new breakdown law trials. Take a look.
Interestingly, Wayne Barnes, who refereed Newcastle's win over Worcester last night, has been talking on the tellybox about how defending players left the ball alone at the contact area and simply set the line.
30 minutes to go
This is an extremely intriguing game to start the season for these sides. Saracens are without Owen Farrell, Jamie George and both Vunipolas. However, they have recruited very well and want to improve their returns when internationals are away anyway.
Saints lost Louis Picamoles over the summer, and it will be fascinating to see how they respond to that. Mitch Eadie has come in, and he'll be tasked with hauling Northampton over the gain-line.
Food for thought
It's been a whacky old summer for professional rugby in the northern hemisphere. We've had swap deals, a reported £1million salary agreed and some grumbling about the salary cap.
Our man Dan Schofield has been pondering whether this could be the summer in which the oval-ball game took a step towards the round-ball one.
Team news
This is the first of two matches at Twickenham today, and here are the teams for you. Plenty of internationals, including a smattering of Lions.
Saracens: 15. Alex Goode, 14. Sean Maitland, 13. Duncan Taylor, 12. Brad Barritt (captain), 11. Nathan Earle, 10. Alex Lozowski, 9. Richard Wigglesworth; 1. Richard Barrington, 2. Schalk Brits, 3. Vincent Koch, 4. Dominic Day, 5. George Kruis, 6. Maro Itoje, 7. Schalk Burger, 8. Jackson Wray
Replacements: 16 Scott Spurling, 17. Hayden Thompson-Stringer, 18. Juan Figallo, 19. Nick Isiekwe, 20. Michael Rhodes, 21. Ben Spencer, 22. Marcelo Bosch, 23. Chris Wyles
Northampton: 15. Ahsee Tuala, 14. Ben Foden, 13. Nafi Tuitavake, 12. Luther Burrell, 11. Tom Collins, 10. Harry Mallinder, 9. Nic Groom; 1. Alex Waller, 2. Dylan Hartley (captain), 3. Kieran Brookes, 4. Courtney Lawes, 5. Christian Day, 6. Tom Wood, 7. Lewis Ludlam, 8. Mitch Eadie
Replacements: 16. Mikey Haywood, 17. Campese Ma’afu, 18. Paul Hill, 19. David Ribbans, 20. Jamie Gibson, 21. Alex Mitchell, 22. James Grayson, 23. Ken Pisi
Hello...
...and welcome to our first live text commentary of the new Premiership season.
Of course, the campaign got underway with two games last night. If you missed the result, read up on what happened when champions Exeter Chiefs travelled to Gloucester.
