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Brace for England star helps Saracens boost play-off bid

By PA
Sale Sharks v Saracens – Gallagher Premiership Rugby – AJ Bell Stadium

Ben Earl touched down twice as Saracens moved a step closer to Premiership play-off qualification and boosted their chances of a home semi-final with an 18-12 win over Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium.

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It was a brutal and tight encounter and there was just one point separating the teams at the interval, with Rob du Preez kicking two penalties for Sale and England international Earl responding for Sarries by going over for his first try just shy of the break.

The second period was also close but it was the visitors that controlled the territorial battle. Two Alex Lozowski penalties to Du Preez’s one gave them an 11-9 advantage before Earl’s second try of the night settled the contest.

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RFU Belonging – Back in the Game

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RFU Belonging – Back in the Game

Although the Sharks garnered a losing bonus-point late on, Sarries deservedly went away with the win.

Between two gargantuan packs, it was always going to be a physical affair and both teams competed for gain line and set-piece supremacy in the opening quarter.

Sale Sharks v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership Rugby - AJ Bell Stadium

There was also a fierce aerial battle as the respective outfits searched for the territory which would put their opponents under pressure.

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Neither are sides that like to play in their own half and as a result an attributional clash ensued, but it was one which the Sharks edged in the opening period.

Saracens gave away a string of needless penalties, while their usually adept handling let them down at times as the hosts thundered into contact.

Mark McCall’s men gave away two kickable penalties and Rob du Preez, who has not always been reliable off the tee this season, was on target both times to give Sale a 6-0 advantage.

Sale Sharks v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership Rugby - AJ Bell Stadium

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Sarries had barely fired a shot but, when the Sharks began to infringe a few too many times, they began to gain a foothold.

Lozowski had successive opportunities to reduce the arrears off the tee but the centre was awry on both occasions.

When the visitors won their next penalty they duly went to the corner and it paid immediate dividends when Earl went over from close range.

Lozowski, however, once again missed the kick, leaving them 6-5 down at the break.

McCall’s charges had been on the back foot but that score kept them in the game and, when they earned a penalty at the start of the second half, their centre was finally successful off the tee to move them in front.

It was the boost Saracens needed as they began to control territory and possession. Manu Tuilagi was one of the players brought on by Sale boss Alex Sanderson in an attempt to turn the tide and he put in one customary big hit early on, but it was the visitors that extended their lead through Lozowski.

The hosts were now the ones making the errors and they had it all to do going into the final quarter.

Sale Sharks v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership Rugby - AJ Bell Stadium

To their credit, they hit back and reduced the arrears to 11-9 thanks to another Du Preez three-pointer, but the Londoners displayed their quality to kill off the game in the final 10 minutes.

Max Malins was the provider, making a break and passing out wide for Earl to collect and finish. Alex Goode converted to take them out of reach of the Sharks, who did manage to mount one final attack and earn a losing bonus-point through Du Preez.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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