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Saracens forced to concede Saturday's European game in France

(Photo by Getty Images)

Saracens have forfeited next weekend’s Challenge Cup round two match at Pau following an outbreak of Covid-19 which resulted in them closing their training ground until Christmas Eve. Surprisingly beaten 21-18 last Saturday at home by Edinburgh, the Londoners were looking to go to France to get their European campaign back on track but they have now given their Top 14 opponents a 28-0  win. 

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A statement read: “Saracens can confirm that the club has experienced an outbreak of Covid-19 within the training ground environment leading to several positive Covid cases from the latest round of PCR testing which took place on Monday.

“The club has taken the immediate action of closing the training ground and isolating all players, coaches and support staff.

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We hear from France assistant Shaun Edwards

France assistant coach Shaun Edwards joins us to discuss where the recent win over the All Blacks ranks in the list of special days he’s had as a coach, what it’s like working with Fabien Galthie, the need to win something, overcoming the language barrier, Gael Fickou’s role as defensive captain, Antoine Dupont’s freakish ability, the recent law changes and eligibility ruling and much more. Plus, we look ahead to the start of the Champions Cup this weekend and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week…
Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com

Video Spacer

We hear from France assistant Shaun Edwards

France assistant coach Shaun Edwards joins us to discuss where the recent win over the All Blacks ranks in the list of special days he’s had as a coach, what it’s like working with Fabien Galthie, the need to win something, overcoming the language barrier, Gael Fickou’s role as defensive captain, Antoine Dupont’s freakish ability, the recent law changes and eligibility ruling and much more. Plus, we look ahead to the start of the Champions Cup this weekend and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week…
Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com

“We have been working closely with EPCR and PRL and it is with regret that our game versus Section Paloise in the EPCR Challenge Cup on Saturday has had to be forfeited by Saracens due to our inability to field a 23-man squad for this fixture.

“In addition to positive Covid-19 cases, we have players self-isolating due to being close contacts and a number of players who are currently injured. The need to forfeit the fixture will result in a 28-0 loss, and five match points to Pau as set out in the EPCR tournament rules.

“This is extremely disappointing for everyone at the club but as always the health and wellbeing of our people is our priority at this time. The squad will return to full training on December 24 following the necessary period of isolation. We would like to reassure our supporters that our Gallagher Premiership fixture versus Worcester Warriors on December 26 will still take place and we very much look forward to seeing you all at StoneX Stadium for a feast of festive rugby.”

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Flankly 1 hour ago
'Absolute madness': Clive Woodward rips into Borthwick in wake of NZ loss

Borthwick is supposed to be the archetypical conservative coach, the guy that might not deliver a sparkling, high-risk attacking style, but whose teams execute the basics flawlessly. And that's OK, because it can be really hard to beat teams that are rock solid and consistent in the rugby equivalent of "blocking and tackling".


But this is why the performance against NZ is hard to defend. You can forgive a conservative, back-to-basics team for failing to score tons of tries, because teams like that make up for it with reliability in the simple things. They can defend well, apply territorial pressure, win the set piece battles, and take their scoring chances with metronomic goal kicking, maul tries and pick-and-go goal line attacks.


The reason why the English rugby administrators should be on high alert is not that the English team looked unable to score tries, but that they were repeatedly unable to close out a game by executing basic, coachable skills. Regardless of how they got to the point of being in control of their destiny, they did get to that point. All that was needed was to be world class at things that require more training than talent. But that training was apparently missing, and the finger has to point at the coach.


Borthwick has been in the job for nearly two years, a period that includes two 6N programs and an RWC campaign. So where are the solid foundations that he has been building?

4 Go to comments
N
Nickers 1 hour ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Very poor understanding of what's going on and 0 ability to read. When I say playing behind the gain line you take this to mean all off-loads and site times we are playing in front of the gain line???


Every time we play a lot of rugby behind the gain line (for clarity, meaning trying to build an attack and use width without front foot ball 5m+ behind the most recent breakdown) we go backwards and turn the ball over in some way. Every time a player is tackled behind the most recent breakdown you need more and more people to clear out because your forwards have to go back around the corner, whereas opposition players can keep moving forward. Eventually you run out of either players to clear out or players to pass to and the result in a big net loss of territory and often a turnover. You may have witnessed that 20+ times in the game against England. This is a particularly dumb idea inside your own 40m which is where, for some reason, we are most likely to employ it.


The very best ABs teams never built an identity around attacking from poor positions. The DC era team was known for being the team that kicked the most. To engineer field position and apply pressure, and create broken play to counter attack. This current team is not differentiating between when a defence has lost it's structure and there are opportunities, and when they are completely set and there is nothing on. The reason they are going for 30 minute + periods in every game without scoring a single point, even against Japan and a poor Australian team, is because they are playing most of their rugby on the back foot in the wrong half.

43 Go to comments
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