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Saracens player ratings vs Munster | Investec Champions Cup 2024/25
By Liam Heagney at Thomond Park, Limerick
Saracens player ratings: This largely suffocating Pool Three battle in Limerick was seriously short on frills for a long spell but when the decisive moments arrived, it was the try-less visitors who were found wanting as an encouraging 9-3 lead evaporated into a 9-17 deficit in the space of a few brutal minutes around the hour mark.
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Saracens did hit back, their fourth successful penalty kick of the evening ensuring a commendable losing bonus point in a 12-17 defeat, but they will feel this was one that painfully got away on them.
This agony was encapsulated with minutes remaining when Liam Williams failed to give what would surely have been a try-assisting pass to the in-space Juan Martin Gonzalez inside the Munster 22. That error was reminiscent of his 2021 British and Irish Lions mistake when ignoring Josh Adams in Cape Town against the Springboks.
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The defeat shouldn’t deny Saracens progress to the round of 16. Next weekend’s home game with Castres will likely herald a third win in four to confirm their place in the knockouts, but they will be hurt that they didn’t see this job through at Thomond Park and secure what would have been their first ever win at the Irish venue. Here are the Saracens players ratings:
15. Elliot Daly – 5.5/10
With George Furbank currently injured, Daly is back in the England conversation after an uncapped November. There was one annoying kick out on the full but he otherwise played tactically well. Also kicked an important three points from distance.
14. Liam Williams – 3
Hoping to make the Wales squad next Monday, his fourth outing since re-signing from Japan hammered home how his timing is still off as a pair of first-half knock-ons was followed by sloppy cover for Munster’s second try and then that howler of a decision where he ignored the pass to Gonzalez and then lost the ball in contact.
13. Alex Lozowski – 4.5
Kicked his three penalty efforts off the tee and was defensively sharp for a large chunk. However, his error count in the second half – some knock-ons and a penalty for a high tackle – hurt his team.
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12. Nick Tompkins – 6
Stood up well in defence across his 72-minute involvement, but was unable to contribute much to a blunt, narrow attack.
11. Lucio Cinti – 5
Contested well in the air, his cover across towards his opposite wing helped to distract Jack Crowley, who knocked on after a kick through was poised to give Munster a first-half try. Pulled up lame in the second when chasing a Daly kick and exited with 14 minutes left.
10. Fergus Burke – 6
A player rumoured for a Scotland call-up, he exerted plenty of good influence until the closing quarter. Some kicks through the cover kept Munster very honest but he ultimately didn’t have the nous to produce the game-winning moment.
9. Ivan van Zyl – 6
He enjoyed his battle with Conor Murray, playing fast through the hands and being slow and deliberate with the boot. Had a couple of shaky second-half moments, though, including a mishap in the second Munster try and then an ugly box kick in opposition territory that didn’t go anywhere.
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1. Phil Brantingham – 5.5
A rare Saracens start for the off-season signing from Newcastle, his soft knock-on helped to enliven the previously muted home crowd on 27 minutes. Battled his way through a 62-minute effort that will stand to him in the long run.
2. Jamie George – 6
For the most part he produced the sort of gutsy effort England will want to see in Dublin in three weeks. Watch his movement off the ball at the Munster lineout to close down the passing channel or pick his moment to join and stop the maul. Unfortunately conceded the penalty for Munster’s three first-half points and then slipped off a tackle for the crucial first try in the second period. That slip was his last involvement in the game.
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3. Marco Riccioni – 5.5
Got through a heap of grunt work and while there was a scrum penalty conceded nearing the interval, he would have thought he had done enough to lay a winning foundation. Instead, he missed a stop on the try-scoring Dian Bleuler and he exited before the restart with his team a point behind and set to concede more.
4. Maro Itoje – 6
Brought his nuisance value, hitting hard in the tackle and influencing the maul. Was a huge part of the defiance that had his team 9-3 up, but that advantage didn’t last due to Munster’s increasing physicality and greater freshness.
5. Harry Wilson – 6
This was a real highlight in the Championship player’s first season in top flight rugby. He could have understandably been overawed by the occasion, given his inexperience, but he played like a veteran and can be very pleased with his 72 minutes.
6. Juan Martin Gonzalez – 6.5
A meaty chart-topping tackle count and another great nuisance. Check out his 26th-minute charge down and gathering of the loose ball in the Munster 22. Real pity he wasn’t a winner as he was primed to run in a decisive late try only for Williams to ghost him.
7. Ben Earl – 6
Another who was hugely unselfish in defence. He was also frequently involved in ball carrying, but Munster limited his impact in terms of metres made.
8. Tom Willis – 6.5
Branded the best forward in England last weekend by Lawrence Dallaglio, his wow factor wasn’t as noticeable in Limerick as it was against Bristol but his work rate was still considerable. It was his rumbustious carry that forced the penalty which allowed Saracens to secure their losing bonus point.
Replacements: It was only having gone behind 9-10 when Saracens started sending on reinforcements and just six of the eight subs were ultimately used. They can be pleased with their scrum, as two last quarter penalties were won, and overall they did make a good fight of it to ensure a losing bonus was taken.
- Ratings index: 10/10 – Perfect, 9. Exceptional, 8. Very good, 7. Good, 6. Satisfying, 5. Average, 4. Insufficient, 3. Bad, 2. Very bad, 1. Terrible, 0. Unacceptable.
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