Billy Vunipola powerless to stop Ealing humbling Saracens
Billy Vunipola completed Saracens’ first match since their relegation from the Gallagher Premiership but the England number eight was powerless to prevent Ealing emerging 27-26 winners.
The weekend’s only game involving an English team at any level saw Vunipola take centre stage in front of Eddie Jones in his maiden outing since the final of the Autumn Nations Cup last month.
Saracens have placed the remainder of their England contingent on bespoke training schedules akin to pre-season, with the aim of ensuring they are ready for the Six Nations opener against Scotland on February 6.
Only Vunipola was in action, with his director of rugby Mark McCall stating that he benefits from playing as frequently as possible, resulting in his selection for the Trailfinders Challenge Cup opener.
It was a quiet afternoon for the back row giant, who made little impression on Ealing in a competition that serves as a curtain raiser to Saracens’ quest for an immediate return to the Gallagher Premiership.
Making their first outing since being relegated last season as punishment for repeated salary cap breaches, McCall’s men were also missing eight players suspended for breaking coronavirus rules when on Barbarians duty.
Ealing took advantage of their moment in the spotlight created by the cancellation of the final two rounds of Europe’s group stage because of the French government’s fears over COVID-19 by toppling the trophy-laden visitors.
Trailfinders crossed first when fast hands sent Angus Kernohan over but the try was made possible by a dummy from scrum-half Craig Hampson that deceived a visiting defence that was pinned close to their line.
Otherwise all the points in a tight opening quarter were supplied by penalties from fly-halves Craig Willis and Will Hooley.
Vunipola became increasingly involved as the half progressed, carrying into heavy traffic and barrelling into the breakdown, but Saracens met with stiff resistance from fired-up opponents.
As half-time approached, their big ball-carrying forwards began to make an impact and it was the steam-roller approach that created field position for their first breakthrough.
A solid five-metre scrum saw Vunipola pop a pass to Aled Davies and the speed of the play outwitted Ealing as full-back Elliot Obatoyinbo dived over.
Trailfinders finished the half with a flourish and went close early in the second before sustaining pressure on the visiting line by winning a Saracens scrum and then battering away.
A losing bonus secured at the death.
Congratulations to @ealingtfrugby on their victory ? pic.twitter.com/kdZVLEOxcJ
— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) January 16, 2021
The assault ended when hooker Alun Walker forced his way over, but the score only served to ignite McCall’s men and they began attacking with greater purpose until replacement front row Kapeli Pifeleti finished a line-out maul.
But the game tilted on its axis again when Walker grabbed his second with Willis converting to put Ealing beyond reach.
Saracens hooker Tom Woolstencroft finished a forward assault from a short-range free-kick, but the match had already entered stoppage time.
Comments on RugbyPass
Nick, I think your article brings up a couple of issues. Do we stick with a lighter 7 ie M.Hooper V2 or a bigger 7. If Schmidt goes with McRight then I would suggest he should also make him captain, from my observations he does most of the captains job, apart from talking to the ref and he was an outstanding captain in U20’s. The big problem for the Wallabies is the tight 5 and McRight would fit perfectly IF we had a competitive and mobile tight 5. The other point is who are the6 & 8? If he goes with Cale at 8 and Valitini at 6 then that is a very mobile backrow but how good will they be at the breakdown. If he keeps BobbyV at 8 and say Leota at 6 then he might be looking for a stronger pack and McRight may not fit in. It is always a tricky call for smaller forwards with great skills.
56 Go to comments> And to be frank, those are the only four teams that deserve to be in the playoffs. They are the only teams that hold winning records in Super Rugby Pacific 2024. So you agree with the final 8 format then Ben? As of course its purpose is to generate activity towards the end of the season, and as you say, there wouldn’t be any if it was just a final 4 playoff format.
13 Go to commentsThe reason the Rebels are in the position they are, is because Foote is a very poor coach. The Rebels over the last few years have played a nauseatingly boring one dimensional mistake ridden game, occassionaly sprinkled with some brilliance via Carter Gordon and Tim Sampson. You can’t bore supporters in to supporting you. Even if you win some. There is no point to the Rebels if Foote is coaching them. They need someone with some Aussie inspiration and imagination.
2 Go to comments“Against this backdrop of turmoil, the team on the field is playing some excellent rugby.” Are they really? They will probably finish seventh, in the bottom half of the draw. Of their twelve games to date they have lost FIVE by more than 25 points. Think about that for a second: they have been on the wrong end of one-sided thrashings in almost half their games this year. Away in Canberra this weekend it might well become six. They have done all this with a squad it is clear they could not afford. And yet here we are talking about this season being shining proof of their quality if only they are given another chance. It just ain’t so. They’ve played some okay rugby and aren’t terrible, but best case will need to shed some of their better players and probably get worse again next year to have any chance of remaining viable. If they stay the data suggests they’ll be back where they’ve been for years - trying to scrap away for eighth place in a comp that should probably only have a Top 4 or 6 playoff to begin with.
2 Go to commentsSomething fishy is going on here. Earlier this year Dame Patsy Reddy was threatening to step down if the review recommendations didn’t go through now it’s the professional players association going nuclear. It looks like a theft attempt by the executive and the association. Is there a big backer in the shadows? The clubs and by extension the unions own the game in NZ yet they are being told to shut up and have no say in the running of the game they have created and own. Ok let them go and do what they want but they can’t call themselves the ABs or the super or npc sides. At the end of everything this is a sport not a path to enrichment.
2 Go to commentsI would say NB that the 7 who has the skills to play as an extra half is Billy Harmon of the Highlanders. He does everything expected of an openside with ruck, tackle and run but he has a good pass. Robertson might of opted for Christie at the Crusaders moving Harmon on but that allowed him to break out of the Crusaders system and show his full range of skills.
56 Go to commentsHe is right. How do you pick the two? Ospreys and Cardiff?
2 Go to commentsSam like many had passed their use by dates and that is down to the selectors, not the player. I wasn't a Sam fan, but he didn’t deserve Bidwells brutally honest opinion. Could have been more diplomatic.
3 Go to commentsNice piece nick, mcreight is immense. Just like hooper, he seems to be indefatigable and sprint the full 80 from one involvement to the next. Like DuPont, its like they can see an extra phase ahead which means they know where to be before everyone else. His support and link play for mine is his real point of difference, and now he is lifting the other areas up as well. One key improvement is when to jackal or not, he used to go for everything and get pinged or stuck in the ruck. His decision making in this area has really improved. He seems to be quite competitive, and like faz not afraid to chew out a teammate. If he went down, both the reds and wallabies would be in trouble. I’d lean towards Wright or Wilkin/Gamble I think, I don’t think many of the other candidates have the work rate or ruck presence that is needed of a 7. Interestingly, the reds lineout fell apart on the weekend without faessler, although the maul still functioned. The heat seemed to affect their decision making, I think they needed to adjust to a low possession, simple game plan but they went head strong with a high possession game even though they couldn’t hold onto it, secure their ruck or their set piece…
56 Go to commentsExpecting those provincial fish-heads to vote themselves out of power is like expecting turkeys to vote for Christmas. Good luck with that!
2 Go to commentsA brilliant winger..
1 Go to commentsGood player, but how could anyone have filled RMCs shoes.? Also, I hope Razor implements better & indeed more legal tackling, the AB’s concede way too many cards. Looking forward to the new regime though.
11 Go to commentsGood article, NB. I’ve quite liked the speed and skill levels of Tom Ahern from Munster. I read he was a fullback until late in schools rugby and suddenly shot up to 6 foot 9. Another guy born in 2000 who seems to be able to play out in trams on both sides of the ball is Juan Martin Gonzalez of Saracens. Thanks for the article.
56 Go to commentsShould not even be in the thought to bring Barrett back,the team is going well and remember 2 season ago when the blues were going well & got out thought & out played in the final all Barrett did was needlessly kick away posession again and again, pass to players in worse positions as to avoid contact and for the Blues and AB proved costly in crucial games.
3 Go to commentsBarbarians will be preparing for fiji starting end of this week but fiji will be preparing only 1 week b4 the game…..so unfair
1 Go to commentsI believe it was the Wallaby Nick White who opened the floodgates - earning his team a yellow card against SA and getting Faf binned for 10. Nick White. The original soft pr1ck, diving git. Owen Farrell is growing on me.
2 Go to commentsTo be honest this result was not that seismic as shock, Canada are a very good team and very few teams fear the Black Ferns anymore. The rankings give a good picture, the top four ranked teams are the top four teams in women’s rugby with England ahead the other three can exchange places at any given time. Despite the USA result I still think Australia are ahead of the rest. WXV will show how big the gap is between nations.
9 Go to commentsFarrell playing in France next season better get use to play acting .
3 Go to commentsNot sure I see the magic. Solid flanker but the aggression and lack of bending at the hips leads to boo boos
11 Go to comments100%. Thank you, Andy.
2 Go to comments