why Sarries may lose to the stronger teams

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/a-daunting-task-but-toulouse-have-shown-connacht-where-saracens-can-be-exposed-1.1657823

Above is a very good and detailed look into why Sarries struggle against the big teams.

My knowledge of the finer things would not be as good as others so wondering what you thought.

He goes why it may work in England but not the bigger teams

This is not a dig at Sarries as they are Top 5/6 in Europe but maybe what they need to go that next step.

Loose ?

Good luck.

Metal Tiger wrote:Good luck.

I don't think connacht will win. The article highlights the systems that Sarries use, almost routine, and why the big packs seem to make them look so ordinary. It looks at why they loose breakdown and how the big teams play against them.

Sorry but that article is rubbish. You beat Saracens by stopping their momentum. That means you must frustrate the lineout and make an absolute mess at the breakdown. In addition to that you must stop them from getting over the gain line.

Toulouse successfully did all that.

I can't see Connacht challenging Saracens at the breakdown like Toulouse did. The Toulouse backrow is far superior to that of the Connacht one.

It talks about challenging Saracens in the scrum -that's the only area that Saracens beat Toulouse in.

Plus there is no mention whatsoever of Hodgson and the pitch.

Saracens are a formidable side at Allianz Park. They are comfortable on the pitch. I still feel that if Saracens had played Toulouse at Allianz Park instead of Wembley we would have won.

Just because Saracens lost to Toulouse doesn't make them a bad side. Wouldn't surprise me if Connacht are put to the sword.

Togetherness can only get you so far - Sarries are by far the stronger side.

Is the team Sarries put out the best they could.

I do expect Sarries to win and take the second runner up spot.

I still think that tigers etc sending weak teams to Sarries will cost them later on. I don't understand it. Tigers at their best were never given easy games by being sent weak teams.

Connacht draw first blood. 0-3

Good finish by Ashton.

So close to an interception there.

Lovely passing from hodgeson in the run up to their try.

Connacht back in the lead 5-6

Sarries look so much better with Hodgson at 10 than they do with Farrell.

Go on lads! Great to see so many travelling supporters!

The Vunipolas are just running over the Connacht defence.

Good try there. Agree about Hodgeson, sarries look way better with him playing. Not the best kicker though.

He is not normally a bad kicker Golden but he is just so much better than Farrell at 10. He organises his back line well and is not afraid to attack the line. Always rated him.

Well hes no Farrell from the tee. 

Connacht scrum is going well

No, Farrell is a quality kicker but I would prefer Hodgson's attacking and control over Farrell's kicking any day of the week.

Connacht putting in a shift and standing up well in the scrums, but they're struggling with Sarries ball carriers and quick hands on this fast pitch.

They need to find a way to take the pace out of this game or there'll be more tries and I don't think they can.

If they get a yellow card here I really fear from them, with 14 men this game could get away from them.

Ouch someone will be off for that. He thinks its the hooker?

Now that was naughty.

Well it wasn't as bad as Ian Evans' last night I suppose

Deserved yellow there.

See if they send off the wrong player here after all those replays, its a complete farce.

Not as bad as Evans last night, but he still is a bit lucky.

Not that clear if he hit the head, very silly though and lucky to be only a yellow.

Is it me or do connacht not look up for this?

Nachos Jones wrote:Not that clear if he hit the head, very silly though and lucky to be only a yellow.

It's a yellow. Christ I wish we had proper rucking back again though, every breakdown rule change in the last 10 years are a response to the elimination of proper rucking.

wolfball wrote:

Nachos Jones wrote:Not that clear if he hit the head, very silly though and lucky to be only a yellow.

It's a yellow. Christ I wish we had proper rucking back again though, every breakdown rule change in the last 10 years are a response to the elimination of proper rucking.

Back in the day when I played, you learnt very quickly not to be on the wrong side. I also miss proper rucking.

Sarries will never win a HC...they will be eight seeds for a reason. The only hope they have is that Leicester win against Ulster and they get them as top seeds.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Is it me or do connacht not look up for this?

The game is just too fast for them. They aren't able to re-organise quickly enough and stop the gainline success. The Vunipolas are killing it. Saracens just too strong and motivated and its going to get uglier after half-time.

ME-109 wrote:Sarries will never win a HC...they will be eight seeds for a reason. The only hope they have is that Leicester win against Ulster and they get them as top seeds.

This is getting very dull, and the hysteria whipped up is annoying to deal with/read. More positive contributions are more likely to be conducive to a harmonious future as a poster.

Informal advice from the v2 moderation team   

Notch wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Is it me or do connacht not look up for this?

The game is just too fast for them. They aren't able to re-organise quickly enough and stop the gainline success. The Vunipolas are killing it. Saracens just too strong and motivated and its going to get uglier after half-time.

The Vunipola's are killing it in open play but not in the scrums. I think that Hodgson's attacking 10 play has sped the Sarries up a lot and its his influence I think that is killing Connacht.

Nachos Jones wrote:

Notch wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Is it me or do connacht not look up for this?

The game is just too fast for them. They aren't able to re-organise quickly enough and stop the gainline success. The Vunipolas are killing it. Saracens just too strong and motivated and its going to get uglier after half-time.

The Vunipola's are killing it in open play but not in the scrums. I think that Hodgson's attacking 10 play has sped the Sarries up a lot and its his influence I think that is killing Connacht.

The breakdown and our fielding of the ball has also been very poor. Defensive line has been up quick but too many forwards falling off tackles.

wolfball wrote:

The breakdown and our fielding of the ball has also been very poor. Defensive line has been up quick but too many forwards falling off tackles.

Whatever happens, it was an amazing victory of Toulouse earlier and that can never be taken away from Connacht.

Notch wrote:

ME-109 wrote:Sarries will never win a HC...they will be eight seeds for a reason. The only hope they have is that Leicester win against Ulster and they get them as top seeds.

This is getting very dull, and the hysteria whipped up is annoying to deal with/read. More positive contributions are more likely to be conducive to a harmonious future as a poster.

Informal advice from the v2 moderation team   

I enjoy the hysteria personally.

Anyway welcome to the ranks of the establishment...you are already showing signs of turning into a boring person Notch if you think the posting was in any way controversial.

1. They are eight seeds because they lost two games and were lucky they had one of the minnows in the group = Reason
2. I think Ulster and anyone else of the top four seeds will beat them. The only hope they have of advancing is that they wont fear Leicester as much and its their best chance for advancing...


I am really getting controversial here....  

Whatever happens Connacht can still take that win in Toulouse with them.

As for Sarries, they are well capable of beating Tigers. Then if they get a home s/f then who knows.

Wow, what a score!

Unbelievable. What shocking defence there by Connacht.

Just passing on the views of the Illuminati who really run the site. I thought the post was rather charming, but I have no real say about these things  

Hound, Connacht have had a better campaign than Montpellier, Exeter, Glasgow and Racing Metro. I think it's progress- they are in for a caning here though.

I certainly agree that Sarries will struggle against any other team. They would certainly want Leicester over all others.

Nathan White should have been red carded from what I hear??

Getting to play at the Allianz with this pitch would be their ace in the hole, and this is guaranteed to be their last game there- no great traveling support either.

I expect a QF exit but hey, who knows... what I hope most of all is we win and take Saracens to Ravenhill. We'll need the tigers to get a losing bonus point tonight.

Artful_Dodger wrote:Nathan White should have been red carded from what I hear??

I'd say so. I think that would have been fair.

Notch wrote:Just passing on the views of the Anglo/SUN style jingoist Illuminati who really run the site. I thought the post was rather charming, but I have no real say about these things  

Hound, Connacht have had a better campaign than Montpellier, Exeter, Glasgow and Racing Metro. I think it's progress- they are in for a caning here though.

Fixed that for you...

Toulouse/Zebre is a complete slugfest in the rain...10-6 to toulouse

This has been disgraceful from Connacht. Not the fact that they are losing but they simply don't look up for this.

They really miss Elwood as he was so inspirational.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:This has been disgraceful from Connacht. Not the fact that they are losing but they simply don't look up for this.

They really miss Elwood as he was so inspirational.

I think that Connacht were up for this, they have just been taken apart by a far more adventurous Sarries. I think they expected a slug fest but with the selection of Hodgson, Sarries signalled their intent and came out on fire and have just blown Connacht away.

I said it before, Sarries look a much more balanced and better side with Hodgson at 10.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:This has been disgraceful from Connacht. Not the fact that they are losing but they simply don't look up for this.

They really miss Elwood as he was so inspirational.

Nah...seen this from them before...i.e against Munster sometimes they expect to lose and dont bother at times, against Leinster they seem to go balistic...

Well I would give some credit to Hodgson for creating the first two tries, Goode's elusive running for two more and Sarries pack for the other two.

Hound of Harrow wrote:Well I would give some credit to Hodgson for creating the first two tries, Goode's elusive running for two more and Sarries pack for the other two.

Fair assessment but I would credit Hodgson a lot more that for the two tries, his tactical kicking has been great, his defence good and he has created many line breaks giving Sarries confidence going forward. MOTM for me.

Saracens made the semis last year and are on an upward trend so deserve some respect. I do think their game has evolved in a positive way in the last 2/3 years and are now a better version than say Munster
See it is not too difficult to post something nice about them   

Seriously though, why everyone seem to dislike them? Is it the hat thing?

Meanwhile Toulouse is really struggling in Parma where Zebre is not giving up