Sarries suffer in Smit’s second start

Sarries suffer in Smit’s second start

28 Nov 2011

GARETH DUNCAN looks at the Saffas who featured in Europe over the weekend.

Saffa-laden Saracens’ seven-match winning streak in the English Premiership was broken after they suffered a 30-8 away defeat to Northampton Saints. It was retired Springbok captain John Smit’s second successive start for Sarries as first-choice hooker Schalk Brits sat out his second game because of a three-match suspension for a dangerous tackle. It also proved to be Sarries’ second consecutive defeat in all competitions as they lost to out-of-form Biarritz in the European Cup last weekend.

Smit showed moments of good play, but delivered a disappointing overall performance as he formed part of a dominated pack. The 33-year-old was subbed in the 59th minute and replaced by former England U20 hooker Jamie George. Centre Brad Barritt, lock Mouritz Botha and No 8 Ernst Joubert (who scored a try) also featured in the run-on side while Stormers-bound prop Deon Carstens and SA-born England prop Matt Stevens came off the bench. Saints tighthead prop Brian Mujati was called off the wood early in the second half.

Saracens No 8 Ernst Joubert

Flanker Francois Louw and scrumhalf Michael Claassens couldn’t inspire Bath to victory as they lost 16-7 to Worcester Warriors, who capitalised on World Cup-winning flyhalf Stephen Donald’s poor goal kicking.

Former Stormers lock Adriaan Fondse made his debut for new club Newcastle Falcons off the bench in a 39-8 defeat to unbeaten log leaders Harlequins. Tighthead prop Faan Rautenbach was solid up front for London Irish in their 21-17 win over lock Marco Wentzel’s London Wasps.

In the French Top 14, flyhalf Conrad Barnard kicked all Agen’s points in their 24-15 win over Bordeaux. Flanker Adri Badenhorst and lock Dewald Senekal also started for the victors.

Sharks tighthead prop Eugene van Staden made the first appearance in his short-term deal with bottom-of-the-log Biarritz, who succumbed to their seventh league defeat after a 28-9 loss to Racing Metro. Scrumhalf Rory Kockott kicked a penalty to help Castres salvage a 22-22 draw against Toulon, who led 19-6 at the break.

Lock Gerhard Mostert started in Stade Francais’ 35-15 away triumph over Perpignan, who had centres Gavin Hume and Rudi Coetzee, and lock Gerrie Britz in their match 22. Wing Sam Gerber and reserve lock Rob Linde contributed to Bayonne’s 15-9 win over scrumhalf Ricky Januarie’s Lyon.

Wing Ronnie Cooke, loosehead prop Retief Uys, reserve flankers Antonie Claassen and Petrus Hauman, replacement centre Riaan Swanepoel and reserve prop Pat Barnard all played in Brive’s 9-9 stalemate against log-leaders Toulouse, who started former Bulls hooker Gary Botha.

In the Pro12, Saffa trio lock Johann Muller and flankers Pedrie Wannenburg and Robbie Diack started in Ulster’s 17-9 away defeat to Glasgow. Cardiff Blues kept flyhalf Naas Olivier, SA-born Italian lock Quintin Geldenhuys and replacement flanker Frans Viljoen’s Aironi scoreless in a 38-0 thrashing.

Munster props Wian du Preez and BJ Botha and Leinster front rowers Richardt Strauss and Heinke van der Merwe were rested in their teams’ wins over the weekend.


91 Comments

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  • 1.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 07:02 am

    the CURSE of the ‘aura’ dragon! :D

  • 2.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 07:08 am

    Broken record Grant will be all over this like a rash

  • 3.wallabie.: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 07:15 am

    saffa laden team…maybe the semi final was a fluked close game by the Boks. S15 they were terrible, tri-ations they were terrible, world cup they were terrible and Heiniken cup as well. There is a message here!!

  • 4.wallabie.: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 07:16 am

    Aggg fak!! lets just blame the ref for all the boks problems!!

  • 5.bryce_in_oz: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 07:17 am

    Saracens lost 6 of their 7 games in the HEC last year with Brits starting…

  • 6.stew: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 07:21 am

    Not a good start

  • 7.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 07:25 am

    @wallabie.(wallabie.)-4:
    lol
    Yep, blame the refs. We did in 2007 and strangely enough it was our the Bok supporters
    telling us to give it a rest and we were not good enough, its all in the archives of Keo.
    Damn some of those comments are funny, especially whats happened in the last few months, those comments are even funnier

  • 8.iceman: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 07:33 am

    There are some long forgotten names in the article above.

    I did not even know Gerrie Britz and Faan Rautenbach still play rugby and what about Robbie Diack, Rudi Coetzee and Adri Bardenhorst.

    Forgotten men of South African Rugby!

  • 9.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 07:41 am

    Here comes a fun few comments. Cannot wait for Ollie le Roux to come on line this morning.

  • 10.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 07:43 am

    Smit was one of the stand-out players for Sarries as noted by the commentators, getting over the gainline every time. Saints were well up for it after losing to lowly Scarlets in the HEC last week.

    Seems like the headlines of late have been out to discredit Smit and Matfield who were actually the best performers in losing teams.

  • 11.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 07:46 am

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-7: 2007? :) you were blaming them (or him) in 2008, 2009, 2010 and right up until this WC when the ref bashing suddenly went quiet, amazing what happens when you get some hometown calls.

  • 12.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 07:50 am

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-11: still amazed that for four years all and sundry were telling us Barnes was fantastic in 2007..

    now, the ABs only won because of hometown calls.. and shoddy refs, yet the opposite was true in 07… make up your mind guys..

    what a laugh..

    Big Hit you are about as consistent as your teams performances, which says it all really…

  • 13.grant10: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 07:57 am

    Plod…..

    same old same old

    At least he is consistent……

    consitently losing that is

  • 14.grant10: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 07:58 am

    Plod was the biggest kob ever ….useless player with a 2010 and 2011 record that was nothing short of abysma.

    but fooled everyone with his aura

    Kyk hoe lyk ons nou

  • 15.Roar my Lions .... Currie Cup Champions 2011: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 08:03 am

    Ricky J is still playing? Hell I thought he was retired, living his dream, running a KFC franchise in Mitchells Plain.

  • 16.Upho: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 08:05 am

    COP 17 starting today in Durban…

    First (and most important) item on the agenda… should take up the majority of the delegates time…

    JOHN SMIT…

    and how he caused the meltdown of international financial markets AND glacier meltdown from the north pole to the south pole and chile to new zealand…

    and also an inquiry as to just how he triggered the japanese tsunami… and where he gets the money to finance world terrorism…

  • 17.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 08:08 am

    @Upho(ufo)-16: Smit sounds like SA’s Rob Andrew, people want to blame him for everything even though none of it is his fault :)

  • 18.Upho: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 08:08 am

    serious question…

    wtf do the pom commentators insist on pronouncing Smit’s surname as Schmidt…?

    drives me farken bananas

  • 19.Upho: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 08:12 am

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-17:

    you mean it’s not true…??? :shock:

    but we all know john smit is the puppet-master with his hand up juju’s bum calling for nationalization in south africa…

  • 20.justrugby: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 08:30 am

    John Smit was poor and the uber kak sarries outfit combined with his movember makes him look like a fat porn star.

    His lineout throwing was poor, hitting rucks, winning turnovers non exsistence, best moment for him was being taken off !!

  • 21.Roar my Lions .... Currie Cup Champions 2011: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 08:37 am

    @justrugby(justrugby)-20: he did break the gain line once though …. I was shocked to be honest.

  • 22.justrugby: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 08:45 am

    @Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011(RL)-21:

    Saw that, it is what he did for the other 79.55 mins that is a concern !! ! :)

  • 23.Jeraldjay: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 08:45 am

    RIP Gary Speed. True great of the game.

  • 24.grant10: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 08:49 am

    Plod is a never was has been….just a gravy trainer milking the system foer as long as he can…..

    the paralell with Malema may be in some perverse way quite appropriate….

  • 25.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 08:49 am

    And not to mention that grandson of Jan Pickard, How **** was he, I mean he played in a losing side too,

    I for one am glad he’s far away from our shores.

    He should retire too.

    Looks out of shape too.

  • 26.grant10: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 08:53 am

    Gary Speed death a shocker……I wonder why he would have committed suicide?

  • 27.grant10: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 08:54 am

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-25: F Louw is the biggest loss in WP / Stormers rugby since Luke…..

    Rather have Schalk go than Flo

  • 28.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 08:56 am

    @grant10(grant10)-27: yeah i guess you picked up the irony in my post :)

    I for one don’t miss Luke, for me Flo is a much bigger loss.

  • 29.bryce_in_oz: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 08:57 am

    @grant10(grant10)-27:

    Luke leaving saw Stormers immediately improving with two consecutive play-off placings… not rocket science… cancer…

  • 30.grant10: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 08:59 am

    @bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-29: Luke is gonna still lead Boks

    Heard Hoskins may be on way out

    and cheecky in running to lead Saru

    about time

  • 31.grant10: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:02 am

    @bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-29: brace yourself sheila.

    times….they are a changing

  • 32.justrugby: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:04 am

    @grant10(grant10)-30:

    Only if he produces on the field !! Playing 2nd tier rugby not doing him any favors !!

    He has not looked the player that he can be !!

  • 33.bryce_in_oz: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:05 am

    @grant10(grant10)-30:

    Can anyone say gravy?

  • 34.grant10: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:06 am

    @justrugby(justrugby)-32: agree 100%

    but then Luke has honor…..he would not want to be another gravy trainer Plod…

  • 35.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:07 am

    @G10,

    Morning. Might I say that I for one really enjoy your comments. You have good humour. I am enjoying the PLOD & MALEMA similie.

    Now more pressing – how certain are you on the Cheeky Watson will be running SA rugby?
    It would be a 180 degree turnaround from Hoskins, in that CW actually has a lot of strength & conviction. Right or wrong, he wont be pushed around, but man alive, he will politic well.

  • 36.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:08 am

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-25: i don’t know how long it is going to take big-eared Mcgeechan to realise that Beaver is a kak kicker lol :D

  • 37.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:09 am

    Regarding the Bok captaincy, who cares who it is at this stage.
    More important, is who will be the Bok Coach. I am hearing rumblings about Gert Smal?

  • 38.grant10: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:10 am

    @justrugby(justrugby)-32: he could of been a brilliant replacement for Flo….

  • 39.grant10: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:11 am

    @BULLET(BULLET)-35: nah mate…..heard Hoskins may be heading for top post with IRB….and CW will be in running….but all conjecture and speculation…..just making Brice swallow hard there in Arsestralia

  • 40.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:13 am

    @Transformation(Transformation)-36: hahaha

    Dude you said “beaver”…..

    Cue beavis and buthead laugh,,,,

    huh huh huh huh …….

  • 41.grant10: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:14 am

    @BULLET(BULLET)-37: Smal would not have my blessing…….but he would be better than ACand Rassie……

    I am still hopeful that either Mitchell or Mallet will get it…..

    Very little news or speculation on that front SARU playing cards close to there chest it seems…..

    Agree about captaincy

    Coach job is crucial

  • 42.bryce_in_oz: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:17 am

    @grant10(grant10)-39:

    The only hard swallowing happening is at your place on weekends with Justbuggery… neither Watson nor his crim father will get further than the Kings (who still cannot win their lowly league…

  • 43.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:20 am

    I wonder if Patricia de Lille and her rugby committee at Cape Town City Council watched the Sarries game on Saturday. Probably not, but if they did they might now wonder whether this team would really be such a great “tourist attraction” to CT. They looked Uber kak to me- doubt whether they will even beat Boland on a wet afternoon in Wellington.

  • 44.grant10: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:21 am

    @bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-42: you will do well to avoid saying things like that in front of either JR or myself…..ever.

    You may well it hard swallowing front teeth and the odd molar…., especially as they will be your own.

  • 45.grant10: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:22 am

    @Robzim(Robzim)-43: Plod now started 2

    lost 2

    I will be keeping notes

  • 46.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:23 am

    Don’t understand the views of some, Flo and Watson are good club players, Smit and Matfield are test legends. There’s no comparison. Burger or Smith are the best candidates to lead SA next season.

  • 47.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:23 am

    @Robzim(Robzim)-43: I was looking forward to watching the game, but was badly dissapointed (as usual) with both the style and quality of rugby played up North.

    Having said that, I would have gone to the game. i would have preferred to have gone to the CT Stadium but would still have gone to Newlands if it was hosted there.

  • 48.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:28 am

    @grant10(grant10)-41: of course SARU are playing it close..

    theyre waiting for PDV’s new “style of rugby” to be finalised so they can re-appoint him..

    he has unfinished business and is the best candidate for the job..

    (heard it here first)

  • 49.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:29 am

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-10:
    It’s my note too from watching the game
    The props let him down, when Carsten (50 min) and Stevens (half time) came on it was a different game.
    Sarries FH was kicking away posession aimlessly all day, they should hang on to Hougaart if you ask me

  • 50.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2011, 09:33 am

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-47:

    The Samoan centre from the Saints (Pisi) was just about the only player who caught my eye.

    Re Newlands versus CT– same here, but I have sympathy for the WP administrators in this particular case- on the longer run it will probably have to be the CT stadium – unless they cut their losses and break it down as some architects and even economists have already suggested :)

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