Comments on: Heineken Cup Quarter-Finals: 5 things we learned

By: Seamus

Seamus — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 22:02:45 +0000

3 tries that all came about because of the man advantage. Ashton breaks the game line and is gone because there is no covering full back (because he’d been sent off). The other two tries came inside the 22 where the 15 v 14 really shows. On two occasions the Sarries scored due to the fact that the final Ulster defender was left having to defend two men.

On average a team will score 7 points per 10 minutes of having a man advantage. So, keeping to that average, the Sarries should have scored over 50 points. They scored 17.

They scored 3 tries. Against a full Ulster side they might not have scored any tries.

What more impressed me about Saracens was their defensive effort (especially in the last few moments when they held their discipline).

By: DanD

DanD — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 13:27:22 +0000

I don’t believe Leinster were particularly poor, especially with certain tax benefits for players.

By: Ding Dong Denny

Ding Dong Denny — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 13:10:50 +0000

As Jonathan Swift said –

“A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart.”

My heart is ruling my head.

DDD

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 12:59:31 +0000

….. But money was an awful lot quieter when Leinster were still winning.

By: Ding Dong Denny

Ding Dong Denny — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 12:43:22 +0000

No. 1 – Money Talks!

DDD

By: Jacob

Jacob — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 12:22:36 +0000

If we are talking attacking game. 3 tries to 0 zero at Ravenhill comes to mind. Quite impressive.

Their indiscipline and Ulsters heart led to the game being close. Don’t really know what a strong attacking game has to do with a game being close anyway.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 12:01:32 +0000

Note ‘on their day’ – they’ve scored the most points and tries of anyone in the Premiership so far. It was a bad day at the office against Ulster and they were lucky to win, but Farrell has far more good days with the boot than bad so they’ll be at the very least competitive against Clermont.

By: Macdizzle

Macdizzle — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 11:47:45 +0000

“while Saracens have developed their basic blueprint for success to become, on their day, one of the best attacking sides around” – ??? They could only beat a 14 man ulster team, who also lost 2 influential players during the game, Piennar to a shoulder injury in the 2nd half and Best early in the first half, by 2 points. 2 points!! Saracens lack of quality will be shown in the semi final when I think they will be steamrolled by cCermont, especially if Farrell doesn’t sort his place kicking out.