Saracens: Killing the Game or Masterful Tacticians?

After 4 rounds Saracens are sitting pretty in the top four of the Aviva Premiership although the term ‘pretty’ couldn't be further from the truth. Boasting an English backline including Ashton, Strettle, Goode and Farrell Sarries have gone a full 260 minutes without scoring a try.....Cue Brian Moore!

The outspoken Moore says Saracens players are being ‘straitjacketed’ which will have negative repercussions for the national team. It pains me to say it, but Moore does have a point. However, I would also add that despite the negativity surrounding Saracens’ style of play, they must be congratulated on a brand of rugby which although not ‘pretty’, wins games.

"Offense sells tickets; Defense wins championships".

The above quote is from Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant regarding the NFL but how apt is it to describe Saracens Rugby Club. Measly attendances at Vicarage Road regardless of the opposition coupled with a defence which won them the premiership in 2011 and continues to deliver big ‘W’s’ week in, week out.

We all want to see attacking flair on a rugby pitch, tries being scored and copious points being accrued. But would you accept this brand of rugby over a victory? You need to ask yourself, would you prefer a 51-50 loss in a game of open attacking rugby, or a 3-0 victory clouded by rucks, mauls and close knit defence? It’s not for me to answer for everyone, but in my honest opinion, it’s got to be the victory. 

Saracens have found a battle-hardened spirit
through some 'team bonding'

Last year’s Premiership final saw the two best attacking teams, Harlequins and Leicester battling it out for the champion’s crown. Heralded as a ‘thrilling final’ Harlequins took the prize 30-23. Leicester will find no consolation in knowing that people enjoyed their style of rugby on the day. They will have wanted a win and I’m sure Cockerill would have gone to any length to get that.

Will Greenwood as a player and a pundit has my utmost respect and I value his opinion whole heartedly. He commented that the weekend’s game against Harlequins was like ‘Ying and Yang,’ and he was spot on.

“Saracens won the Premiership in the 2010-11 season with a style of play that was all about percentages, about turning the odds to their favour. The coaching staff decided that they were going to be the most efficient, least error-prone side of the year. If they could do that, the thinking went, then they would probably also manage to win the most games.”

“The pitch was split into zones, attack and defence had to work to a well laid out set of rules, players knew their roles, their positions, their expected reactions. Plans were best-laid, counter attacks were broken down into risk rewards, and more often than not players deciding that a kick was better than a run. “

It baffles me that a team who has the ability and expertise to shape a game in their favour and ‘squeeze the life’ out of teams gets so much criticism? It’s clear from Greenwood’s quote how much hard work goes into the training at Saracens and innovative approaches like individualised iPads for match analysis adds further weight to this argument. Conor O’Shea admitted in defeat “It became the game they wanted in terms of flow but that's a credit to them.”

I take my hat off to the ever consistent Leicester Tigers whose attacking style of play has seen them appear in 8 consecutive Premiership finals. Add to the mix the more recently rejuvenated Harlequins and Northampton and you have good value for money rugby. I would just like to remind people of the Brighton trip that Saracens went on late on in the 2010 season. They came back fully rejuvenated and played an attacking brand of rugby everyone wanted to see.  They defeated Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens in a pulsating game and showed the rugby community that they too, could mix it with the best.

For anyone who disputes Saracens’ attacking ability, just watch the video below. They may not score many tries, but when they do.......they’re pretty special.

I’ll go back to my original conundrum: Killing the game or masterful tacticians?

The answer lies in the fact that we know Saracens can play attacking rugby when they want to, yet they also harness the power to dictate games with their own style of play. Once again, like it or loathe it, it works and Saracens’ coaching and technical staff should be commended on the work which goes on behind the scenes to prepare the team for the big games. In my eyes, blinkered or not, they are masterful tacticians. 

Article from James Durward-Akhurst