The Amlin Challenge Cup Pool 3 match between Saracens and Toulon at Vicarage Road on Thursday Jan 14, 2010.
Saracens eased the pain of back-to-back Premiership defeats by keeping alive hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup with a comfortable victory over Toulon in front of England manager Martin Johnson at Vicarage Road on Thursday night.
On a bitterly cold and damp night, there was little rugby on display to warm the hearts although Johnson, who was joined by England’s kicking coach Jon Callard, would have been pleased to see Steve Borthwick and Jonny Wilkinson come through the encounter unscathed.
Wilkinson, playing his first club game in England since his move to France at the end of last season, had a relatively quiet night, landing a second-minute drop goal and two penalties, but was outshone by his opposite number Derick Hougaard.
Not for the first time this season Saracens, with Hougaard pulling the strings, were able to strangle the life out of their opponents by executing a superior kick and chase game with 21 year-old Andy Saull, promoted to the England Saxons squad on Wednesday, excelling at the breakdown.
Yet Saracens’ failure to clinch a four-try bonus point, a feat that has eluded them all season in all competitions, is likely to prove costly.
Venter’s side travel to Rovigo next Saturday while Toulon, who top Pool Three by one point, entertain French rivals Castres.
For Saracens to qualify, they must pick up a bonus point at Rovigo and hope that Toulon fail to do so against Castres as they possess the better points-difference over their two matches, having both scored three tries each.
Should Venter’s men miss out a place in the quarter-final by dint of few bonus points, Saracens only have themselves to blame.
It was not until they had established a 21-9 lead and Toulon lost flankers Olivier Missoup and Cédric Beal in the sin bin within a minute early in the second half that the home side began to demonstrate any urgency for scoring tries.
But the change in tactics of kicking to the corners instead of the posts only yielded a sole touchdown by flanker Justin Melck, which was converted by Hougaard, from a driving maul while Toulon were playing with 13 men. It was a rare highlight on a forgettable night.
The first quarter was notable only for a kicking duel between Hougaard and Wilkinson, which the South African edged to give Saracens a 15-9 at the interval.
Wilkinson landed a trademark dropped goal in the third minute from 40 metres but it was cancelled out by a dropped goal by Justin Marshall drop-goal moments.
Three penalties by Hougaard as Toulon’s discipline at the breakdown went into meltdown, however, allowed Saracens to surge ahead. Toulon were left to rue a squandered opportunity when Wilkinson had the pace and courage to claim his own deft chip, but Joe van Niekerk failed to hang on to the pass when a try seemed certain.
Two penalties by Wilkinson at least kept Toulon in touch, but Wilkinson missed the opportunity to level the scores when he surprisingly pushed a third penalty attempt wide and Hougaard’s monster effort from half-way line on the stroke of half-time gave Saracens the breathing space they required to push on for victory.
Toulon’s effort collapsed not long after the restart as Hougaard banged over two quick penalties and the French side lost their two flankers to the sin bin.
But, aside from Melck’s touchdown, Saracens could not push on despite their impregnable position, and that could yet prove fatal.
Match details
Saracens: Goode; Penney, Ratuvou, Barritt, Wyles; Hougaard, Marshall; Gill, Brits, Nieto, Borthwick (capt), Ryder, Melck, Saull, Joubert.
Subs: Ongaro, Aguero, Mercey, Vyvyan, Barrell, de Kock, Powell, Cato.
Toulon: Rooney; Marienval, Lovobalavu, May, Loamanu; Wilkinson, Henjak; Taumoepeau, Djoudi, Leaaetoa, Lozada, Chesney, Missoup, Beal, van Niekerk.
Subs: Bruno, Emmanuelli, Kubriashvili, Tussac, Contepomi, Kefu, Giacobazzi, Ryan.
Referee: N Paterson (Scotland).
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