Heineken Cup Review - Saracens 27 - 16 Ulster

Poor old Chris Ashton.  He’s had a hard time of it of late.  He’s gone from being the golden boy of English rugby and one of the game’s most potent finishers, to being a lost soul on the wing with all the defensive aggression of Bambi in a soppy mood.  His arrogance and swagger – an indicator of his confidence and ability before – seemed to have dissipated, leaving behind a convenient target for ridicule from his Celtic friends, especially on a Lions year.  But there is that old saying: “Form is temporary, class is permanent”, and although Ashton may have been out of form for the best part of 18 months, he was back to his razor sharp best at Twickenham on Saturday.

Ulster, last year’s Heineken Cup finalists, had enjoyed a dominant start to their Pro 12 season, but had stuttered slightly of late, showing signs of vulnerability in Europe as well – including a rare home reversal at the hands of Northampton.  But the opening exchanges against the Premiership leaders, who have been on fire domestically in England, were even and full of intriguing battles – none more so than in the set piece, where Steve Borthwick ruled the air in the lineout like an exceptionally ugly bald eagle and the Ulster pack hungrily smashed back their opponents’ scrum with consummate ease.  The even nature of the game was reflected in the scoreline after 30 minutes, 6-6 after 2 penalties apiece from Owen Farrell and Ruan Pienaar, despite the latter missing his first pair of attempts. 

A first try didn’t seem far away, and Saracens duly provided.  With Owen Farrell and Richard Wigglesworth playing a smart territory game, Sarries won a lineout (wrongly – the ball clearly came off Ernst Joubert) 20 metres from the opposition line, and shunted their way towards their target like a drunken Geordie in a kebab shop, clattering over the Irish side’s line with aplomb.  Will Fraser was the last to get up and claim the try, with Farrell adding the conversion.  The England fly half then added another 3 points to give the home side a 10 point lead at the break.

A Pienaar penalty was sandwiched by 2 Farrell efforts upon the resumption to give the men in black a 13 point lead that was to prove to be unassailable for the visitors – but that’s not to say they didn’t give it a decent crack.  Number 8 Nick Williams was always a bruising presence with ball in hand, Luke Marshall continues to look like he may be the real deal at centre, and big blindside flanker Iain Henderson went on one particularly notable charge where he seemed to hand off half the Sarries pack.  But ultimately the home side were still looking the more threatening, and Ashton – who had been looking dangerous all afternoon with several searing breaks – finally got his reward.  Bursting onto a Brad Barritt pass, the England winger burst through the defence before stepping off his left foot and burning Paddy Jackson and Tommy Bowe on the way to the line in a finish that he wouldn’t have attempted a month ago.  Unfortunately, he did his usual ridiculous dive, but it did nothing to take away from what was a world class finish and a timely reminder of what he can do when in form.

Henderson scored a deserved try as he ploughed over on the right for a consolation score for Ulster, but this was Saracens’ afternoon, with the English side cruising into the semi-finals.  They’ve certainly made a splash in Europe this season; and fans of Sarries will be pleased to see it was the Ash-Splash that was making the waves on Saturday.