Saracens 14 Bath 16

With their fourth loss in the past five league games, Saracens continued a slump as they flopped to defeat in the mud against Bath. The visitors came with a stronger front row and a more confident backline, and edged out victory despite weak kicking from fly-half Ryan Davis. Saracens’ fabled method of kicking to apply pressure broke down. With the ball in the safe hands of Nick Abendenon and Matt Banahan, the ball saw only a very limited amount of light.

All the more infuriating was the brightness with which Saracens started, despite the rain. From the opening kick-off, they collected and drove almost to the line before being turned over. It was a sign of many things to come, but they still went in ahead when Hayden Smith’s dropped lineout fell to Wikus van Heerden. The Saracens captain for the day had his back to the line, and almost fell through the Bath defence who were left scratching their heads.

Their were many other opportunities Sarries could have taken. Hougaard’s kicking from hand did succeed in putting the Bath backs under pressure, and when a Chris Wyles chase succeeded in creating a turnover, Brad Barritt had a perfect opportunity to either go wide or bluster his way through Bath’s unready defence. Instead, he kicked wide and the ball was scrambled out.

After the half time break Saracens became increasingly conservative and it was the scrum half, Neil de Kock, who was the prime suspect. De Kock has been a long-standing servant of the club, but he now has the misfortune to be compared to Justin Marshall, one of the most intelligent readers of the game. De Kock’s box kicks caused Bath little trouble and his passes frequently denied his fly-half a running start, if indeed Hougaard meant to run much. Instead, it seemed that Saracens would go for a drop goal at every opportunity – and unfortunately Hougaard is more of a drop goal fetishist than a specialist.

Saracens were less secure in their set piece than when they started this season. Etthienne Reynecke’s throwing into the lineout improved, but the rain made the jumpers’ jobs considerably more difficult. Still, Steve Borthwick cannot return soon enough. The scrum turned out to be more significant. Without Nieto and Aguero, and facing David Flatman and Duncan Bell, Sarries conceded a penalty try in the second half – bizarrely, because they seemed to be shoving Bath out of play at the final attempt and because Flatman seemed quicker to dip his shoulder. Perhaps the less said the better.

The last twenty minutes were probably shaded in possession and territory by Saracens, but they struggled to make gaps in the Bath defence with such narrow ambitions. When they won a penalty five metres in on the left of the 22-metre line, it was therefore fortuitous. And according to both coaches, Hougaard’s narrow miss meant a fair result. Brad Davis said that the scoreline flattered Saracens, and Brendan Venter – tactically unrepentant as ever – blamed the loss on missing players and set piece weaknesses. The Saracens Director of Rugby may have been strictly correct, but his team failed to play to its strengths and lost as a reult. That will have to change if the early-leaders are to finish the season strongly.