Wasps vs Saracens Sunday 3 pm

[Oakboy]

Saracens are good at playing on the edge. Usually, they get away with a lot but today they were found out with the two yellows. It will be interesting to see how they manage with 13 in view of their brilliance at coping with 14.

[Peej]

How the he'll is that not a penalty from Maro?

[morepork]

Jesus christ, many Mr. Shoutys out there.

[morepork]

Itoje is shockingly cynical at the ruck.

[Timbo]

Feel a bit sorry for Wasps with these injuries.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Surprised Barnes didn't go to TMO for a possible double movement by spencer before awarding that try. Did not look clear in real-time.

[Peej]

He wasn't held though so could've kept moving.

[fivepointer]

No problem with the Spencer try as he wasnt held.
Tough on Wasps to lose Launchbury before the game and their 2 centres during it. They are getting seriously stretched with injuries.
Credit Saracens with a high quality performance, though. They did look a cut above and seem to be back to their best.
I thought Farrell was excellent apart from some untypically poor place kicking.

[Mikey Brown]

Farrell’s three high tackles in 15 seconds was quite something. I really wish he had the technique to match his vigour.

[morepork]

Farrell’s three high tackles in 15 seconds was quite something. I really wish he had the technique to match his vigour.

He slipped a nice flat pass to the oncoming prancing pony for that try though.

[Banquo]

Itoje is shockingly cynical at the ruck.

a kiwi shocked at cynicism at the ruck? I'm shocked

[Banquo]

No problem with the Spencer try as he wasnt held.
Tough on Wasps to lose Launchbury before the game and their 2 centres during it. They are getting seriously stretched with injuries.
Credit Saracens with a high quality performance, though. They did look a cut above and seem to be back to their best.
I thought Farrell was excellent apart from some untypically poor place kicking.

Billy was top notch, (and has shed some pounds) as was Goode- he's a top club player, prancing or otherwise. Faz was very good after his yellow, one botched kick aside.....before he got binned, his passing was ropy, as was his place kicking, and he was doing his usual headless chicken act.

Good match, Wasps did well to compete for an hour.

[morepork]

Itoje is shockingly cynical at the ruck.

a kiwi shocked at cynicism at the ruck? I'm shocked

Yes, yes you culturally insensitive bastard.

[Raggs]

As one sided as it ended, given our squad, I'm not actually too upset. Armitage is about 7th choice centre by my reckoning (even though he did OK), and then paired with Miller. Certainly wouldn't think it would reflect on any game in the future (unless we have similar injury levels).

[Banquo]

Itoje is shockingly cynical at the ruck.

a kiwi shocked at cynicism at the ruck? I'm shocked

Yes, yes you culturally insensitive bastard.

[Oakboy]

No problem with the Spencer try as he wasnt held.
Tough on Wasps to lose Launchbury before the game and their 2 centres during it. They are getting seriously stretched with injuries.
Credit Saracens with a high quality performance, though. They did look a cut above and seem to be back to their best.
I thought Farrell was excellent apart from some untypically poor place kicking.

Billy was top notch, (and has shed some pounds) as was Goode- he's a top club player, prancing or otherwise. Faz was very good after his yellow, one botched kick aside.....before he got binned, his passing was ropy, as was his place kicking, and he was doing his usual headless chicken act.

Good match, Wasps did well to compete for an hour.

There's simply a superb collective team method and spirit to Saracens. Any individual seems instantly forgiven for a mistake if he gets stuck into the next bit of action. I've never liked the club or some of its players in the past but I really should stop the prejudicial view that probably was originally associated with Ventner.

[Banquo]

No problem with the Spencer try as he wasnt held.
Tough on Wasps to lose Launchbury before the game and their 2 centres during it. They are getting seriously stretched with injuries.
Credit Saracens with a high quality performance, though. They did look a cut above and seem to be back to their best.
I thought Farrell was excellent apart from some untypically poor place kicking.

Billy was top notch, (and has shed some pounds) as was Goode- he's a top club player, prancing or otherwise. Faz was very good after his yellow, one botched kick aside.....before he got binned, his passing was ropy, as was his place kicking, and he was doing his usual headless chicken act.

Good match, Wasps did well to compete for an hour.

There's simply a superb collective team method and spirit to Saracens. Any individual seems instantly forgiven for a mistake if he gets stuck into the next bit of action. I've never liked the club or some of its players in the past but I really should stop the prejudicial view that probably was originally associated with Ventner.

They are a great example of good coaching and team building/spirit. And they have developed some great talent for the national team.

[fivepointer]

They are a top club. Professional and well run. They have set the standard over the last 5/6 years, producing and developing a string of high class international talent.

Some other "big" clubs should take note.

[Mellsblue]

Well run?!?!? They’re in a shed load of debt and have repeatedly been accused of breaking the salary cap. No arguments about their performances on the pitch or production of players but their attitude to financial management is, well, poor.

[ExAviator]

They’re in a shed load of debt and have repeatedly been accused of breaking the salary cap.

I note with interest your comments Mellsblue.


Ref your first comment, would you care to substantiate? How much is the current Saracen’s debt and how does this compare with the other eleven Premiership Clubs?
Ref your second comment: I could accuse you of being truthful or of being a liar. Only one can be correct and I’m sure it’s the former. Like you I support what is my local club, Bedford but obviously detractors could accuse that club of malpractice without any evidence whatsoever. Are some of these accusations against Saracens possibly anecdotal?
My wife and I are hold season tickets for Saracens so, of course, I am totally unbiased. And what an enjoyable afternoon we spent at the Ricoh Arena yesterday!

[Digby]

Sarries are reportedly in around £50 million of debt and are losing £4-5 million a season, both of which is on the high side. However as things stand Sarries are also arguably better able to manage that position than other clubs can with their own smaller levels of debt.

And I can't imagine many people wouldn't reasonably conclude Sarries aren't one of the clubs to have breached the cap. They're not the only ones however, and the game didn't have to decide each time it's been shown to have happened to merely issue a small fine and sweep all the evidence under the carpet.

[Mellsblue]

What Diggers said. Though, imagine how much debt they’d be in if they invested in some grit for the stadium access routes

Comparing with the other Prem clubs is like going to your local prison and asking who is the least guilty.

[Danno]

Filed accounts to June 2016 (available here:
beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/0311 ... ng-history ) show:

Loss for the year in excess of £3M
Consolidated losses of >£56M
Short term liabilities of >£51M
Long term liabilities of £800k

There's inter-company elements that I have not looked at which is keeping a hatful of assets off of the balance sheet (no goodwill, player contracts, future TV income etc), but those are some h*cking hefty losses.

As an unreliable point of interest, salaries are £9M, but that quite likely includes everyone employed by Sarries, which is obviously way way way more than just their players

[hugh_woatmeigh]

He wasn't held though so could've kept moving.

On his knees? Is that legal? Genuine Q. He looks to take 3 steps on his knees before diving for the line after being felled.

[ExAviator]

Thanks Danny, Digby, and Mellsblue for the updates. £50+M is a big debt I agree, but the lack of grit meant we got a good rebate on our season tickets! Nevermind our support for Sarries, and Bedford, will continue as strongly as ever and, l'll retain my belief, possibly erroneously, that other Premiership teams are not that much better.