For all that the scoreboard makes for desperate reading yet again for Northampton, perhaps the most miserable aspect of this latest hammering is that Saracens hit top gear only intermittently in reaching their fourth half-century against the Saints this season.
Alex Lozowski was masterful at outside-centre and Maro Itoje commanding but the ease with which Northampton were sliced and diced in the second half – shipping 48 points without scoring a single one themselves – represents their lowest ebb in a dire season. “There’s embarrassment throughout the squad and the coaches,” said the Northampton coach, Alan Dickens.
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Nine different try scorers ensured Saracens moved on from their European Rugby Champions Cup exit at the hands of Leinster in emphatic style and remain on course for a home Premiership play-off. They have now scored 237 points, at an average of more than 59, in their four crushing wins over Saints and this was their highest total. “It says a lot about the group, after a six-day turnaround from Dublin, how mentally tough we were,” said the Saracens director of rugby, Mark McCall.
Remarkably, Saracens led just 15-13 at the interval. Indeed, Northampton turned down a penalty within Stephen Myler’s range that would have taken them into the break ahead, yet Sarries turned up the volume in the second half and Saints capitulated again. Ultimately, the season cannot end early enough – the brief bounce they enjoyed with Alan Gaffney’s arrival has now disappeared in the rear-view mirror. A tranche of players have been let go – in truth a lot of deadwood – and the only optimism stems from the anticipation that surrounds Chris Boyd’s arrival from the Hurricanes next season. He cannot, however, work miracles.
It was an inauspicious start from Northampton – Teimana Harrison butchering rugby’s equivalent of an open goal after a fine long pass from Myler. Five minutes later Saracens had their first try with Sean Maitland’s inside pass freeing Lozowski. Saints were then on the board after a high tackle from Owen Farrell – one of three by the fly-half in the first 40 minutes – with Myler on target.
Farrell responded in kind before the Saints hooker Reece Marshall, making his first Premiership start, finished well in the corner from close range. Northampton were ahead after another Myler penalty before Saracens upped the ante, kicked to the corner and Schalk Brits touched down from the driving lineout.
Perhaps given a reminder or two at the break, Saracens were suddenly in the mood and a muscular carry from Itoje led to Ben Spencer going over in the corner. The hammer blow came when Mako Vunipola powered over after a period of pressure and the coup de grace followed with a deliciously disguised chip by Farrell for Liam Williams to collect and add the fifth try.
Chris Wyles got in on the act after Lozowski carved open the Saints defence again and when Maitland crossed in the right-hand corner, Farrell’s conversion took Saracens into the fifties. Jackson Wray added the eighth try before Nathan Earle finished things off with streams of Northampton supporters having already made for the exit.