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Saracens coach rues lack of England stars after Harlequins defeat

Harry Latham-Coyle
·3-min read
A general view of The Stoop, home of Harlequins during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Harlequins and Bath Rugby at Twickenham Stoop on October 23, 2021 in London, England. - Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)
A general view of The Stoop, home of Harlequins during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Harlequins and Bath Rugby at Twickenham Stoop on October 23, 2021 in London, England. - Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Harlequins 19 Saracens 10

Saracens head coach Alex Austerberry described the unavailability of his England stars for his side’s defeat to Harlequins as an "own goal" after two depleted sides contested the latest edition of the Premier 15s signature clash.

As part of a managed return to action following the tournament in New Zealand, few of England’s World Cup squad members have yet featured in the new domestic season.

Harlequins lock Rosie Galligan, pressed into duty after just five minutes due to Katy Mew’s injury, was able to feature as a non-centrally contracted player, but Marlie Packer, Ellie Kildunne and Zoe Harrison were among those forced to watch on from the stands.

"It’s a little bit of an own goal," said Austerberry, though admitting that his defending champions had fallen to a better side. "We need to do better at making sure that everyone is available as long as they are fit. I think the powers that be need to look at that. We want the best players playing, and more importantly fans seeing everyone."

Their absence was felt significantly on a bitterly cold December day at the Twickenham Stoop. An error-prone, staccato game rather lacked the intensity and ill-feeling that has come to characterise this fierce rivalry between the two most successful clubs in league history.

Saracens began strongly, scoring twice in the first half-hour through Alex Ellis and the ever-impressive hooker May Campbell.

But Harlequins roared back impressively, first answering Campbell’s maul score with one of their own before Bella McKenzie – a new Australian import adding real backline firepower – carved delightfully past three Saracens tacklers and into the corner.

A tense second half followed, with the sealing score delivered by Tove Viksten, signing off in a Harlequins shirt with a rare short-range try in her 66th and final appearance.

"You see quite a few players up in the stands, and people are excited to see them, but they’d be more excited to see them on the grass," added Austerberry, who is expecting only a couple of his eight England World Cup squad members back available for an intriguing encounter with emerging force Gloucester-Hartpury next weekend.

"It would be remiss of me to say that they are not frustrations around that.”

Match details

Scoring sequence 0-5 Ellis try, 0-10 Campbell try, 7-10 penalty try, 12-10 McKenzie try, 17-10 Viksten try, 19-10 McKenzie conversion
Harlequins: E Scott; L Torley, L Tuima (G Comerford 53), R Burford, I Mayhew; B McKenzie, E Swords (F Aucken 50); H Duffy (T Viksten 62), R Dobson (D Catlin 63), B Cleall (C Edwards 62); K Leaney, S Bonar; K Mew (R Galligan 5), E Robinson, J Konkel-Roberts
Unused replacements: L Heryet; B Blacklock
Saracens: I Alejandro; S Gregson, H Casey, C Wardle (C Grant 56), L Clapp; F Williams, E Wyrwas; K Clifford, M Campbell, A Ellis (J Turl 53 [J Loyola 62]); L McMillan, S Tansley (C Jacobs 50); G Evans (T Schutzler 56), S Kasolo (J Rettie 43), G Moore (K Evans 72)
Unused replacements: K Johnson
Referee G Selwood