Yahoo News Saracens dig deep after Will Skelton red card to edge Racing 92 and keep season alive
Saracens 27 Racing 24
England's Six Nations squad to hold clear-the-air talks over Saracens salary cap controversy
Saracens failing to open their books does not look like the act of an innocent club
That result is good news for Northampton
Who are now definitely through to the last eight after their win in Lyon.
Man of the match, Ben Earl
Amazing. That second 40 is everything this club is about. Obviously had a few obstacles this season but we knew we had to do the talking on the pitch today.
The experienced heads in the changing room spoke a lot about our plan, and then it was about putting it into practice.
It's the opportunity to win something. It's arguably the best competition in the world.
I'm enjoying my rugby. Trying to learn and get better every week and long may it continue.
FULL-TIME - Saracens 27-24 Racing 92
Final minute, Racing attacking from deep. They look knackered. It's been some battle, even with the man advantage. Palu gets up to Saracens 10-metre line.
Vakatawa's been quiet in this half, has a run there. Racing now up to 15 phases. Knocked on! Saracens drop on the ball, they have 10 seconds left.
It's been some week. But Saracens, for now, are in the Champions Cup quarter-finals. They fought well, as did Racing.
77 mins - Saracens 27-24 Racing 92
Racing, who have struggled with those high kicks into the sun all half, knock-on again. Or do they? TMO wants to check (after that earlier fiasco). We continue.
As it stands, Saracens are the eighth seed. Gloucester with a bonus-point win at Toulouse could still knock them out.
PENALTY FARRELL! Saracens 27-24 Racing 92
Nails it. Saracens lead with five minutes left. Their whole season rides on the next five minutes, really.
73 mins - Saracens 24-24 Racing 92
Earl stumbles as he picks up from the base. George driven back by Racing, great defence. Itoke stopped too. Saracens a metre out, if that. Ball lost! Racing steal it! No, we play on. How was that not a knock-on.
Saracens think they're over, but it'll need a long TMO check, bodies all on top of it.
No angle really showing that the ball is down by Taylor. This will have to come back for a penalty to Saracens, for offside. But it really looked like a knock-on on one carry by Saracens.
No try. Penalty for offside. Saracens opt for the three points from right in front.
71 mins - Saracens 24-24 Racing 92
Palu pinged for picking the ball up in an offside position - but the ball came off Daly onto Dulin's head?! That shouldn't have happened, poor officiating.
George to Kruis at the lineout. Farrell with an odd hook kick over the top, nearly works, but Maitland can't reach it. Racing dot down, 22 drop out.
No it's not - Racing are deemed to have carried the ball back over the line. Five-metre scrum for Saracens. This is surely the moment...
70 mins - Saracens 24-24 Racing 92
Farrell is back up on his feet, but Daly will take the shot at the posts. 45 metres out... he shanks it to the right! Oh dear.
YELLOW CARD LE ROUX!
Worth noting that a draw does nothing for Racing's bid to overhaul Exeter, or Saracens' hopes of making the last eight.
Saracens back on the attack now. Farrell down in the backfield, a late tackle maybe? TMO having a look.
Definitely late by Le Roux, Farrell was stood still after making the pass. Both sides now have 14 men!
68 mins - Saracens 24-24 Racing 92
Saracens probing, attacking near the 22, but Daly drops a ball and Russell hacks clear, gaining 50 metres as the ball rolls out into touch in the Saracens' 22.
George down for some treatment. Hopefully only cramp. Luke Cowan-Dickie, his main England rival, was excellent yesterday. He's good to continue.
65 mins - Saracens 24-24 Racing 92
Mako, who looks as though he has nothing left, makes way. High kick by Farrell to Dulin, who runs back b ut gets dragged into touch.
63 mins - Saracens 24-24 Racing 92
A brief maul from Racing before trying to go through the hands. Grubber by Chavancy, read by Daly but he can only prod it into touch.
Racing go quick, Russell running it back, tipped up but brought down safely. Tonga, the Racing No 8, with a nice step. Tackle by Wray though forces a spill.
61 mins - Saracens 24-24 Racing 92
Couple of knock-ons, Saracens with a scrum in their 22. Wigglesworth clears with a box kick, knocked on by Racing. Good kick and chase.
Couple of resets before Saracens kick clear to Dulin. Racing looking for gaps, Vakatawa makes ground and then Sarries are pinged for not rolling away. Chance for some Racing territory.
59 mins - Saracens 24-24 Racing 92
Dulin threads a nice grubber past Daly into touch inside Saracens' 22.
57 mins - Saracens 24-24 Racing 92
Iribaren caught ball-watching again - time to haul him off? - as Saracens keep attacking. Farrell with a bomb, into the sun, but Racing do well to win that back and then clear, the ball rolling over Saracens' line for a drop out. Good net gain.
Iribaren is coming off, Machenaud on. Fine replacement, that.
55 mins - Saracens 24-24 Racing 92
Racing feeling the pressure now, despite having the extra man. Good pressure on Russell by Farrell, not the greatest touchfinder as a result. Saracens with an attacking lineout.
Owen Farrell still wanging these passes across the face of Racing despite being intercepted in the first half is very Owen Farrell. Superb from Ben Earl as well.
— Charlie Morgan (@CharlieFelix) January 19, 2020
TRY ITOJE! Saracens 24-24 Racing 92
Saracens working hard to get the ball back at every break down. Vakatawa slowed that right down, advantage played. Kicked wide, Iribaren lets it bounce - why?! - to Taylor, feeding Earl who does so well, down the touchline and offloading over the top to Itoje who gets his second!
Converted well by Farrell. Saracens are level!
48 mins - Saracens 17-24 Racing 92
Wigglesworth and Lewington on for Saracens. Farrell puts up a high kick into the sun, knocked on by Iribaren into touch. Saracens' lineout coming up.
PENALTY IRIBAREN! Saracens 17-24 Racing 92
He's sunk it! What a strike, using the breeze well behind him. Seven-point lead for the visitors.
45 mins - Saracens 17-21 Racing 92
Promising attack for Saracens comes to an end with a turnover, before Racing clear. And that's another breakdown penalty! Racing over the ball again, Le Roux gets in there. Was there a dodgy clearout by Racing to make that happen? Not really, only a small shove. Iribaren going for the posts from right on the middle of the halfway line.
43 mins - Saracens 17-21 Racing 92
Scrum penalty Saracens! That's a good boost. They kick to touch just outside the Racing 22.
Second half is underway
Huge test for Saracens, essentially the last meaningful game of their season.
But equally so for Racing - think what winning here would do for their confidence ahead of the quarters.
One of Racing's players with a thought...
Sarries 2020 pic.twitter.com/EgAsNHSusr
— Simon Zebo (@SimonZebo) January 19, 2020
HALF-TIME: Saracens 17-21 Racing 92
Iribaren misses the penalty wide and that's the break. Some drama-filled half. Billy Vunipola off injured. Will Skelton red carded. And Racing have hit back to lead! Second half on the way.
RED CARD WILL SKELTON!
Skelton in big trouble, a late hit with the shoulder to the head of Dulin. Has to be red. And is! Saracens' afternoon gets worse. He came on for Billy Vunipola, and now Skelton's off and the defending champions are down to 14.
38 mins - Saracens 17-21 Racing 92
Vakatawa bounces off a tackle, rolling right and past a couple of defenders. He's a glitch.
Racing with lots of ball here but not making much ground. Wide pass to Vakatawa, who then produces a ridiculous sidestep on Segun, before being bundled into touch.
TMO checking for a high tackle against Skelton.
36 mins - Saracens 17-21 Racing 92
Racing kick to touch, but Kruis comes up with a superb lineout steal. Saracens attacking, ball drops backwards, losing ground. Daly then kicks the ball dead. Saracens wobbling.
32 mins - Saracens 17-21 Racing 92
So much fight in this Racing side. Quality last 10 minutes. Saracens need a lift now, that's for sure.
Daly with the dummy might just deliver it! But Itoje loses the ball in the tackle and Racing clear. Back come Saracens, but Segun fumbles and Saracens give up a penalty - some leadership needed now.
TRY VAKATAWA! Saracens 17-21 Racing 92
Set move, Iribaren looping, Russell fends off Farrell and runs into the 22. What a classy move, making 40 metres. Now can they capitalise. Vakatawa's in!! Ruthless. Superb. Bottle it up. Saracens have been torn open there.
29 mins - Saracens 17-14 Racing 92
Barritt with a drop in midfield, that doesn't happen too often. Racing scrum in Saracens' half.
TRY DUPICHOT! Saracens 17-14 Racing 92
Saracens steadily shifting the ball wide and then get picked off by Dupichot! Two tries out of nothing. Brilliantly read by the wing. Iribaren, back from the bin, converts. That makes things interesting.
Big intercept try from Racing!
Owen Farrell with a loose pass for Saracens... pic.twitter.com/ZD7OL4lsnM— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) January 19, 2020
23 mins - Saracens 17-7 Racing 92
Racing going nowhere and lose possession.
Billy Vunipola off with a suspected broken forearm, according to Alex Sanderson speaking to BT Sport. Wow. That might be his Six Nations over before it's started. He's suffered that injury twice beforehand.
Saracens celebrate their opener
21 mins - Saracens 17-7 Racing 92
Penalty goes Racing's way this time and they kick to touch. The maul makes decent ground before being pulled down, advantage being played.
We'll come back for that penalty, which Racing will put in the corner through Russell, who fires up his forwards.
PENALTY FARRELL! Saracens 17-7 Racing 92
Another penalty against Racing, chipped over by Farrell for three points. Iribaren almost back for the visitors.
A familiar face cheering Saracens on
TRY VAKATAWA! Saracens 14-7 Racing 92
That's a super response. Vakatawa is put away down the touchline and burns off the defence. Nigel Owens wants to check a possible knock-on, however... all good! Try given.
TRY M VUNIPOLA! Saracens 14-0 Racing 92
There's the second. Racing lose Iribaren for a deliberate knock-on to a yellow card, and Saracens kick to touch, before setting up the maul. Mako Vunipola crashes over! Good, curling conversion from Farrell.
10 mins - Saracens 7-0 Racing 92
Daly's miss-pass to the wing sets Saracens free up the touchline, before the attack breaks down in Racing's 22.
9 mins - Saracens 7-0 Racing 92
Racing break, and break well too, until Vakatawa knocks on taking a return pass. A warning shot for Saracens.
7 mins - Saracens 7-0 Racing 92
Another Saracens penalty, Ben Arous under pressure at the scrum. They find touch in Racing's 22. Billy going off means Itoje into the back row.
5 mins - Saracens 7-0 Racing 92
Penalty for Saracens in their 22 and Daly clears to touch. Lineout near halfway, won at the tail by Kruis. Dulin takes the high kick well but Saracens win it back. Shifted wide to Segun. Then a chip over the top by Russell but we're coming back for a Racing knock-on. Saracens with the scrum 40 metres out.
Billy getting some medical attention, is he coming off? Yep. Skelton replaces him. A worry for England, who name their squad tomorrow.
TRY ITOJE! Saracens 7-0 Racing 92
Billy Vunipola smashes up, Saracens recycle and Itoje is over! Perfect start. Saracens coming out at full throttle. Farrell converts.
2 mins - Saracens 0-0 Racing 92
And the visitors are right under the pump after Farrell's grubber, Thomas going back, getting caught by the chase and giving up a penalty. Saracens opt for the lineout. Maul coming?
Must say, it's a belter of a day for it
Crisp, sun shining. Nigel Owens on the whistle. Sure we won't forget this game, and this day, in a hurry.
Owen Farrell gets us underway.
The two teams
Saracens: 15. Elliot Daly, 14. Sean Maitland, 13. Duncan Taylor, 12. Brad Barritt (c), 11. Roti Segun, 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Ben Spencer, 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Jamie George, 3. Vincent Koch, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. George Kruis, 6. Jackson Wray, 7. Ben Earl, 8. Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16. Jack Singleton , 17. Richard Barrington, 18. Titi Lamositele, 19. Will Skelton, 20. Calum Clark, 21. Richard Wigglesworth, 22. Alex Lozowski, 23. Alex Lewington
Racing 92: 15. Brice Dulin, 14. Louis Dupichot, 13. Virimi Vakatawa, 12. Henry Chavancy (c), 11. Juan Imhoff, 10. Finn Russell, 9. Teddy Iribaren, 1. Eddy Ben Arous, 2. Teddy Baubigny, 3. Cedate Gomes Sa, 4. Donnacha Ryan, 5. Boris Palu, 6. Wenceslas Lauret, 7. Bernard Le Roux, 8. Yoan Tanga
Replacements: 16. Kevin Le Guen, 17. Hassane Kolingar, 18. Ali Oz, 19. Fabien Sanconnie, 20. Baptiste Chouzenoux, 21. Maxime Machenaud, 22. Francois Trinh-Duc, 23. Olivier Klemenczak
Here's Mark McCall
"It's been a tough ten-weeks, the last two/three days the goalposts have changed again."
"The playing group have shown real resilience and unity"
Saracens' Director of Rugby Mark McCall reacts to the news of relegation for his side and where the club goes from here... pic.twitter.com/0QjzxQcwIK— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) January 19, 2020
Racing can win this
Worth remembering how well Racing have played recently, Virimi Vakatawa in particular. Here is how they fared last week against Munster.
All feels a bit weird
This Saracens side is packed full of internationals used to pressure in matches, but nothing really prepares you for this, does it?
Owen Farrell, according to The Sun, told the squad on Friday that he would not be going anywhere next season. But what about the Vunipolas, Itoje and the rest? Saracens have to find a reported £2m from somewhere.
Brian O'Driscoll and Lawrence Dallaglio weigh in
A dark weekend for Saracens. A dark weekend for rugby.
The situation at the club is dissected by @BrianODriscoll and @dallaglio8... pic.twitter.com/DpIuMtCucv— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) January 19, 2020
Sir Ian McGeechan's take
If Tony Rowe, the Exeter chief executive, is to be believed and they really have denied independent auditors access to their books, then that does not look like the act of an innocent club.
A busy man the last few weeks
Welcome along
Not a quiet weekend at Allianz Park. In case you missed it - unlikely - Saracens will be relegated from the Gallagher Premiership at the end of the season. They also have a Champions Cup match to play this afternoon, which, they must win, ideally with a bonus point, in order to get through to the quarter-finals.
There is plenty to read about regarding the relegation story, I would recommend the bullet points above, but, for just a brief moment, let's focus on the game.
Racing 92 are gunning to finish as second seeds and need a bonus-point win, and to win by 11 points, in order to overtake Exeter Chiefs and to qualify for a potential home semi-final.
Saracens, meanwhile, on 14 points, are battling to make the last eight and have named a strong side in order to attempt to pull that off.
Now, here's the full statement from Saracens this morning.
THE BOARD OF SARACENS WISHES TO UNRESERVEDLY APOLOGISE FOR THE MISTAKES MADE IN RELATION TO THE SALARY CAP REGULATIONS.
Our goal is to rebuild confidence and trust. The first step was to appoint a new independent chairman to lead on governance reform ensuring errors of the past are not replicated in the future. Furthermore, following open and frank discussions with PRL, we have accepted the unprecedented measure of automatic relegation from the Premiership at the end of the 2019-2020 season.
We understand this decision will be difficult for the Saracens family to accept. The Board must embody the values of the club, learn from its mistakes so the Club can come back stronger. It is in the wider interests of the Premiership and English rugby to take this decisive step, to ensure everybody is able once again to focus on the game of rugby, which we all love.
We hope that we can now start to move forward, begin to restore confidence and over time, rebuild trust with PRL, its stakeholders and the wider rugby community.
