Alex Goode’s latest magical moment ended London Irish’s play-off hopes as Saracens sealed top spot in the Gallagher Premiership with a 45-21 win.
Evergreen full-back Goode’s wit and ingenuity has characterised the Men In Black’s successes for the best part of 15 years, so there were precious few surprised faces when his quick lineout at the end of a patchy first-half led him to start then finish a move that turned this game on its head.
Irish led 10-6 until the 40th minute, but Goode’s quick thinking with just seconds until the interval wrenched Saracens back into control.
The league’s outstanding side will now top the table whatever happens in the final round of fixtures, and will host Northampton in the Premiership semi-finals on Saturday, May 13.
Irish needed to win here and beat Exeter on May 6 to pip Saints to the play-off posts, but despite coming up shy the Exiles can be immensely proud of a resurgent second-half to the season.
Goode, Sean Maitland and Theo Dan all crossed before Eroni grabbed a late brace in Saracens’ bonus-point win, with Owen Farrell missing just once and contributing 20 points off the tee.
Matt Rogerson’s early score, Mike Willemse’s late consolation and 11 points from Paddy Jackson had Irish in the hunt until the break, but not much longer after that.
Irish belied their two-week break to start like the side that had played last week, in high contrast to the sluggish Sarries.
The Exiles won a big scrum penalty to allow Jackson to open the scoring off the tee. And when Rogerson ploughed home from short range, Jackson’s conversion had the visitors 10-0 to the good inside the quarter-hour.
What followed was a sequence of Saracens hunting entry points into the clash, Irish making cheap errors and the home side failing to capitalise.
The sense of situation and occasion certainly got to Ben Loader, who had started well but then endured a wretched 10-minute spell midway through the first-half. The full-back spilled a high ball under no pressure, then did the very same trying to field a regulation wide pass to bungle a routine exit strategy.
Farrell’s first penalty had Sarries on the scoreboard approach the half-hour. By this point Saracens were clearly targeting Loader with wide bombs. The Irish No 15 held the next one safely, but was driven off the ball on the deck.
Max Malins was harshly denied a try, judged to have lost the ball in attempted grounding, after concerted Saracens pressure. But Farrell slotted a penalty instead.
Irish’s quest to shut out Saracens until the break was exacerbated by Rob Simmons dumping Nick Tompkins off the ball after the Wales centre had knocked on.
Itoje then knocked on close to the line however, in another Exiles reprieve. Jackson punted to touch, hoping that would be that for the half.
But with 13 seconds on the clock, Goode chanced his arm at a quick throw. Malins fielded and stacked it to the deck, but Sarries recovered and quickly struck.
Ben Earl outstripped Agustin Creevy on the left flank, then fired inside to send the lurking Goode over the whitewash.Farrell’s tricky conversion wrestled Saracens a 13-10 half-time lead.
If the tide had turned before the break, Irish basically sealed their fate straight afterwards. Simmons had been lucky to avoid a card for first a swinging arm and then that dump tackle on Tompkins. So a high shot in the defensive line would only end one way, with a sin-binning.
Saracens duly punted out, won the lineout and worked the ball along the backline to send extra man Maitland in at the corner.
Farrell’s conversion put the hosts 20-10 and eyeing full control. Two Jackson penalties cut the gap to four points, but that only proved false hope for the visitors.
Farrell’s penalty ended any hint of a comeback, before Dan drove home Saracens’ third score.
Captain Farrell added the extras to stretch Saracens’ lead to 30-16 and leave Irish’s play-off hopes extinguished. Mawi still found time for that brace, with Willemse’s consolation for Irish the last word.
