In this week’s festive Throwback Thursday we take at look back at a couple of the corresponding fixtures from previous seasons including a Big Game at Twickenham Stadium and Wasps hosting Saracens at the Ricoh Arena.
Harlequins' Big Game has been an annual fixture in the Premiership Rugby calendar since 2008 and this year Conor O’Shea’s side will take on Gloucester Rugby. The home side’s current victory tally at Big Games is an even one; they’ve won three, drawn one and lost three. Last year the Northampton Saints were victorious by 30-25 however the year prior the home side delivered a strong display, 22-6, against the Exeter Chiefs and that is the match that we are going to reflect back on.
Prior to Big Game 6 there was just one point separating fourth-placed Quins from the Exeter Chiefs in fifth however on the day there was really just one team in it as Harlequins excelled at the Big Stoop. Nick Evans’ early try set the tone of the match and it is fair to say that Harlequins could have had many more points on the board had they converted their early chances. That said the home team continued to pressurise the Chiefs' defensive line and eventually the tries arrived with Charlie Walker the next to dot down and Mike Brown delivering the third.
In the second-half an early Gareth Steenson penalty abated things slightly however Harlequins turned the screw, particularly, at the set-piece and went on the charge again. Those that were there that day will remember that it was a purposeful performance by Harlequins and given their much stronger start to this domestic season I'm expecting big things from Conor O'Shea's side this Christmas time too.
In the second-half an early Gareth Steenson penalty abated things slightly however Harlequins turned the screw, particularly, at the set-piece and went on the charge again. Those that were there that day will remember that it was a purposeful performance by Harlequins and given their much stronger start to this domestic season I'm expecting big things from Conor O'Shea's side this Christmas time too.
The last time that Wasps and Saracens met it was Round 17 of the 2014-15 Aviva Premiership Season and Wasps were endeavouring to keep their unbeaten home record in tact. It was a match in which Alex Goode stepped into the fly-half role and, not for the first time, excelled by scoring 16 of Saracens’ 20 points.
Wasps had the early upper hand having romped to a 17-3 lead after just 15 minutes. Christian Wade delivered one of the finishes of the season down the right-hand win, a finish that still defies belief and certainly deserves another look (here). Elliot Daly then showed the Ricoh Arena crowd what he could do by slicing Saracens’ defence to pieces from inside his own half and it was looking very rosy for the men in black and gold. However Saracens weren't chasing the semi-finals for nothing and their reaction was as emphatic and impressed as Wasps’ opening tries.
Mark McCall’s side went onto score 23 unanswered points in what was described in their own match report as ‘a phenomenal display of controlled, physical and tactically astute rugby’ and to be honest I have to agree having been there at the time. Needless to say this match was an indication of Saracens’ ability to remain totally calm under pressure and force opponents to make mistakes and play into their hands.
With Wasps’ significant European victory over Bath Rugby still fresh in all of our minds and Saracens’ remaining unbeaten this competitive season the stage is set for another gripping encounter. Wasps must hold their nerve in the face of a side that are brimming with confidence knowing that, to date, no-one in Europe has been able to break them down and Saracens will want to finish the calendar year with another head-turning victory.
