Premier 15s Semi-Final Preview: Saracens vs Harlequins
This one feels a bit familiar.
Well, for the first time in the Premier 15s era, we’ll have a final that isn’t between Saracens and Harlequins, which is quite exciting, isn’t it? Instead, we get a replay of last year’s final (and the two before that) in the form of a semi-final this weekend. The winner faces either Exeter Chiefs or Bristol Bears in the final. Of course, you might back the eventual winners of the final to come from this tie.
Lets dive into some of the key areas and players who might make the difference this weekend.
Sunday 14:00: Saracens vs Harlequins, @ StoneX Stadium.
Saracens have been thoroughly dominant this season, holding a monopoly on the top spot of the Premier 15s table and losing just two of their 18 games.
But the cracks are starting to show. The latest of their two losses came two weeks ago in the form of a 54-12 hammering from Exeter Chiefs - an historic result. Their third loss almost came last weekend, as Wasps raced to a 21-point lead at the StoneX before Saracens turned it around, eventually winning 31-26.
Still, coming back from 21-points down to win tells you they are a team who refuse to keel over so easily, which is correct. The quality in their ranks, which is likely the most supreme collection of talent in the league, makes them equally dangerous no matter how many points they’re behind or ahead. A comeback is always on the cards; they’ve done it numerous times this season. Their quality is such that it takes a truly commanding performance to hold them down. Give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile.
Be that as it may, they’ve clearly taken their foot off the boil in the last few rounds, perhaps because they secured a home semi-final some time ago and the absence of notable individuals such as fly-half Zoe Harrison.
With that said, Austerberry is not one to let standards slip. He coaches this group with passion and tenacity. He will have ripped into the team after their Exeter loss. And he will have made sure they knew what to do going into the second half against Wasps. They will know what is expected of them when Harlequins come to their house.
For Harlequins on the other hand, a fourth-place finish might feel disappointing for the reigning champions, but its also testament to how fiercely Bristol and Exeter have battled to secure second and third this season.
They head to the StoneX off the back of an away loss to Loughborough Lightning, one which they had to win in order to secure a home semi-final. It was a game which encapsulated their season in a way - a bit inconsistent; flashes of excellence with errors strewn throughout. But they have the tools to beat Saracens - they did so at the StoneX earlier in the season - in the form of a mighty front row and ultimate speed out wide.
Having to face Saracens at home the back of a loss isn’t exactly ideal, but its a challenge that Gerard Mullen’s side will relish. They may have lost to Sarries at the Stoop a few months ago, but when they visited the StoneX late last year, they were triumphant.
Let us not forget they were underdogs in last year’s final too, before outmuscling and outmanoeuvring Saracens to bring home a maiden Premier 15s title. It is a label that Mullen and his team will wear with pride as they look to shock the table toppers.
For all the attacking skill both sides possess, the true battle likely takes place between the two forward packs.
Harlequins have built a lot of their game around their pack in recent seasons, having too much power for their opposition and dominating them upfront. This season, however, they haven’t necessarily got the dominance over teams they once did.
Still, with their pack, they’ll look to hammer, particularly with their front row. Using their power to get over the gain line and create quick ball for the backs. When Quins get into the red zone, their forwards will take great pride in sending wave after wave at the opposition and breaking them down before crashing over the line. Vice-captain Sarah Beckett is savage from close range.
With an all-England front row of Vickii Cornborough, Amy Cokayne and Shaunagh Brown, they can make dents in any defence. Immense ball carrying aside, what stands out is the handling and offloading ability of Brown. Her strength in contact routinely gets her side over the gain line, and her aptness in getting an arm free and popping the ball on invites darting lines from her fellow Harlequins, particularly when she receives the ball off 10. Not only will Saracens have to deal with her charges, but with the space she subsequently creates for her colleagues.
Add in the likes of Rosie Galligan, Fi Fletcher, and even recent signing, USA international Jenny Kronish, also proficient offloader, and the Quins pack is one to be jealous of. Their maul is dangerous, and was something they weaponised as they beat Saracens at the StoneX earlier in the season. Fletcher especially being an excellent lineout operator.
They will face a tough test against Saracens’ pack, however, which has their own rampaging prop in the form of Red Roses’ Hannah Botterman. Where Quins’ strength mainly lies in the front row, Saracens’ comes from the back - predominantly from Poppy Cleall, who’ll actually pack down in the second row this weekend, and Marlie Packer, which feels a bit too unfair at times.
Packer’s prowess at the breakdown is assertive and exceptional, constantly securing ball for her own side, and stealing the opposition’s. She’s a serial player of the match winner in all honesty. If Harlequins want to get the ball out wide, or get the ball at all, they’re gonna have to neutralise the threat of Packer over the ball. Even if she doesn’t win the turnover, she’ll make life hard for Quins and dramatically slow down their ruck speed.
In Cleall, Saracens have possibly the greatest ball-carrying forward in the world. She combines her strength with pure aggression, often needing at least two defenders to stop her and drag her down. She attracts so much attention, and rightly so, that she in turn creates space for the likes of Packer to run on her inside and out. Close to the line, she can bully her way over no problem, but she’s smart enough to tip the ball on to a teammate and let them exploit a gap she creates.
Its no surprise that of Saracens’ top try scorers this season, the top four are forwards: Packer (14), May Campbell (11), Cleall (10), and Botterman (7). They possess such a merciless array of ball carriers. Backed by the likes of dynamic loose forwards Sonia Green and Vicky Fleetwood. They’re a handful.
There is plenty of firepower in the each backline too. Harlequins’ scrum-half Lucy Packer, whilst a strong box-kicker, can snipe gaps from the edge of the ruck. Rachel Burford is a bulldozing centre with excellent distribution, and the pace out wide with the likes of Ellie Kildunne, Heather Cowen, and Jess Breach is frightening. Its key that Quins create hesitancy in Saracens’ defence and pick their moments well.
Burford represents a reliable tormentor who gets over the gain line at will, but Quins will need to know when to use her as a decoy and pull it back deeper to an oncoming Kildunne. Whose fleet-footedness and ability to get on the outside of defenders will be key in releasing the powerful runners of Cowen and Breach in the wide channels, where they can hurt Saracens.
Kildunne showcased her lethality during the Six Nations as England romped to a Grand Slam. She’s just been just as deadly for Harlequins all season. Whilst the kicking game of Saracens is a big tool of theirs, its something they’ll have to use carefully when Kildunne is in the backfield. She’s excellent under the high ball, and even better with it in hand. Jinking and stepping her way past defenders with ease.
She’s also become an excellent playmaking option for Quins, bursting into the line and soaking up plenty of space before releasing to the likes of Cowen and Breach, then following them with a superb support line - just like in this try against Bristol.
When the backs start clicking, they’ll go coast to coast. But when they don’t, and handling errors creep into their attack as it did against Loughborough, they left themselves open to counter-attacks in transition as their defence scrambled - something which Helena Rowland and their purple cladded cohort made full use of last weekend.
A disorganised defence is something Saracens’ scrum-half, Ella Wyrwas, can take full advantage of. She’s perhaps flown under the radar this year, but the young nine has plenty of pace and instinct in spotting space and leading her team towards it.
The effectiveness of Saracens’ backline however, potentially depends on the availability of fly-half Zoe Harrison, who in Simon Middleton’s words, “has the best kicking game in the world” - a statement you’d struggle to argue with.
The accuracy and distance her boot possesses can not only get Saracens out of trouble, but pin the opposition back into their own half and play territorially.
Her distributive skills, whilst never weak, have improved considerably over the past year, and she has created a powerful 10-12 duo with fellow England playmaker Holly Aitchison.
Aitchison has been playing fly-half for Saracens in Harrison’s absence, and she has been superb in her own right. But there's no denying that having her as the second playmaker in the backline, pulling the strings alongside Harrison, makes this side all the more dangerous.
Centre Alev Kelter, despite only making her debut in January, has become a massive part of Saracens over the past five months. When she made her debut, in a brief second half cameo against Loughborough, the sheer hostility with which she attacked with was clear. She’s only gotten better as she’s settled into her North London surroundings. Kelter is immensely physical, potent in both attack and defence. Its key that Harlequins stop her dead in her tracks.
Her unrelenting running aside, she’s also become her side’s go-to goalkicker in the absence of Harrison. Simply another string to her impressive bow. Another weapon for Quins to be wary of.
If a prediction had to be made, one might lean towards Saracens. Their all-round game has been simply too much for teams to handle his season, add to the fact they’re at home. But they’re only slight favourites. There are chinks in their armour for Quins to exploit, especially if they hit them early, manage to build a steady lead and keep the pressure on.
What is perhaps most exciting about this fixture, is the prospect of Exeter Chiefs or Bristol Bears facing either of them in the final. As a windfall of attention hopefully hits the Premier 15s off the back of the Six Nations, the likes of Chiefs or Bears challenging the Quins-Sarries duopoly for the trophy will be greatly welcomed.