Billy blow makes bad day worse for Sarries

By GARY FITZGERALD

Saracens ……….18pts

Tries: Goode 13, Christie 26

Conversions: M Vunipola 27

Penalties: M Vunipola 42, 57

Edinburgh……….21pts

Tries: Moyano 23, Nel 66

Conversions: Boffelli 24

Penalties: Boffeli 3, 18, 51

MARK McCall insisted it was too soon to say how serious Billy Vunipola's latest injury setback is after the forward lasted just 20 minutes of the surprise defeat to Edinburgh.

The Saracens boss endured a miserable day as Vunipola sustained what appeared a recurrence of the knee problem which kept him out for four weeks in November. And the 20- year-old England man, who was hoping to impress in front of a watching Eddie Jones, now faces another fitness battle to recover.

He looks set to miss next weekend's Challenge Cup visit to Pau and the latest blow comes at a time when he is desperate to prove he deserves his international spot back in time for the Six Nations in February.

But there is a real chance he may have to sit out the Christmas period of big domestic and European games having seen the likes of Alex Dombrandt and Tom Curry selected ahead of him for the No.8 Test jersey.

Director of rugby McCall would only say: “That was the big downside today. Billy's done some sort of injury but I'm not sure what it is or how bad it is yet.”

Vunipola was hurt in a tackle and left lying on the floor clearly in discomfort before being treated and having extra strapping on the knee he damaged against Harlequins at the end of October.

Sarries injury worries over Vunipola were compounded on the field as they struggled to cope with a skilful and physical Edinburgh side who were clearly pumped up for the visit to north west London and opponents with such a successful history in European rugby.

Full-back Emiliano Boffelli kicked the visitors into an early lead after Saracens were penalised at a ruck but the hosts soon poked their noses ahead with heavy pressure on the visitors' line leading to the ball being swept out to the left wing and Alex Goode took Ben Earl's pass in his stride to dive over.

Boffelli capitalised on his side's dominance in the set-piece with his second penalty soaring between the posts before Vunipola twisted his knee and limped off and was replaced by Jackson Wray.

Sarries also lost hooker Kapeli Pifeleti to an HIA after a nasty knock to the head with the Tongan taken off on a stretcher.

Edinburgh took full advantage of their rivals' disruption and a perfectly weighted cross-field kick from fly-half Charlie Savala evaded the leaping Alex Lewington and was caught by wing Ramiro Moyano who strolled over untouched for his side's first try.

Captain's run: Skipper Alex Goode runs in to score for Saracens

PICTURE: Getty Images

Boffelli converted and Saracens needed a quick response. They got one via exciting young forward Andy Christie who used his strength and guile to twist and force his way over and Manu Vunipola converted.

Vunipola kicked an early second half penalty to edge Sarries in front but the lead swung back to the visitors as the outstanding Boffelli kicked a penalty from the half way line.

Vunipola replied with another penalty before Sarries were reduced to 14 men when replacement prop Eroni Mawi was sin-binned for collapsing a scrum as Edinburgh's pack began to dominate the set-piece.

They quickly made the superior numbers tell with prop WP Nel rising to claim the try after a driving maul pushed Sarries back across their own line. It set up a tense final 15 minutes and there was drama at the very end when French referee Tual Trainini awarded Sarries a penalty.

They chose to kick for territory and go for the decisive try and seemed to have won the day when hooker Ethan Lewis rose with the ball after a driving maul had helped him across the line.

But, after a series of replays, Trainini decided there had an infringement in the build up.

Try time: Ramiro Moyano Joya celebrate his score