Dick Muir’s inexplicable need to make wholesale substitutions of the wrong players at the wrong time has once again cost his side victory. He couldn’t get it right at the Sharks and he continues his ineptitude with the Boks. James Jones, the referee, didn’t help matters either with what must surely go down as the single worst performance by a referee in the professional era (although some Kiwis might disagree). The players are not completely blameless either, with the likes of Ndungane, Pienaar, Hargreaves, Hougaard and Heinke van der Merwe playing themselves completely out of Bok contention. The end result – Saracens 24 – Springboks 23 making it three losses from three for South Africa on what is fast becoming a nightmare European tour.
Scorers
Saracens 24 (6)
Tries: Ernst Joubert, Brad Barritt
Conversions: Derick Hougaard
Penalties: Derick Hougaard (3)
Drop goal: Derick Hougaard
South Africa 23 (18)
Tries: Juan de Jongh, Jongi Nokwe (2)
Conversion: Ruan Pienaar
Penalties: Ruan Pienaar (2)