Racing Metro 14-19 Saracens, Heineken Cup - Pool 2, December 17
Venter savours Sarries victory
ESPNscrum Staff
December 17, 2010
Preview Report Reaction Match details Gallery
Saracens' Richard Wigglesworth and Racing Metro's Juan Pablo Orlandi vie for the ball, Racing Metro v Saracens, Heineken Cup, Stade Yves du Manoir, Colombes, France, December 17, 2010
Saracens' Richard Wigglesworth and Racing Metro's Juan Pablo Orlandi vie for the ball © Getty Images
Enlarge
Related Links
Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup

Brendan Venter hailed his Saracens side's attitude and adaptability as they restored some pride in their Heineken Cup campaign with a 19-14 win away to Racing Metro in snowy Paris.

The Watford-based club had lost all three matches in Pool 2 heading into tonight's match and have no realistic chance of reaching the knockout stages. But Owen Farrell was the key man as they took a 16-0 lead into half-time, kicking two penalties, a drop goal and a conversion while also setting up Brad Barritt's try. A second-half fightback saw Racing nearly overhaul that lead but the English side were able to hold on.

Director of rugby Venter told Sky Sports 3, "We played really well last week as well but they just beat us in the end (24-21). It was a great first-half performance and tactically we weren't as sharp in the second half as we could have been but it's a great win for us. It was about who could play the conditions best, that was the main thing, and in the first half we were really good at that. We gave them two soft tries in the second half but the guys did brilliantly to keep going."

Venter, who will be stepping down from his role in the New Year, insisted he had little difficulty motivating his side. "We just play to win every game, that's how we function at Saracens," he said. "So it's not about winning competitions. Those things will take care of themselves, we just want to win every game."

As for their campaign as a whole, he added, "What's done is done. We've got an awesome side, they were magnificent today. The kids are playing brilliantly, people like David Strettle, who is on fire, Bradley Barritt, who is playing really well. So there's no frustration."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices