by Saracens 55 Connacht 36
It takes something special to stand out from Saracens’ star-studded crowd, but Juan Martín González clearly encompasses the physical and mental elements required to do exactly that.
The robust, elegant and powerful Puma is already proving to be one of the signings of the summer for a Saracen team determined to win three Champions Cup trophies and six Premiership titles.
Gonzalez quickly put the London Irish loss behind him with the kind of start to his new rugby life in the capital that he could only have dreamed of after helping Argentina reach the World Cup semi-finals.
On a European day when Owen Farrell’s temper was pushed to the limit by his Connacht rival Shayne Bolton and his England team-mate Maro Itoje was convicted for a dangerous hit, the 6ft 4in Gonzalez , was coldness and calm personified.
He has fit into Sarries’ puzzle as if he were tailor-made for the back position. The 23-year-old has clearly had no hangovers from his exploits in France, and has won the hearts of those fans who fear the loss to injury of Ben Earl and others would be especially damaging to the club’s thirst for more titles within and outside the country.
Gonzalez said: “It was difficult to leave Irish because they were an incredible group. It was very difficult because it was a good old club. There were some fellow Argentinians there, but I had to turn the page and move on to the next challenge. I still keep in touch with my old teammates.
“Sarries gave me a warm welcome, the fans and everyone at the club. This is the best team in the Premiership so I was glad they called me up. “I hope I can be successful here and help the club win more trophies because it has a strong history.”
Director of Rugby Mark McCall was clearly impressed and insisted: “Sometimes it can be difficult to join a new club without a pre-season. But to start working like he has is pretty incredible. He is a brilliant talent and a young man. Very mature and hardworking. He is playing exceptional rugby. He is so good that you want him close to the ball and his tackle count is usually very high. Not only does he do flash things, but, like any young player, there are always things to work on and improve.”
Gonzalez celebrated a fine try in the crushing victory over Connacht, which helped the Londoners bounce back from their opening defeat to the Bulls in South Africa. He was an imposing, hard-working and powerful presence in a Sarries performance that started slowly but then picked up speed to overtake their Irish rivals.
Farrell played well throughout, except for some missed shots on goal, but he also showed his powder keg character and was penalized for doing so. He responded to a push from Bolton after a tackle by jumping and pushing twice at the Connacht winger, who was on the ground. A penalty was awarded, which Jack Carty kicked. The England captain was clearly a target for Connacht, which will no doubt continue during his time out of the international spotlight.
After Gonzalez’s first try from a Farrell kick, Connacht had threatened something of an upset when they took a healthy lead, courtesy of Test center Bundee Aki, finishing off a forwards maul and a Caolin Blade try.
However, once Sarries’ pack gathered momentum and prolific England hooker Jamie George rose to claim tries with sledgehammers, the hosts began to tighten the screw and take full command.
Young center Olly Hartley marked his first Champions Cup start with a pair of tries, while there were also scores for the hosts from Sean Maitland, Lucia Cinti and Theo Dan late on.
Connacht, who had previously seen flanker Cian Prendergast commit foul play in a ruck, tried to stay in the hunt but their defense could not match their attack. While they had plenty of strength in the first half when they led 17-8, they lacked the same collective steel when it mattered most, when they were under pressure in the second half.
Sarries lost Itoje in the sin bin for a head-to-head collision with Paul Boyle while attempting to make a tackle. The extenuating circumstances of a change of direction saved England from seeing the red.
JJ Hanrahan, Joe Joyce and Prendergast responded with tries, but each time they scored they pulled the plug and conceded.
McCall, however, was relatively satisfied with his team’s response after losing to the Bulls. He added: “It was a good step in the right direction. “There is still a lot more in us, but this gets us over the mark in the group, which is a good way to get back into Premiership games at Christmas.”
Connacht coach Pete Wilkins admitted: “I was pleased with the way the boys took on the task in the first half but in the end we were beaten by a very good team. We have had two difficult first games in the competition, but we must face them and improve.”
Match details
Scores (Saracens first): 5-0 (try González), 5-5 (try Aki), 5-7 (with Carty), 8-7 (Farrell pen),
8-12 (Blade’s attempt), 8-14 (with Carty), 8-17 (Carty’s pen), 13-17 (George’s attempt), 16-17 (Farrell’s pen); 21-17 (George tries); halftime; 26-17 (Hartley attempt), 28-17 (Farrell scam), 31-17 (Farrell foil), 36-17 (Maitland attempt), 38-17 (Farrell scam), 43-17 (Attempt de Cinti), 43-22 (Hanrahan’s attempt), 43-24 (Hanrahan’s scam). 48-24 (Hartley attempt), 50-24 (Farrell attempt), 50-29 (Joyce attempt), 55-29 (Dan attempt), 55-34 (Prendagast attempt), 55-36 (Attempt by by Hanrahan)
Saracens: A Goode (T Parton 71); L Cinti, N Tompkins, O Hartley, S Maitland (A Lewington 58); O Farrell (c), A Davies (I van Zyl 55); M Vunipola (T West 58), J George (T Dan 55), A Clarey (L Mulipola 68); Itoje M, McFarland T; JM González (T Knight 65), A Christie, B Vunipola (H Tizard 59).
Connacht: J Porch (JJ Hanrahan 59); B Ralston (A Kilgallen 59), T Farrell, B Aki, S Bolton; J Carty (c) (M McDonald 59), C Blade; J Duggan (D Buckley 47), D Heffernan, J Aungier (F Bealham 47); G Thornbury (J Joyce 47), C Prendergast, C Oliver (J Oliver 55), P Boyle (D Tierney Martin 61).
Referee: lucas ramos
Player of the match: González (Saracens).
Attendance: 9,029
