Delon Armitage leads London Irish to comeback win against Saracens

Twickenham does not get any happier a venue for Saracens, this their second defeat here in as many Premiership games. The last one was probably a little more agonising than this – a last-minute try denying them the title of champions just over three months ago – but they all hurt. The second-half comeback by London Irish – who outscored Sarries by 27-6 after the break – will have been hard enough to take on its own, but the concession of the bonus-point try to the Exiles in the last play of the game will have brought pain to the eyes. This one was not quite as dramatic or as high in quality as the showpiece event at the end of last season. Too many spilled balls denied it any status as a classic, as did the fact that it was a mere loosener to the long campaign ahead, but there was enough intent from both sides to suggest that the orgy of running rugby that characterised the finale to last season may yet continue into this. Every time they take to the field for the foreseeable future, Saracens will be confronting the dreaded "second‑season syndrome". They seemed to be handling it very well for the first half. Indeed, they went into the sheds with a 10-6 lead, based upon two tries in the second quarter that were helped a little by the absence of Delon Armitage, in the sin bin. But for the first quarter, Saracens had to content themselves with defensive duties. The Exiles were finding holes in that defence, normally within a few square yards of their new signing, Daniel Bowden, but Saracens were on to the threat quickly. Armitage saw yellow at the start of the second quarter, and Saracens started to see some ball. Schalk Brits was the star of the Saracens team last year, and his step and pass enabled Sarries to take advantage of Armitage's absence to work Ernst Joubert into the corner on the overlap. Then he turned scorer himself. Armitage was just back on the field by then, but he was powerless to stop the rampaging hooker from short range, after Joubert had galloped to the posts from a scrum against the head. So, two clinical tries against the tide of play – it looked like typical Saracens. That, though, was when typical London Irish emerged from the changing room. Typical London Irish from the season before last, that is. The Exiles are coming out of their own version of second‑season syndrome, and they took advantage after the break. Again, a yellow card helped – this time for Alex Goode – and Armitage capitalised. It was an interesting vignette of two of English rugby's brightest talents. Goode is entering his second season, while Armitage is emerging from his. Here, his searing break tore Saracens apart at the start of the second half, and Goode's blatant offside was punished with a yellow card and the penalty that brought Irish to within one point. Then Delon's brother, Steffon, another young talent who has done his second-season time (and there is a third Armitage on Irish's books now, Guy), had the privilege of sending his elder sibling over in the corner for Irish's first try and the lead. Next up was Sailosi Tagicakibau, this guy playing against his brother, who gathered the cross-chip of Ryan Lamb for a second two minutes later. Suddenly, Saracens were all at sea. Goode returned and was moved back from fly-half to his position of last season, full-back, but things did not improve for him. Let us hope his second season gets better. Sarries did get back to within five points of Irish with two penalties, but they were always chasing the game. Topsy Ojo was on to a loose pass, and he forced a penalty try from the subsequent kick-and-chase, which led to the third yellow card of the day – for Kevin Barrett. Now it was just a question of whether Irish could add the ultimate insult. This they did, mounting one last siege, which ended when Declan Danaher and Ojo practically argued with each other over which should pick up the bobbling ball and score with nobody in front of them. Ojo it was who took on the responsibility, another man who had lost his way after the season before last. This bonus-point win would suggest that Irish are back, and there is plenty of time for Saracens to prove that their standards have not dropped. As for the standards of English rugby, the early signs are positive.