Saracens captain Brad Barritt issues warning ahead of tricky Northampton trip

Adam Hathaway10 September 2018

Saracens captain Brad Barritt has urged his side to up their game or risk a first Premiership defeat of the season against Northampton this weekend.

Barritt’s side travel to Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday on the back of a 44-23 win over Bristol at Allianz Park where they were put on the back foot by the Premiership newcomers but came through to make it two wins from two.

Pat Lam’s side led 18-13 at the break before flanker George Smith’s red card turned the tide in Saracens’ favour, but centre Barritt admitted the champions have to be bang on the money in round three against a rejuvenated Saints side, who downed Harlequins 25-18 on Friday.

“We probably got away with it against Bristol and the post-match review was very much that we can’t afford to not be good for 40 minutes,” said Barritt. “We have to minimise those switch-off moments and periods of the game when we are not in gear. There is lots to work on for next weekend but the resolve and determination to turn it around was pleasing.

“We put a high priority on the breakdown before the game. Mentally and physically we were just slightly off, so we put a greater amount of brutality into the breakdown and were slightly more accurate. That paid dividends in the second half when we really go the bit between our teeth. You could sense the urgency.”

With David Strettle and Sean Maitland both injured, Saracens played Matt Gallagher and Alex Lewington on the wings and both scored tries before Liam Williams came off the bench, after groin surgery, to claim a 24-minute hat-trick.

Barritt added: “All our wingers are very selfless players and appreciate the hard work that has been done by the forwards and the people inside of them.

“We are hugely blessed but we know that in a Premiership season everyone is going to be needed, so the pleasing thing is how Matt, who has come through the academy, played.”

Another highlight was No8 Billy Vunipola getting through 35 minutes as a replacement and scoring a try after re-breaking his arm on England duty this summer in South Africa.

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