After yesterday’s tough test at Allianz Park, Jim Mallinder said that he was pleased with his side’s performance in the first half but that ultimately it was Saracens’ ability to exploit Saints’ diminished pack that got the home side the win.
“It’s always tense but after 50, 55 minutes I thought we’d done a pretty decent job.” Mallinder told SaintsTV.
“We had that first 40 playing in a strong breeze and we were controlling the game well, taking our opportunities or penalties and the just snuck slightly ahead on the scoreboard after the break.
“It’s very disappointing with Alex Waller just losing his head a little bit and then we’re suddenly down to 14. A lot of credit to Saracens for taking the chance there, for coming round the front where Alex Waller would normally be standing and defending and from then on it was always going to be an uphill battle.
“I think against Championship winning sides you’ve got to be spot on for 80 minutes and we started well, the intensity was right the passion was right, the defence was great for 55 minutes. But then they struck back and once you get behind Saracens and you start having to play too much rugby then it’s going to be difficult.”
With no time to feel sorry for themselves, Mallinder believes the side can pick themselves up and work on the problems that arose in the last 20 minutes to come back to Franklin’s Gardens next week and secure a home win.
“Wasps and Exeter are both top four sides so it’s going to be hard work but that is the league, that is the competition and that’s one of the beauties of it," he added.
“We’ll take some confidence from today, we didn’t get any points but we had a decent performance and now we need to back that up and do that for 80 minutes next week.”
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