Furious Saracens are to consider making an official complaint against the Munster team doctor over remarks which sparked a 30-man brawl and turned a match on its head.
The Londoners came from behind to score a stunning victory at Allianz Park after being fired up by insults allegedly aimed at Jamie George by Munster’s head of medical Jamie Kearns.
“From what I know, something pretty bad was said at Jamie,” Saracens boss Mark McCall complained afterwards. “He wouldn’t have reacted the way he reacted otherwise.
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“Clearly (staff talking to players) shouldn’t happen, we all know that. I don’t think what was said to Jamie was good at all. It started a 30-man brawl.
“We’ll take our time to decide whether we do anything.”
Forwards coach Alex Sanderson claimed “something derogatory about his weight” had been said to England star George “which didn’t go down to well.”
A further comment was allegedly made about a member of his family.
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Whatever the exact words, it provoked an immediate response with George squaring up to the doctor on the near touchline, sparking an all-in tear up which spilled off the pitch.
When the dust settled Sarries captain Owen Farrell was penalised for joining the affray – despite the fact any one of two dozen other players who ran in from distance to get involved could have been pinged.
“It was a strange penalty to give as it was instigated by a member of their staff who said something horrible to one of our players,” McCall observed. “We need to decide what we’re going to do.”
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JJ Hanrahan missed the chance to kick 9-3 ahead from the penalty spot and riled-up Saracens made him and his team pay in emphatic fashion with a devastating final quarter display.
First Billy Vunipola picked up at the base of a scrum, drew four defenders and put Sean Maitland in for the first try of the game.
Six minutes later it was the turn of his brother Mako to grab a loose ball and plough over the try line to put the game beyond Munster and keep alive Sarries’ hopes of retaining their title.
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“Whether it was coincidental, I’m not sure, but we certainly played a lot better after (the fight),” said McCall. “The boys are buoyed at how they played and if we play rugby like that we’ll be tough to beat.”
Until the ruck Munster had been the better team, defending heroically and frustrating a near-full strength Sarries side.
When Hanrahan kicked them 6-3 ahead on 44 minutes they appeared in control with Saracens unable to get anything going.
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“Theirs was one of the best defensive performances I’ve seen here,” McCall conceded. “But we made it too easy for them. We were predictable.
“There was another gear to go and fortunately we found that in the last 25 minutes.”
SARACENS – Tries: Maitland, M Vunipola. Con: Farrell. Pen: Farrell.
MUNSTER – Pens: Hanrahan 2.
