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Cape Town - English club Saracens are a proud team after defeating the Cell C Sharks in a friendly clash in Barnet, London on Saturday.
Saracens lock Mouritz Botha said the team produced a “brilliant performance” after their 23-15 victory.
The South African-born Botha was named man-of-the-match after an impressive physical display against the men from Durban.
“It was a brilliant performance,” Botha told Saracens' official website.
“It is amazing to play alongside these boys. It was fifteen mates playing alongside each other, it’s just great."
Botha said he relished the physical challenge of coming up against a Springbok-laden Sharks pack.
“I love it when big lads just run straight at you, and they had some really big, physical guys playing for them. It was just a great day and I really enjoyed myself out of there today."
Saracens' Namibian flank, Jacques Burger, also praised his charges for standing up to the physicality of the Sharks.
"I am as proud of the team's performance as I was my own. We were brilliant out there today,” said Burger.
“We knew that their big guys would be coming around the corner out there pretty hard, and if you let these guys play then they will dominate you. So we knew they were going to be pretty physical and get off the line, which meant we had to get in their faces and not give them a second. We are really proud of our performance, everyone really stepped up today and we can happy with how we went out there today," he continued.
Scorers:
Saracens:
Tries: David Strettle, Charlie Hodgson
Conversions: Hodgson (2)
Penalties: Hodgson (3)
Sharks:
Tries: Andre Esterhuizen, Heimar Williams
Conversion: Tim Swiel
Penalty: Swiel
Teams:
Saracens:
15 Chris Wyles; 14 James Short, 13 Michael Tagicakibau, 12 Marcelo Bosch, 11 David Strettle; 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Justin Melck, 5 Mouritz Botha, 4 Steve Borthwick (captain), 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Richard Barrington
Substitutes: 16 Scott Spurling, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Petrus Du Plessis, 19 Tom Jubb, 20 Takashi Kikutani, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Duncan Taylor, 23 Sam Stanley
Sharks:
15. Tyler Fisher, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Tim Swiel, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Willem Alberts, 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Tera Mtembu, 5. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4. Etienne Oosthuizen, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Dale Chadwick, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Stephan Lewies, 20. Jacques Botes, 21. Charl McLeod, 22. Heimar Williams, 23. Jaco van Tonder
Saracens lock Mouritz Botha said the team produced a “brilliant performance” after their 23-15 victory.
The South African-born Botha was named man-of-the-match after an impressive physical display against the men from Durban.
“It was a brilliant performance,” Botha told Saracens' official website.
“It is amazing to play alongside these boys. It was fifteen mates playing alongside each other, it’s just great."
Botha said he relished the physical challenge of coming up against a Springbok-laden Sharks pack.
“I love it when big lads just run straight at you, and they had some really big, physical guys playing for them. It was just a great day and I really enjoyed myself out of there today."
Saracens' Namibian flank, Jacques Burger, also praised his charges for standing up to the physicality of the Sharks.
"I am as proud of the team's performance as I was my own. We were brilliant out there today,” said Burger.
“We knew that their big guys would be coming around the corner out there pretty hard, and if you let these guys play then they will dominate you. So we knew they were going to be pretty physical and get off the line, which meant we had to get in their faces and not give them a second. We are really proud of our performance, everyone really stepped up today and we can happy with how we went out there today," he continued.
Scorers:
Saracens:
Tries: David Strettle, Charlie Hodgson
Conversions: Hodgson (2)
Penalties: Hodgson (3)
Sharks:
Tries: Andre Esterhuizen, Heimar Williams
Conversion: Tim Swiel
Penalty: Swiel
Teams:
Saracens:
15 Chris Wyles; 14 James Short, 13 Michael Tagicakibau, 12 Marcelo Bosch, 11 David Strettle; 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Justin Melck, 5 Mouritz Botha, 4 Steve Borthwick (captain), 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Richard Barrington
Substitutes: 16 Scott Spurling, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Petrus Du Plessis, 19 Tom Jubb, 20 Takashi Kikutani, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Duncan Taylor, 23 Sam Stanley
Sharks:
15. Tyler Fisher, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Tim Swiel, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Willem Alberts, 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Tera Mtembu, 5. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4. Etienne Oosthuizen, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Dale Chadwick, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Stephan Lewies, 20. Jacques Botes, 21. Charl McLeod, 22. Heimar Williams, 23. Jaco van Tonder
