Saracens in 'horrible position' after Northampton loss in Gallagher Premiership - 'This could be where their season falls apart'

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Saracens missed their chance to move into fourth in the Gallagher Premiership as they suffered a 28-24 loss to Northampton Saints. The second of Tarek Haffar's two tries came in the last play of the game and caused Sarries to miss out on a vital win. TNT Sports rugby expert Ben Kay was on hand to dissect the result, and remarked that this loss could be a season-defining one for the club.

Tempers flare as Haffar wins it for Northampton with dramatic last-minute try

Video credit: TNT Sports

Could Saracens' season "fall apart" after their heart-wrenching last-minute loss to Northampton?

Tarek Haffar burst through in the final play of the game to earn Saints the win, marking his final game for the club at home with an incredible moment.

For Saracens, it sees them drop to sixth and now their play-off chances rest on the outcome of other fixtures in the final round of matches in two weeks.

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"It means that it's not in their hands anymore," ex-England international Ben Kay said on TNT Sports post-match of Saracens.

"It was their opportunity to cement their place. It will depend on how other results go for them now. That's a horrible position to be in.

"This could be where their season falls apart. You look back to some of the things that happened in the game when it was going well - Fergus Burke missed a couple of conversions, that's the sort of thing that can end your season."

Saracens face already-qualified Bath on the final day, in what could be a winnable game should Johann van Graan decide to rest his key players.

Mark McCall's side will then be banking that Saints can take a final-day win over Gloucester away from home, and will also hope that rivals Harlequins can beat Bristol Bears to give Sarries the best possible chance of qualifying.

Largely on top for most of the game, Sarries allowed Saints to score twice in the final eight minutes as the visitors' energy waned in the second half.

"From a Saracens point of view, they were so good in the first half, so intense," Kay added.

McCall says Saracens 'unravelled' with 'poor decisions' in loss to Saints

Video credit: TNT Sports

"Maybe it was just because the opposition weren't as intense, it was difficult to maintain that for them and they did let Saints back into the game.

"Once you saw all the pressure off Saints, that's when they start playing that really attractive flowing rugby."

For Saints, their comeback win provided the perfect boost before a Champions Cup final against Bordeaux Begles.

"In terms of the psychological boost, that's huge," Kay said.

"Being able to come back in a game like this. Although nothing is riding on it in the league for Northampton, they don't like Saracens and that will be a massive boost for them.

"The worry is there's a lot of collateral damage, we saw Alex Coles limping off at the end, Curtis Langdon going off early.

"They had a lot of little bangs there, so the medical department are going to be very busy."

Watch and stream the Gallagher Premiership on TNT Sports and discovery+

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