Saracens vs Wasps match report: David Strettle's hat-trick sees Sarries steal victory with final play at Twickenham

Christian Wade helped put Wasps in a commanding second-half lead but Strettle's last-gasp try sealed an opening 34-28 victory for last season's table-toppers

David Strettle celebrates scoring the match-winning try after sliding in to sink Wasps (Getty Images)

Wings new and old had a wonderful afternoon in the first match of the London double-header, now in its eleventh year on the opening weekend of a new Aviva Premiership season, but whether they helped the England management in a problem position is uncertain.

David Strettle scored three tries for Saracens, the last of them on the stroke of time, which won the match. There were two for Christian Wade, the coming man, and one for Chris Ashton; but Strettle’s international time seems unlikely to come again and Wade’s alertness makes him a strong contender for the autumn internationals. Yet Ashton, who scored the game’s first try, worked his socks off. Barring an astounding September by one of the young guns, it will be hard for Stuart Lancaster, the Englandcoach, to omit Ashton from next month’s squad.

Certainly Saracens needed all the experience they could muster as an 11-point half-time lead slipped away and Wasps discovered that they could win the match with more direct play.

Saracens have employed techniques more commonly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, to ensure no hangover remains from the loss of two finals, European and domestic, last season, but initially there seemed little need. Their wellbeing was never more apparent than during the first-half period when Kelly Brown spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin for playing the ball off his feet.

When Brown departed, Saracens led 7-0. When he returned they were 20-6 to the good, having turned defence into attack with all the aplomb of another side that wears black, New Zealand. Moreover the try scored by Strettle put paid to the most dangerous attack staged before the interval by Wasps and showed, instead, where Wasps need to improve in the accuracy of their game.

Wade races clear of Strettle to score for Wasps (Getty Images)

Duncan Taylor started the move with an interception on his own 22-metre line. Richard Wigglesworth delivered a lengthy kick and Rob Miller could not collect the bouncing ball. Strettle kicked on to gather for the try and, though Andy Goode kept his side in touch, Wasps needed far more than his accurate boot.

They found it. Though their scrum was ultimately found wanting, Nathan Hughes put Joe Simpson into space, the scrum-half made 50 metres and Hughes finished under the posts. When Wade barged Ashton out of the way in pursuit of Goode’s kick through, the alarm bells were ringing for Saracens, and they were positively deafening when Wade chased after Ashley Johnson’s kick, which sat up delightfully for him.

Strettle touches down to seal a 34-28 win for Saracens (Getty Images)

At that stage Saracens introduced Owen Farrell at fly half. Ben Spencer, the replacement scrum-half, appeared twice in the move which led to Farrell’s flat pass sending Strettle over untouched but, with one point the difference, time was running out. Farrell was just wide with a long penalty and when Wasps sent Sailosi Tagicakibau scudding down the left, all they had to do was find a way of remaining in opposition territory.

It proved beyond them. They were penalised and, from a lineout, Taylor found space. Farrell looped round and swift hands gave Strettle a sniff of the corner to snatch the verdict at the death.