Brendan Venter has paid tribute to referee Chris White following Saturday's thrilling win over Northampton.
Sarries boss also heaps praise on brilliant refereeing display
Saracens rugby director Brendan Venter has paid tribute to referee Chris White, as well as his own players, in the wake of Saturday's thrilling win over Northampton.
The 28-27 victory ended Saints' unbeaten home league record and guaranteed Saracens a Guinness Premiership semi-final spot.
The result would have been very different had it not been for Shane Geraghty's dramatic missed conversion in the closing stages.
"You saw out there how top games are about small margins," said Ventner. "But we were courageous, we defended strongly and we played some tremendous rugby.
Proud
"You will not see a much better game of Premiership rugby than this, and if Geraghty had kicked the conversion and we'd lost, I'd be saying the same.
"That goes also for Chris White. I made up my mind before the end to congratulate Chris who had a brilliant game in keeping the breakdown working.
"Penalties are not killing the game, penalties are saving the game. We've had a change of approach, a change of interpretation at the contact area, and the rugby is all the better for it.
"I told Chris White of my feelings and I'm glad I did.
"Northampton are a hard-running side, quick, skilful and very professional. Our tackling was the key, for all the excellent attacks we launched.
"We could have scored more tries, but I am very proud of my players right now. We spoke at half-time with us 16-10 down and I told them I was absolutely convinced we could win - not least because our scrum has improved.
"We stood in that changing room last month after losing the Anglo-Welsh Cup semi-final to Saints 31-20, and we agreed that if we were to start winning these games, our scrum had to improve. Our work has been rewarded."
Saints rugby director Jim Mallinder, who was blunt in assessing his team's performance, also said that England back Geraghty needed to work on his goal-kicking.
Hurting
"We didn't play particularly well, which is why the game ended up so close," he said.
"We have had a few games here this season where we haven't hit top form but we've scraped through to earn narrow wins. This time it didn't happen.
"That's the second game we've lost by one point in five days so we are not a bad side - right now just a weary one.
"Shane is a tremendous talent and he had a hand in Ben Foden's try that put us within the conversion of winning.
"He has work to do in terms of goal-kicking. If you are playing in the Premiership you have got to be knocking those over. I know he came on as a replacement, but there's work for him to do in this area.
"Overall, we're still second in the table, two points clear of Saracens. If we win at London Irish on May 8, we'll guarantee a home semi-final, and all of us would like it to be Saracens here again.
"The boys are hurting in the changing room listening to Saracens celebrating as if they'd won the league.
"They deserved to win because they played better than us on the day. But there will be another day."
