GLOUCESTER 22, SARACENS 18

RUGBY has been "stuffed up" by the experimental new laws, Saracens coach Eddie Jones raged after seeing his side edged out in a kicking contest.

Gloucester hardly bothered running the ball from deep - they just kicked into Saracens territory and picked up the pieces from rucks and mauls.

The new rules are designed to make the game more open, but Jones and his opposite number Dean Ryan joined a growing number of experts who think the opposite is happening.

Jones said: "The experimental laws have stuffed up the game. Rugby is immeasurably worse than 12 months ago. There was no rugby played at Kingsholm today. The best side won but there was no rugby played - and that's what everyone wants to see."

Ryan said: "I told our players not to bother to play any rugby from deep.

"They just had to stay in the Saracens' half of the pitch and collect what we could from the breakdowns."

After 20 minutes, Gloucester's Mike Tindall broke through a couple of tackles and fed Lesley Vainikolo, who passed inside for full-back Olly Morgan to score.

Saracens responded when Glen Jackson caught Gloucester sleeping by chipping a penalty to wing Richard Haughton, who strolled in for the score.

But after that, the game turned into a tactical and place-kicking masterclass by Gloucester's Olly Barkley and Sarries' star Jackson.

Jackson booted his side into a lead at half-time but they went on the back foot after the break and inevitably conceded penalties.

Barkley took his chances in the 46th, 68th and 70th minutes, leaving Saracens with just one win in their last 20 visits to Kingsholm.

Ryan was also frustrated by the loss of England winger Vainikolo, who has damaged his Achilles.

Scan

A scan will reveal how bad it is on Monday.

Ryan added: "Les has an Achillies injury which we will have to wait to see the extent of it. He slipped. We get injuries every week and he got one this week."

Ryan insisted that Tindall and Morgan should be in line for England recalls.

The coach added: "Tindall is tackling as well as ever. Morgan is great under a high ball - and in the right circumstances he runs it back well."

SCORERS - Gloucester: try Morgan; con Barkley; pens Barkley 5. Saracens: try Haughton; con Jackson; pens Jackson 3.

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