Who needs Marcus Smith, England fly-half? Who, for that matter, needs Jarrod Evans, Wales fly-half? Jamie Benson is a 22-year-old who made his Premiership debut in November. On Saturday he came on at half-time for Evans and kicked three long-range penalties in the last 10 minutes to set up Harlequins for their first Premiership away win over Saracens for 13 years.
He also converted both Harlequins’ tries, the second at the death. Score when he came on: 12-0. Score at the end 12-23.
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So, another talent seemingly uncovered. But how Saracens fell away. They were hardly brilliant in the first half, although Alex Goode’s flicked pass to set up Tobias Elliott’s try, their second, just before the break was a thing of sublimity.
The suspicion, though, that their era is, if not coming to an end, at least on hold, hardened as Quins, without any of their England internationals, overhauled them in a slow-burning second half that, by the end, was definitely aflame.
Quins’ first points arrived on the hour, when Oscar Beard set up his partner in the centre, Ben Waghorn. Then came the three Benson penalties, the second of which moved Quins ahead with less than 10 to play. Will Porter’s try sealed the win late on.
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