Imperious, imposing and highly impressive.
That’s the short and sweet summary of Saracens’ 44-17 victory that booked their place in the 2016 Aviva Premiership Final. Leicester showed the type of grit and determination that we always expect from them as they clawed themselves back from a 31-point deficit to 34-17 but Saracens reclaimed their authority in style and powered through to the end.
That’s the short and sweet summary of Saracens’ 44-17 victory that booked their place in the 2016 Aviva Premiership Final. Leicester showed the type of grit and determination that we always expect from them as they clawed themselves back from a 31-point deficit to 34-17 but Saracens reclaimed their authority in style and powered through to the end.
Saracens have won four of their last six Premiership semi-finals and this was one of their most impressive. Mark McCall's side raced to a 31-0 lead and so many of their first-half points were delivered due to the ferocity of their defence. Saracens forced Leicester into playing the type of game that they shouldn’t have, the visitors played far too much rugby between the 10 metre line and the half-way line and the physicality of their collisions produced errors. From the handling errors, or disruption caused, Saracens capitalised with Chris Wyles and Chris Ashton both showing their sublime finishing skills in the process.
To the naked eye Mark McCall’s side are in tremendous form but interestingly their Director of Rugby wasn’t as wholeheartedly impressed with his side as the rest of us. We all know that Mark McCall isn’t one for mind games and his critical assessment of their performance wasn’t a tactic to ensure that Saracens remain on their toes. Instead, he expects an eighty minute all court game from his side and didn’t believe that they delivered that on Saturday afternoon.
“I thought that last weekend our performance was incredible and it wasn’t really reflected on the scoreboard and this week the scoreboard was probably too kind to us," said McCall.
"That being said I think that the players deserve huge credit for getting themselves in the right frame of mind to back up from last weekend.
"That being said I think that the players deserve huge credit for getting themselves in the right frame of mind to back up from last weekend.
"But, there were areas of our game that we weren’t that happy with to be honest and we need to be better in those areas if we are going to win. At times our defence was really good and led to tries from turnovers but at times we were sloppy especially at the start of the second half. So those areas need to improve for next week."
That said we still saw Maro Itoje, Chris Ashton and Alex Goode fly on home soil (4G surface, you get what I mean) and all should be included in Eddie Jones’ squad tomorrow. Maro’s decision making marvels, Ashton’s finishing is some of the best in the business and Alex Goode really can’t do any more to be England’s starting XV. As brilliant as Saracens’ individuals are as I’ve said before it’s the power of them as a collective that means they are Europe’s best.
Post match Leicester Tigers’ Director of Rugby talked about the quality of their decision making and the fact that, on the day, theirs hadn't been good enough. Ultimately Leicester’s season has been a productive one, let’s not forget this is the first full season with Aaron Mauger as part of their set up and it’s a relatively new squad that are gelling together and developing a new philosophy and style of play. Saracens are more comfortable in their own skin than any other side in Europe and that type of knowledge is something that Leicester will learn to develop. The Tigers are so much more vibrant in attack than they were twelve months ago and with a solid pre-season under their belt will only improve.
The only real concern from Saracens' semi-final outing was the injury sustained by Owen Farrell and immediately after the game Mark McCall didn't know how serious it was. The fly-half has been in such scintilating form and it would be a cruel blow if he wasn't fit to take part in the Premiership Final and of course Eddie Jones will also be concerned after seeing Manu Tuilagi limp off the field earlier in the game.
Ultimately Saturday afternoon was all about Saracens and the impressive manner in which they channelled their energy to book their place in their third successive Premiership final. The European Champions will turn up at Twickenham Stadium and raise their game again and it will take a super-human effort from Rob Baxter's Exeter Chiefs to stop them doing the European and domestic double.
Ultimately Saturday afternoon was all about Saracens and the impressive manner in which they channelled their energy to book their place in their third successive Premiership final. The European Champions will turn up at Twickenham Stadium and raise their game again and it will take a super-human effort from Rob Baxter's Exeter Chiefs to stop them doing the European and domestic double.
