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WE’RE BACK IN BIG TIME

Saracens title winners again ... and this time it is fair and square!

By Nik Simon RUGBY CORRESPONDENT AT TWICKENHAM

THE empire has struck back. The old order is restored. Saracens got their hands on the Premiership trophy for the first time since 2019, completing their redemption story with a nerveless victory over Sale.

They won this one fair and square. No looming clouds of the salary cap, just the glare of the blistering Twickenham sunshine. They fought to the point of exhaustion in the 22C heat, before cooling down under the spray of ice-cool champagne.

At the end of a season that everyone associated with English rugby will want to forget, this was a final worth remembering. Both teams went blow for blow, the lead swapping hands more than once. The 20,000 empty seats were a reflection of tha game’s darkest days but the travelling Sale fans ensured there were no moments of silence, belting out Oasis numbers as Manu Tuilagi almost forced through a huge Mancunian upset.

It was billed as the battle between George Ford and Owen Farrell. The schoolboy friends who grew up throwing a ball around on their culde-sac in Harpenden. Best mates turned best of enemies. Their faces were splashed across the cover of the matchday programme and within six minutes they had three points each.

The collisions were huge. Jamie George struggled to get back to his feet after dipping into contact with Tom Curry. Knocked out, his day was over before he had time to find his groove. He ripped off his head tape and was replaced by Theo Dan, the rookie hooker who delivered a performance worthy of World Cup bolter status.

Sale found an early advantage at the scrum but Saracens had the edge in almost every other area. Their lineout was unpicked more than once. Farrell set the tone in attack and defence, asserting his control and showing his big game temperament. He ripped the ball out of the grasp on Tuilagi, allowing Max Malins to boot the ball clear with a 50-22. Moments later, the No 10 kicked his side back in front.

With slick supply from Ivan van Zyl, Saracens found space out wide. Their experienced wingers took on Sale’s back three and came out on top. Malins will leave for Bristol over the summer and he signed off in style.

After Ford levelled the scores, Alex Goode sent a kick down the right wing that created chaos. Gus Warr and Joe Carpenter failed to gather and Curry illegally took out Malins as he went to touch down. Penalty try and yellow card.

Yet Saracens struggled to make their numerical advantage pay. Ford missed a penalty but moments later he converted a try from Akker van der Merwe to restore parity.

When Elliot Daly replaced Sean Maitland from the bench, he combined beautifully with Farrell to take control of the territory, with some huge kicks. Goode used his footwork to keep the ball alive, Farrell lured in Tuilagi to create a hole and Malins carved his way through to give his side a sevenpoint lead at half-time.

There was a feeling in the ground that Saracens should have been further ahead, and it almost came back to haunt them. Sale fought back. Attacking from a successful box kick, Van der Merwe cut through the defence and shinned a chip kick into the red zone. With a lucky bounce, Tom Roebuck tiptoed down the touchline to score in the smallest of spaces.

Alex Sanderson’s decision to haul off his dominant front-row raised eyebrows but it almost proved to be a masterstroke. After Daly had a try ruled out for a foot in touch, Farrell kicked three points, but Sale’s hit back.

Raffi Quirke sped up the tempo and Tuilagi charged forwards before Rodd stepped into whip the ball wide and the prop ran a support line, crafting a try worthy of a final to give Sale the lead.

Daly missed a penalty from halfway and Sale went for the jugular, cranking up the physicality, as Jean-Luc du Preez sending Maro Itoje backwards.

For Sale, this was a first appearance in the final since 2006. Saracens, in contrast, are familiar with the big stage and their experience showed in the final quarter.

Itoje stole a lineout in his own half and the ball was booted downfield. The entire match swung on its axis. Having started the season in National One, rookie full-back Joe Carpenter came unstuck when Duncan Taylor charged down his kick. Saracens counter-rucked and moments later, Nick Isiekwe was left with a simple pass for Daly to put his side back in front.

Malins then stamped his authority on the match once more, cutting a sharp line to ghost across the pitch looking for support. Van Zyl initially looked like he was held up by Carpenter after replays on the big screen, the try was awarded to put Saracens two scores ahead.

There was no way back, even with Robin Hislop sent to the sin bin. For Saracens, the comeback was well and truly complete.

SARACENS: Goode 7; Malins 8, Lozowski 7 (Taylor 64min, 7), Tompkins 7, Maitland 5 (Daly 20, 7); Farrell 9, Van Zyl 8 (Davies 75, 5); Mawi 7 (Hislop 50, sin-bin 73-80, 4), George 5 (Dan 10, 8), Riccioni 5 (Judge 74, 5), Itoje 8, Tizard 6 (Hunter-Hill 61, 6), Isiekwe 7, Earl 8, Wray 7 (Mawi 76). Replacement (not used): Knight.

SALE: Carpenter 6; Roebuck 7 (O’Flaherty 50, 5), Du Preez 6, Tuilagi 6 (James 67, 5), Reed 6; Ford 7, Warr 6 (Quirke 50, 5); McIntyre 8 (Rodd 45, 7), Van der Werwe 7 (Ashman 45, 5), Schonert 7 (Oosthuizen 45, 5), Du Preez 6 (Ellis 73, 4), Hill 6, Curry 7 (sin-bin 21-31), Dugdale 5 (Beaumont 72, 5), Ross 6.

Referee: L Pearce (RFU).

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2023-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

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