When I met up with Mark McCall and Billy Vunipola...
I
headed to Saracens Training Centre earlier this week and had the
pleasure of speaking to Billy Vunipola and Mark McCall ahead of their
second Aviva Premiership Final on the trot. It's becoming all too
familiar isn't it?
People
utilised the word 'revenge' to describe Sarries motives on Saturday
in the semi final against Northampton.
I
beg to differ.
I
thought they were unanimous on the pitch and tactically the stronger
side. They came to do a job and they did it; they won the game and
their place in the Aviva Premiership Final. This team of extremely
professional sportsmen have a collective skill like no other and when
they get going with emotions aside, Saracens play a class of rugby
that is unique in this country.
And
when the formula works, they're unstoppable.
Along
with this they possess the ability to ratchet up the intensity
another notch - just when you think it’s not possible - in the
final ten minutes of most matches!
They
deserved the win on Saturday and for Big Billy the win meant a lot;
"It
was very satisfying; especially losing to them (Northampton) a few
times throughout the season and they're a tough team to beat but to
do it away as well was I think very special."
But
all eyes are on Twickenham now and does the fact this North London
club played at Twickenham last year in the final give them an
advantage?
Well,
personally I think so...psychologically they know the drill and will
be less overawed, that’s indeed if they are in the first place.
Bath
on the other hand, could get caught up in the occasion rather than
the
game.
The
battle of the boot and the race to start for England will be at the
back – or maybe the front - of Owen Farrell's and George Ford's
minds, as Stuart Lancaster watches on. But their prevailing focus on
Saturday will be aiding their team to victory.
I
asked Billy if there was anything about Bath's creativity on the
pitch that worried him at all;
"I
think they're a very tough team to defend against, I think we've seen
that throughout the whole season. They always have a lot of options,
they kind of have a rugby league sort of attack and you know they've
got smart players; Fordy and JJ can pick out the right options at the
right time and I think that's tough for us as a defensive unit but I
think you saw how we defended against Northampton and another very
accomplished fly-half and scrum-half and you know very potent runners
in Luther Burrell and Pisi and we did well against them, so if we
bring the same energy and intent we'll be fine."
And
I could sense the atmosphere at the training camp was one of ease;
but the sun was shining to be fair!
This
team know what they've got to do and I'm confident they'll do it and
so is Mark McCall after last weekends’ action;
"It
was a good performance, our intensity was really good but we've
actually moved on from that pretty quickly, it's most important not
to dwell on that performance too much and get on with the task in
hand which is preparing for a very good Bath team."
"Bath
have got a very smart, balanced all-round game. They kicked the ball
a lot in that game, put Leicester under a lot of pressure, they
defended a lot and defended it very well and were able to
counter-attack and attack brilliantly against a very tired Leicester
team...it's very important we conserve our energy for the right
things in the game."
And
that is what Sarries do. They pace their game to perfection.
Now
I'm excited to behold the battle of the styles. This monstrous game
awaits; Creative versus clinical. I have butterflies and I'm not
even playing!
Good
luck Billy and Team Sarries ….. See you on the other side!