Saracens are shining bright...but there's one final hurdle!

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!

 

Bring It On Bath

When I met up with Mike Ford & Stuart Hooper...

I had the pleasure of interviewing Mike Ford at the Aviva Premiership Launch for the 2014/15 season, last August. What we spoke about then really does still stand! It was unfortunate for Bath to miss out on a top four spot last season but Mike's enthusiasm and passion for his team to do one better this season was evident.

Did you think Bath would make the Aviva Premiership Final? I did. 

Bath could have been categorised as being more forceful in attack than defence last season but it's a different story this year. I asked Mike; 

If you were to change anything about this 2014/15 season, what would it be?

"It is a World Cup year but as coaches, for us, that doesn't change anything.  We've made a conscious decision to focus on our attack...we want to score so many points per game and we feel if we can get to that critical number every game, we'll win...and we'll get close to the top four...we've concentrated alot on attack."

"Having said that - Neal Hatley's going to do our defence this year and hopefully take it to the next level. We think we can get better at that as well as keeping the focus on attack." 

When I listen to this back - I laugh - because this group of coaches and players have thrown everything into this season and it's paid off...big time! 

It's been clear this season how accomplished this young side are. Fleet of foot Jonathan Joseph, nerves of steel George Ford, the mighty Nick Auterac...is there anyone in this side who isn't exciting to watch? 

I've really grown to love Bath and the style of rugby they play. As for the club, they’re a hearty passionate group and its apparent how much the game means to this community. 

Bath have reached the final of the Aviva Premiership this year, which they haven't done since 2004 and they last won the Guinness Premiership in 1996. 

Are they due some silverware? 

I asked Mike if he'd set any personal targets and he said he couldn't tell me, for obvious reasons! 

But he did elaborate...a little;

"I started setting goals and targets when I was a player and stuff. I soon realised, when you start writing things down and sharing them with the people that you care about...the more things you achieve that you write down. You're constantly reviewing your different targets and what you want to achieve, it's more than a season - it's over a period of time."

I also had the pleasure of speaking to Bath's Captain Stuart Hooper and I asked him;

 How has captaincy effected your personal development as an individual? 

"Massively; not just talking rugby now, it's changed the way I go about my life really. Since I became captain at Leeds about nine years ago, I started a Degree in Leadership and Management. It took me seven years to do, just through my enjoyment of the leadership side of things, so I did an open university degree and finished very recently."

"I've got a real passion for it, I love seeing a group of people and getting the best out of the people, getting the best out of the individuals." 

It's fair to say, this is going to be an emotional day for many on Saturday 30th May at Twickenham. 

Is this the stuff of dreams? No. This club had an ambition, a plan and the wherewithal and skills to make it happen.

What I do know is that from the Owner to the Head Coach to the Captain - the message is clear - this team are united and together they will succeed; it may be this year, it may not but this squad are going places...… 

Bring it on Bath! 

 

Smashing Saturday Aviva Premiership Semi-Final Round Up!

Northampton Saints 

24 - 29 Saracens

League leaders and winners Northampton Saints sought to defend their title as Aviva Premiership Champions on Saturday and knew they would come up against a resilient Saracens Wolfpack at Franklin's Gardens and they did.

Sarries stormed from the starting blocks with power, a plan and the physical determination to force the win against Saints; this was evident when Strettle scored early doors. 

But the rolling maul phenomenon stole the limelight with a handful of stunning surges here, there and everywhere throughout the eighty minutes; this definitely got the adrenaline of all 13,362 in attendance pumping.

The rumbling rolling mauls also added to the score board; Jamie George and Tom Wood both led their teams over to the eruption of ecstatic fans. 

But really when it came to the crunch - clinical phases of play were the difference between Saints and Sarries.

And it was the boot of Owen Farrell who really stole the show, his boot alone securing Sarries 19 points and when Northampton were penalised in the 77th minute, there was only one thing left to do; for Farrell to seal the deal. And what a world class and immaculate performance it was.

The margin separating these two teams was minuscule and on the day knock-out rugby will always upset one team. Saracens gave it their all, as did Northampton but the visitors determination just edged it on Saturday.

FT 24-29

Bath 47 - 10 Leicester Tigers

As Sarries have cemented their place in the Aviva Premiership final, all eyes turned to the Rec for a sublime showdown between Bath and Leicester Tigers. And what a starting line up it was for Bath. If it looked exciting and frighteningly good on paper ... it was even better in real life!

Bath had threats all over the park especially in attack, so it didn't take long for Matt Banahan to stride down the wing for the first score of the day. The Rec’s eruption was electric and it seemed like Tigers were in for a long, hot, sunny afternoon. The second tasty try of the day too came from Banners. It was all rock n’ roll at the Rec.

Did we expect anything less? Of course not!

Onto the third try of the day, this time from Kyle Eastmond who was set up from a perfectly placed chip by Rokoduguni.

Bath were on fire!

Reciprocation came in the form of a late Tom Young’s try in the first half but there was a large deficit to bridge; were Leicester were already down and out at half-time, 21-10?

Back out and Bath were firing on all cylinders, maintaining the gripping style of rugby that had the Rec on their feet! A roaring Francois Louw ripped through the Tiger’s defence, with remarkable quick offloads to the equally remarkable Peter Stringer, who too crossed for Bath's fourth try of the day.

With no gas left in the tank for Leicester, Bath pulled the plug completely. Ford crossed over two minutes later and the immense speed and agility of the Bath backs coupled with the fancy foot work of Anthony Watson set up Banners for his hat-trick in the final minutes.

FT 47-10

This extraordinary spectacle and seven try surge was a phenomenal team performance from Bath. They hugely deserve their place in the Aviva Premiership Final - I look forward to seeing them in action next week.

What a contest it will be …… Flags and face paint at the ready...

Stuart Lancaster will have some interesting decisions to make soon.

See you at Twickers!