Get Newsletter

Finals experience is Sarries' ally

The Chiefs will make their first appearance in a major Final.

ADVERTISEMENT

In stark contrast Saracens  – who are fresh from winning the European Champions Cup, where they beat Racing 92 in the Final – have appeared in four of the last six Premiership finals and beat Bath 28-16 in last year's showpiece.

They also beat Leicester Tigers – whom they thrashed 44-17 in the semifinal at the weekend – in the 2011 Final.

Looking ahead to the Final on Saturday the Saracens Director of Rugby, McCall, said his team will benefit from their experience, but also acknowledged that they will face stiff competition on the Twickenham turf.Finals experience is Sarries' ally

"We're under no illusions that Exeter and Wasps are absolute quality sides and we'll probably need to be better than we were [in the semifinal] if we're going to win that game," McCall said.

 "We do have a very experienced group in these play-off matches now and the talk in the changing room at the end of the match, it wasn't a jubilant changing room it was a changing room that recognised that we need to be better at certain things in next weeks' game."

McCall admitted that he had some worries ahead of last Saturday's match-up with Leicester, but has no concerns about getting his team ready to contest the Final at Twickenham.

ADVERTISEMENT

"It  [last week] was the week I was worried about to be honest," he admitted, adding: "Because obviously the players celebrated as they should have done after winning the [European] Final the previous week for a couple of days.

"Leicester had had some time to prepare for this game and we'd had a shorter preparation time so this was the one that I was worried about!

"We're delighted to be in another Final and I think we'll have no problems getting the players up for things this week."

Saracens' England star Billy Vunipola was also in a confident mood.

ADVERTISEMENT

"We're in another Final and we beat a very good team" said Vunipola, who was voted the Saracens Young Player of the season this year.

"I think our focus is enjoy the win [at the weekend], but we have a big week ahead of us."

Source: @Saracens

Join free

Chasing The Sun | Series 1 Episode 1

Fresh Starts | Episode 1 | Will Skelton

ABBIE WARD: A BUMP IN THE ROAD

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 9

James Cook | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

New Zealand victorious in TENSE final | Cathay/HSBC Sevens Day Three Men's Highlights

New Zealand crowned BACK-TO-BACK champions | Cathay/HSBC Sevens Day Three Women's Highlights

Japan Rugby League One | Bravelupus v Steelers | Full Match Replay

Write A Comment