As Saracens battle for Premiership survival, English and French rivals able to absorb the demands of a World Cup may capitaliseFine is probably not the word to describe the current state of Saracens. The holders go into the opening round of the Champions Cup this weekend set to appeal against a sanction of £5m, and a 35-point deduction, for breaching the Premiership’s salary cap. They are likely to be relieved of £50,000 for failing to turn up for last week’s European Cup launch in Cardiff and as they have been considering fielding a weakened side in group matches, which could earn them a disrepute charge, the men in black may turn into the men in the red.Saracens start their campaign...
With community a core value, it is about more than rugby for the kings of Europe and now Premiership play-off contendersWhen Saracens played their first European Cup final, against Toulon in 2014, it was a meeting of two clubs who had approached the venue in Cardiff from opposite directions. The French club, owned by the impatient Mourad Boudjellal, aimed to buy success, recruiting players, many of them World Cup winners, from around the world; the Premiership side, encumbered by a less generous salary cap, looked to build something lasting.Toulon’s approach yielded three consecutive European Cups and a Top 14 title but five years on only two of the players involved in the 23-6 victory are still with the club. In...
Learning through failure shifts power to Saracens, but this year’s showpiece could have seismic effects on the wider gameLeinster were a year ago hailed not only as the best team in Europe but potentially the best ever after winning the Champions Cup. Saracens were among their victims, but it is a tournament in which the best dare not stand still. Its history shows clusters of teams who have held sway for a while – Leicester, Toulouse, Munster, Leinster and Toulon – but it is not difficult to see Saracens becoming its most dynastic club. Leinster do not lose many games and hardly any when they have a 10-point advantage just before half-time, but Sarries have this decade become versed in...
Spencer’s performance in the European showdown against Leinster could lead to a World Cup spot for England in JapanSlowly but surely there has been a changing of the guard at Saracens this season. In the four finals they have won in the past three years Richard Wigglesworth has started all of them at scrum-half, implementing the gameplan to a tee. On Saturday it is Ben Spencer’s turn. Related: Leinster out to make Champions Cup history against Saracens Related: Tadhg Furlong: ‘Mako’s a good craic but he’s an horrendous snorer’ Continue reading...
An irresistible force faces an immovable object and the winner will be Europe’s most remarkable champions, bar noneWidespread agreement is rare in rugby but this week is an exception. The two best, most consistent teams in Europe are contesting this year’s Champions Cup final, the only question being who will emerge as first among equals? The collision between the remorseless muscle men of Saracens and the rock-hard sons of Leinster pits an irresistible force against an immovable object. Related: James Haskell calls time on stellar career with regrets and a warning Related: Jamie George: ‘Saracens are going somewhere no club has been before in Europe’ Twitter: follow us at @guardian_sport Continue reading...