Saracens have been the dominant force in English rugby over the past decade. Photo: Getty Images/David Rogers
With due respect to the efforts of Sale and Saracens, it is probably right that the Gallagher Premiership final will feature the first and second placed teams in the league.
In the system there is nothing wrong with the playoffs, and all teams agreed to its application. Perhaps it's just a generational thing; I have a rather traditionalist view of this. Fortunately, Northampton and Bath also proved to be the top two teams in this year's competition.
The results of both semi-finals hint at some pretty damn close games. They were indeed tight until the very end, but although this was due to the tenacity of both losing teams, the winners did not put them away when they were decisively on top. From a neutral standpoint, and I'm guessing this includes broadcaster TNT, it's also a bonus that the finals will feature two of the league's most exciting offensive teams. Experts will not dare to name the favorite in the final with great confidence.
It's always more interesting to study a loss than a win in semi-finals, and that was the case again last weekend. You can write a script for each winner before the game: “We're thrilled to win, but we know it won't mean anything if we don't back it up in the final.” That was it, almost word for word, from Saints' Courtney Lawes and Bath's Finn Russell.
A study of the reactions of some of the losing players suggests a slightly more than usual “We're gutted” scenario. Perhaps this is because players like George Ford and Owen Farrell have a more balanced and experienced view of the game. Both emphasized the fact that they felt their sides had not done enough to give them the best chance of winning, and I suspect they knew the results were fair, no matter how much they may have wished otherwise.
Seasoned observers sensed a changing of the guard at Franklin Gardens; relative newcomers Northampton defeat Premier League aristocrats Saracens. It truly is the end of an era for Sarri fans as Farrell and the three Vunipola, Billy, Mako and Manu have all left Saracens this season.
Mako Vunipola leaves Saracens with his two brothers. Photo: Getty Images/Mark Atkins
It's never easy to leave a club you've been with since you formed, especially one that has had as much success as Saracens. Although fans of other teams still raise the issue of financial doping, it should be consigned to history. The club has been punished and we need to move on, especially when you look at what these players have brought not only to Saracens but to English rugby.
Few players get to leave a club exactly when they want to, and to their credit, Farrell and Billy Vunipola remained on the pitch after the game, signing autographs and willing to do TV interviews despite their obvious disappointment. I remember my last game for Nottingham when I moved to Harlequins. I could barely speak due to the mixed feelings of regret and loss, and this was after the game when we beat Gloucester and denied them the league title that year.
Farrell has been a guide for most of his career criticism from fans of rivals at club and international level. A lot of it is simple dislike for an opposing player who people know is effective and a threat. This is partly due to his taciturn nature and strident “northernism”, but no one should underestimate his fruitful contribution to the life of the Saracens and England.
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