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Sometimes you just have to give credit

Yesterday, despite the attractions of the sunny weather on the south coast, I strapped myself in and watched the European Rugby Champions Cup Final (kick-off 5.00pm at Murrayfield) ‘live’ on BT Sport from end to end. It was won for the second year running by Saracens, this time by the margin of 28-17 over Clermont Auvergne.

As usual, those who would like to know details of the scoring and indeed the various swings and arrows of fortune and bravery on display should consult their favourite Sunday sporting news vehicles.

Actually, I lied above.

Due to an earlier rather splendid al fresco luncheon of duck breast in a redcurrant jus accompanied with roasted new potatoes, carrots and broccoli … accompanied by first a very large gin and tonic indeed and then more my share of a bottle of red wine … I had dozed off in my armchair and witnessed none of the scoring moves in the first half, which ended with Saracens leading 12-7.

I am a stereotypical supporter of the other eleven clubs in England Rugby Premiership in that I delight in hating Saracens and everything they stand for, beginning with the fact that they’re chockful of South African money and top mercenary players, play percentage rugby (with a lot of up-and-under kicking) and win everything … and ending with the fact that allegedly their accumulated debt is around the £50 million mark and they just don’t care what anybody thinks about them.

However.

As hard as it is for me to do it, today I want to take my hat off to everyone at the Saracens club.

To win the top Cup competition in Europe two years in succession is a remarkable achievement and could not have been possible without many great and to be admired things having been developed within their playing and coaching group. Their team spirit, work ethic, comradeship and dedication to constant improvement is beyond doubt.

When the chips were down in the second half yesterday – which they were at several points  as Clermont mounted their concerted effort for ascendancy – Saracens first met fire with fire and then, notch by notch, went on to turn the screw and grind out a convincing victory, ultimately not by squeezing the life out of the game (as people like me might have expected) but by all-out attack.

In the modern era of professional sport, some elite teams are playing a different game to others. Saracens is one of them.

Let’s put it another way – Quins could not have won yesterday’s game if they’d suddenly come across a month comprised exclusively of Sundays.

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About Derek Williams

A recently-retired actuary, the long-suffering Derek has been a Quins fan for the best part of three decades. More Posts