RASSIE ERASMUS’ VIEW that Saracens ‘choked the life’ out of Munster was meant in only complimentary terms.
But to reduce a summation of the now three-time Champions Cup finalists to that of a stranglehold would be to ignore the flashes of fluid attacking brilliance and moments of joyful mould-breaking confidence from their forwards.
Well, at least two forwards, the Vunipola brothers Mako and Villiami.
At different points of the first-half, both prop and number eight willfully broke free of the traditional know-your-role shackles of their positions after powering their way beyond the defensive line with lots of open green field ahead.
Rather than use their considerable heft to test one of the remaining defenders, both Vunipolas allowed the nippy playmaker within cry out and put boot to ball in an attempt to create an opportunity for Chris Ashton.
“I actually wasn’t too pleased with it,” said Mako after thinking back to the ball that beat Ashton to the touchline on the stroke of half-time, “I thought it was a chance to score.”
Vunipola was speaking in an embargoed portion of Saracens’ post-match press conference. Even after a 10 – 26 win away from home, there was no triumphalism about Mark McCall and the players that flanked him. But they had every reason to smile after a job superbly well done. McCall gave Owen Farrell a tap on the shoulder to send him away as the questions for Vunipola began. The out-half couldn’t help but smile and give an exaggerated what-are-you-on-about look to a journalist asking Vunipola how much time and effort he invested in his kicking skills.
“Funny you should say that, pretty much every day,” he said, deliberately looking away from Farrell’s sneer.
“I practice my kicking more than I do my scrummaging, probably need to turn that round a bit.”
The scrummaging didn’t go too badly either, after a rough start under pressure from John Ryan, but it’s the lesser-spotted front row skills that drew the eye to Vunipola on this occasion. It’s no accident, of course, the fundamental skills are exemplary throughout the squad.
“It’s not enough just to be a set-piece prop any more,” says McCall, mastermind of this Saracens era in European rugby.
“You need to be able to function in a defensive system. You’re going to have a role to play in the kicking game and also in any attack. You can’t really carry passengers in any part of the team any more. Thankfully we’ve got a pretty good ball player on my right who sees the game as well as any back.”
Saracens have worked extremely hard to get to the top of the European pyramid and they intend to stay there a little while longer. Though reluctant to even acknowledge that they are chasing a second straight double of Champions Cup and Premiership titles, there is no hiding their drive to dominate the business end of the season again.
“We want to make our own legacy. We want to look back and be counted as one of the great teams. That comes from winning trophies but that’s not the only thing,” explains Vunipola, one of five Lions tourists in the Saracens pack.
“We want to make memories as a group. That’s the biggest driver for us. Today is a great memory.”
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