Leinster were simply bashed out of the European final by Saracens' domineering defence
Two test-match quality teams squared off in Newcastle for European glory in an intense physical battle that delivered a worthy champion, crowning Saracens as the most successful English side in European history by the end of the day.
Although defending champions Leinster built a 10-0 lead and seemed in control after half an hour into the match, there were warning signs flashing red that this scoreboard dominance was not reflecting the true nature of the encounter – Leinster were going backward nearly every time they had the ball.
Saracens’ defence was truly ferocious in every way, eating up space and bashing Blue at every opportunity. The only time Leinster confidently made the gainline was from their first two lineout starter plays, but when they fell back into a regular structure after three or four phases they were hammered backward relentlessly.
On the flip side, any time Saracens played with ball-in-hand they rumbled downfield and only their own execution stopped their roll.
With their first real fist of possession from a lineout starter play around halfway in the fifth minute, Brad Barritt ran hard and direct on the first phase, Billy Vunipola was sent at Sexton’s channel on the second and when Liam Williams had the ball on the third he was breaching their 22 after slipping past a falling James Lowe. They showed immediate signs that they would be very difficult to handle.
The monster Saracens pack, aided with Maro Itoje’s switch to the backrow and two healthy Vunipola’s (for at least the first thirty minutes) had similar pillars to England’s pack that bullied Ireland in the Six Nations opener. This final was no different.
Saracens had four visits inside Leinster’s 22 during the first 35 minutes but came away with zero points – each time scuttled by a self-inflicted turnover or brilliant last-ditch resistance from the Irish-side. Although they couldn’t finish, someone frequently trespassing your front lawn is probably going to break into the house eventually.
At the opposite end, Leinster were met with dogged, and at times illegal resistance anytime they were deep in the scoring zone. It was tough going even when they earned their first try against 14-men after Itoje was binned for repeated offences.
With Owen Farrell on his heels directly on his own goal line, Leinster number 8 Jack Conan lined him up breaking off the back of the scrum. With a wind-up, he was belted and stopped in his tracks by Farrell one-on-one. In that situation, most times Conan would bash past a flyhalf and score through contact with his shifty footwork and power. Leinster had to scrap for every inch to score two phases later with a pick and drive.
The tipping point came when the previously successful starter plays failed to yield any go-forward momentum. Leinster’s third lineout around halfway just before halftime played a wide ball to Conan, who was met with precision around his undercarriage by Alex Lozowski, stopping him in his tracks before picking him up and driving him back.
When a ball-playing, undersized centre is not only winning but dominating collisions with loose forwards, it is an ominous sign you are beginning to lose the arm wrestle.
With everyone having to backtrack, Leinster’s attack had all the wind taken out of it. On the second phase, a deep Sexton is hammered one-on-one by George Kruis for another 10-metre loss and is caught holding on at the breakdown. In two phases they lose 25-metres and give Farrell a chance to open Saracens’ account, which he does from 35-metres out.
At that point, Leinster seemingly just lost all their footing in the uphill battle with the Saracens’ defence.
Luke McGrath’s ill-advised box kick on the stroke of halftime moments later would prove to be costly. Instead of kicking it out, kicking it deep or just holding onto the ball to grind out whatever time was left, he hoisted an uncontested kick that made a net gain of 15-metres. Saracens won a penalty from the ensuing ruck, went downfield and scored a try to level the game before halftime.
McGrath may take the blame but it showed a lack of purpose and clarity from the side. There was limited kick-chase, a sign that no one else was really expecting it or up for the tactic mentally.
If no one was expecting it, what was the plan to close out the half that would’ve been talked about 30-seconds earlier when they were watching Farrell line up a penalty kick?
There were only 35-seconds left in the half when Sexton’s restart left the boot. Playing a territorial kicking game with no clock left is pointless. You can’t build pressure because the opposition can simply release that pressure by kicking it out once they have it. The options are either end the half so your opposition can’t score or try and score yourself, which can only be done with ball-in-hand.
When a team is getting beaten up physically and frustration creeps in, thinking forward with clarity can go adrift, with too much thinking about the last play instead of the next. Leinster’s aimless management at the very end of the half was perhaps a sign of that.
A rejuvenated Leinster came out fighting in the second half, throwing the kitchen sink at Saracens. They dominated possession in the first 10-minutes but were turned over twice less than 10-metres out from the tryline, failing to get any reward for their work and early control.
A prolonged period of misfires from both teams resulted in Saracens’ finally arresting the lead in the 58th minute with a penalty goal to Farrell. It was a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Billy Vunipola fittingly iced the game with a barnstorming run off the back of the scrum, scoring through four defenders. That effort contrasted greatly with Conan’s own effort in the first half from a similar striking distance, a symbol of the difference in physicality between the sides.
If you count Vunipola’s two intercepts, he finished with four turnovers in the game. He was also the man who pinned Rob Kearney at the bottom of the ruck on that McGrath box kick, earning the penalty. His first intercept of Sexton ended Leinster’s last raid in their 22, and started the possession that finished with his own try under the posts to effectively seal the match. He was punishing in defence and contributed immensely to Leinster’s go-forward troubles.
Leinster weren’t without a lack of heart or effort, just out-and-out beaten by a stronger team that was more physical. They were simply bashed out of it. Saracens were by no means clinical, but when they finally got things together there was no way they weren’t going to take the match.
Billy Vunipola following Saracens’ European triumph:
Comments on RugbyPass
Starts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
2 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
2 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
3 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
3 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
228 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
3 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
86 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
228 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
228 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to comments