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Maro Itoje's 107-second video warning to Saracens' many rivals

By Online Editors
(Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside via Getty Images)

Maro Itoje has laid down the gauntlet to all Saracens’ rivals, claiming in an atmospheric 107-second club social media video that the impending season in the Championship is the perfect year for the Londoners to mould stars of the future and return to the Premiership stronger than ever.     

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Following a daily drip-feed of contract extensions this past week featuring the likes of Sean Maitland, Jamie George, Mako Vunipola, Elliot Daly and Owen Farrell, the final piece of the Saracens jigsaw puzzle was supplied by Itoje with his Friday confirmation that he too is committed to their season in the Championship and for the long haul after that.    

After Saracens were automatically relegated to the second tier for repeated salary cap breaches, Itoje’s future was subject to much speculation in recent months. 

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There were links to Racing 92, Leicester and even this week a suggestion that he could spend some of 2021 in South Africa playing for one of their clubs ahead of next July’s Lions tour. 

However, all that gave way to Saracens announcing that Itoje is onboard with them for their 2020/21 campaign, an adventure the England talisman believes could do wonders for the club. 

In a voiceover accompanying the moody Saracens video, Itoje declared: “I’m massively excited to be a part of this club. I have been part of Saracens since I was 14 years old. I can see myself being here for a little while longer, so I want to make the most of this opportunity. 

“The club is a great place to be. The negativity is old news, I’m really looking forward to the future. The future is going to be brighter than our past. We have the foundations in place to make that happen. We have the players, we have the talent, we have the coaches so the future is in our hands and we have the power to shape our own destiny. 

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“It’s always been the case at Saracens that they have always focused on the youth and have a strong academy system. This Championship year is a perfect year for them and I can’t wait to help them along their way. 

“We have players who are hungry, hungry to achieve. We have been successful but we are not resting on our laurels. We want to push on, we want to succeed, we want to do amazing things. 

“The process has started already, we’re putting in the work. Day by day we’re going to look to get better and improve. The culture at Saracens is second to none – that is evident for everyone to see. 

“The excitement of this group is massive to firstly finishing off this season and finishing off well. But then going to the Championship and rebuild, focus on the fundamentals and come back and hopefully be stronger than ever.”

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Saracens restart their suspended 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership campaign with a visit to Bristol on August 15, the first of their nine remaining league fixtures before they make the enforced drop to the Championship. 

However, all eyes will be on their September 19 visit to Dublin to face Leinster in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals, a head-to-head that is a repeat of the final won by Saracens in Newcastle in May 2019. 

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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