'We put Leinster under the kind of pressure that we hoped we could put them under, but you've got to go out and do it'
Director of rugby Mark McCall heaped praise on his Saracens squad after they advanced to the semi-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup with a superb 25-17 victory over Leinster at the Aviva Stadium.
The defending champions laid the foundations for their against-the-odds triumph with a dominant first-half display.
Standing in for the suspended Owen Farrell at fly-half, Alex Goode contributed 16 points, including a sharply-finished 36th-minute try, to propel Sarries into a 22-3 half-time lead.
“This group of players never cease to amaze us,” admitted McCall afterwards. “Given everything that has happened this year, to produce a performance of that kind of quality, and that kind of unity, says a lot about them really.
“We came up with a very experienced team, a team who have been through a hell of a lot together the last four or five seasons. The ups and downs of this competition. I think you saw all of the solidarity that they possess out there.
“The first half we played brilliantly. We put Leinster under the kind of pressure that we hoped we could put them under, but you’ve got to go out and do it. The players were so engaged and so alive to everything.”
Leinster, who retained their Guinness PRO14 title at the same venue a week ago, fought back with converted tries from Andrew Porter and Jordan Larmour, before a last-minute Goode penalty ended the Irish province’s 25-match winning streak and sealed a semi-final trip to France – against Clermont Auvergne or Racing 92 – for McCall’s men.
There were elements of the Saracens play in the second half that McCall found every bit as pleasing as the first, with the visitors pummelling the Leinster scrum for seven penalties in all.
“The (Leinster) onslaught started in the second half and we were probably guilty of being a little bit passive in hanging onto our lead,” the former Ireland international added.
“But there were some defensive sets in the second half against a high-class team which were out of this world and showed everything that we hope we’re about.
“I thought our scrum was unbelievable really, given that Mako (Vunipola) hasn’t played a game since the first game after lockdown. To come and scrummage the way he scrummaged, and the way Vincent Koch scrummaged, was incredible.”
Meanwhile, having been hotly-tipped to overcome Saracens at the quarter-final stage for the second time in three years, this defeat comes as a major disappointment for Leinster.
Right from the word go, head coach Leo Cullen felt his side struggled to get to the pitch of the game.
“I just thought we got a little bit spooked pretty much from the kick-off,” he said. “We don’t quite deal with it and Saracens score. We played right into their hands in many ways.
“It comes back to that mentality that we know they have – three, six, nine, 12 (points). We handed them those opportunities.
“They’re all things we were aware of coming into the match but we couldn’t quite deal with it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
pure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
1 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
25 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to comments