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Opposing England flyhalves George Ford and Owen Farrell hailed

By PA
George Ford and Owen Farrell /PA

George Ford and Owen Farrell have been described as players “relentless in their pursuit of excellence” ahead of taking centre-stage in Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership final.

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Leicester fly-half Ford and Saracens’ tactical controller Farrell unquestionably hold the keys to victory for their teams.

Tigers, chasing a ninth Premiership title in their first domestic showpiece final since 2013, were never replaced as regular-season league leaders across 24 games.

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Will Skelton on Champions Cup celebrations and playing for the Barbarians | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 38

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    Will Skelton on Champions Cup celebrations and playing for the Barbarians | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 38

    The big rig Will Skelton joins us from Monaco this week where he’s on tour with the Barbarians and rooming with George Kruis. He fills us in on the tour so far, hanging out at the palace with the Prince and who’s leading the charge off the pitch. We also hear about his man-of-the-match performance for La Rochelle in the Champions Cup Final, that famous open-top bus celebration and what it’s like playing for coaches like O’Gara and Cheika.

    Saracens, meanwhile, are back on the big stage following their relegation to the Championship and £5.36million fine two years ago for repeated salary cap breaches.

    “There are huge similarities between the two of them,” Leicester head coach and former Saracens captain Steve Borthwick said.

    “They love rugby, they are relentless in their pursuit of excellence, the amount of training they would do, how driven they are to win.

    “George is an incredible tactical leader and very astute in terms of what the team needs. He is a guy who wants to get better, and it is a privilege to work with him.”

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    Borthwick has handed a surprise Twickenham start to 39-year-old Richard Wigglesworth, who is handed the role of Ford’s half-back partner, with Ben Youngs on the bench.

    Wigglesworth helped Saracens win European and Premiership crowns during his 10 years with the club before joining Leicester ahead of Borthwick’s first season at the helm.

    Chris Ashton, the Premiership’s record try-scorer, also features for Leicester, with Guy Porter moving from wing to centre as replacement for an injured Dan Kelly.

    Saracens show one change from the side that beat semi-final opponents Harlequins, as lock Nick Isiekwe takes over from Tim Swinson.

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    Leicester have risen from successive 11th-place Premiership finishes before Borthwick took charge to contest their 10th final.

    “I am excited about this team, the journey we are on, and it is another step for us,” Borthwick added.

    “It is a really experienced Saracens team, their squad is packed full of international experience, so we know it is an incredible challenge.

    “But that is the nature of games like this. You have got to be at your best.”

    Reflecting on his Leicester reign, Borthwick said: “The first game we played was Exeter away (in August 2020), and we lost 26-13.

    “About 20 minutes into the match, we were 6-0 up, then Exeter scored two or three tries quickly, and I thought ‘we are going to be tested here’.

    “A team like Exeter can turn that into 50 points, because they are that good, but I saw our guys fight really hard, and I thought if I’ve got that, then I have got something to work with.”

    Trying to outwit Borthwick on the tactical front will be Saracens’ long-serving rugby director Mark McCall, and a fascinating battle lies ahead.

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    Saracens’ England prop Mako Vunipola said: “His (McCall’s) ability to see the bigger picture is second to none, and his biggest strength.

    “It is his ability to see that something we need to fix in September or October, otherwise it will come and bite us when we get to March or April.

    “The direction he has given to us and for us as senior players, the openness he shares with us, is amazing.

    “We take for granted as senior players the ability to talk to him, and for him to listen to some of our opinions.

    “There are not many coaches that have the patience to deal with the number of personalities we have in the team.”

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    JW 20 minutes ago
    Why NZR's Ineos settlement may be the most important victory they'll enjoy this year

    I wouldn’t think the risk is cash flow, as they have large cash reserves they said all through covid.


    I suspect the author has it completely wrong as it pertains to the pool as well, because I can’t see the contracts of players changing year to year like revenue does.


    I’d imagine there is an agreed principle to a ‘forecast’ figure of revenue for a cyclical period, and this is what 37% or whatever of is used for player salaries. So it would not change whatever that figure is until the next cycle. Cash flow, as you said, would be the main factor, but as they aren’t paid all it once, they’d not be hindered in this manor I don’t believe. Of all the references I’ve seen of a the player pool agreement, not once have I seen any detail on how the amount is determined.


    But yes, that would be a very reasoned look at the consequences, especially compared those I’ve seen in articles on this site. Even with turnonver north of $350 million a year, 20 is still a sizeable chunk. Like this RA’s broadcast deal, they might have smaller sponsorship for a short period to align with everything else, then look to develop the deal further heading into the Lions tour cycle? Perhaps trying to take a deal from low to high like that is unlikely to a long term investor, and NZR want to get a good shortterm deal now so they can capitalize on growth for the Lions (i’m assuming that series has consequences on more than just broadcast deals right).

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