Saracens to edge epic final - Andy Goode
It’s hard to remember a European Cup final that was so tough to call and with two teams at the height of their powers to such an extent but I’m putting my money on Saracens after extra time.
Brad Barritt being back from his ankle injury is massive for Saracens. Had he not been fit and Nick Tompkins and Alex Lozowski had been coming up against Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose in the centres, you’d probably have given Leinster a significant edge in that department.
It’ll be interesting to see how long he lasts for and if he’s fully fit but his calmness and leadership, as well as his defence, is a massive boost and should help Owen Farrell no end.
The other big selection for me is Will Skelton being picked in the second row and Maro Itoje being shifted to blindside to accommodate him. Mark McCall has gone for all out size and power.
He knows Leinster have a very good set piece and a really strong driving game and I think that selection will help to combat that, as well as offer them a fair bit when they have the ball too.
Saracens’ bench could make the difference as well. They just look to have slightly more strength in depth in their squad for this one and the extra experience they have to bring on later in the game especially could prove pivotal.
I think Jerome Garces is going to have a massive impact on the game and whoever reacts best to the way he’s refereeing, especially at the breakdown and the set piece, stands the best chance of winning the game.
There are mouth-watering match-ups all over the field but the one between Farrell and Johnny Sexton is the biggest of them all and I think whoever can keep their composure best in the cauldron of St James’ Park and a Champions Cup final will come out on top.
They’ve both got moments of brilliance in them but they’ve both got a tipping point as well.
I watched an interview Farrell did with Nick Mullins this week and he seemed to be praising Sexton through gritted teeth. There’s obviously huge respect there but praising his opposite number didn’t seem to come naturally to him.
Leinster’s attack is all built around multiple phases and they’ll have some short-side plays that they’ll attack Saracens with, as well as a few different shapes and tricks in their locker to test a defence that has been dominant throughout the tournament so far.
The kicking game will clearly play a big part as well, with both teams box kicking a lot. Saracens were so dominant in the air in their semi-final against Munster and I don’t think that’ll be the case against Leinster.
The back threes will have a lot of work to do and are quite evenly matched but I think James Lowe is one of the best players in the world at the moment and might just have a moment of magic up his sleeve to change the game.
Whoever wins, it should be an absolute cracker for the neutral. There might not be tries galore and linebreaks being made left, right and centre but the physicality will be incredible, it’ll be a gainline war and that should keep us all entertained.
It’s going to be a hell of a ding-dong but I’m just favouring Saracens because I think their power game might just edge it. The sheer size and power of some of their ball carriers in the forwards if they come wave after wave might just make the difference.
It’s going to be an intriguing battle between the two best sides in Europe by a distance and there’s virtually nothing to choose between them but I’m going for Saracens after they’ve gone toe to toe for 80 minutes, and an extra 20 as well just for good measure.
Comments on RugbyPass
“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
27 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
27 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
27 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
27 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
27 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
27 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
27 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
7 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
4 Go to commentsTo be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
7 Go to comments