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'Anyone can support a team when they are winning trophies'
Brad Barritt has insisted that Saracens, the reigning Gallagher Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup champions, will continue to be a major force despite their looming automatic relegation to the second tier of English rugby.
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While the Londoners are currently on minus 63 points at the bottom of the Premiership after their points deductions and a massive fine for breaking the salary cap, in any other season their nine wins from 13 league outings would see them second in the table.
This is what happened when RugbyPass drove Shane Williams around the capital of Wales
Besides knocking over their Premiership rivals, the club are also in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with the chance to register a fourth title during Barritt’s time at the club, although they face top-ranked Leinster in the last eight at a date to be rescheduled.
Right now, Barritt and co have started a three-week break from club-based training as the sport deals with the disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
To ensure the squad remains fit, Phil Morrow, the club’s performance director, has mapped out training plans to ensure players are ready for whatever the disrupted season looks like when they reassemble in April.
“The players have all been spoken to by the strength and conditioning coaches about areas to keep on top of over the next few weeks, but due to the situation a lot of this is stuff they can do at home or by themselves on a pitch,” said Morrow to the club’s website.
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“Things will be a little more condensed. In a pre-season, we normally have nine weeks to prepare for the start of the season, so we will get into team training a little quicker than a pre-season. But the gym work and fitness work will be similar at the start.”
Amid the mid-season suspension, Barritt is still discussing his playing future with Saracens who have been negotiating with their players about the shape of the squad for next season’s campaign in the Championship following relegation.
The ex-England midfielder accepts the current squad will never look the same as it must be broken up to satisfy the salary cap regulations the club was found guilty of breaking for three seasons.
Players such as Max Malins and Ben Earl have arranged one-year loan deals to stay in the top flight with Bristol before re-joining Sarries when they secure their predicted rapid return to the Premiership.
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Barritt’s own future will be revealed shortly and Saracens fans will hope a deal can be struck to keep the talisman at Allianz Park after a career spanning five Premiership titles and three European Cups trophies.
“I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t let the distractions off the field be an excuse for the team not attacking and preparing as we always have,” said the 33-year-old to RugbyPass.
How has #COVID19 affected training? ????
Does this period affect the way the injured players are treated? ?
How can Sarries fans keep fit at home? ?We caught up with Performance Director Phil Morrow for answers to several training-related questions.#TogetherSaracens ???
— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) March 18, 2020
“I’m immensely proud of the resilience and strength of character the squad has shown in a World Cup year when we have only picked our frontline starting team a handful of times, yet we would in any other year be close to the top of the Premiership.
“For everyone, there has been uncertainty and a mixture of emotions in various ways. After a while, we could only really worry about what brings us joy and that is rugby games. The players have been fantastic showing resilience and care for the club and Saracens means so much to them.
“There is (going to be) somewhat of a conclusion to an incredible period. The players you play with can never be guaranteed year-on-year and what will be uniquely different from my other twelve years at Saracens is there will be a lot more movement than in any of the previous years.
“A lot of the success we have achieved has been because we have kept a core of players together for a long period of time. In rugby, those one per cents, when people know and understand each other and what makes them tick, have been a huge contributing factor.
Alternative plan mootedhttps://t.co/208klRgVdm
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 18, 2020
“We have a possible two or three months together as a squad and our goal is to ensure what happens off the pitch doesn’t affect our play and how we conduct ourselves on it.
“Early on this season, it looked like we had to prioritise the Premiership ahead of the six pool games in Europe. A mixed squad was used in four of them so the fact we were able to sneak in the back door to the quarter-finals and have something tangible to play for is very exciting for the squad.
“I have been blown away by the support the Saracens community has shown us. Anyone can support a team when they are winning trophies. When things don’t go well and you are tested in terms or your commitment and character, some of the support this season has been as good if not better than I have ever experienced at Saracens. As captain, I’m eternally grateful and hugely proud of what they have stood for.”
The club’s academy has delivered yet more talent for Mark McCall, the director of rugby, to use while Saracens internationals have been on Test duty. Nick Tomkins recent breaking into the Wales team in the Six Nations is an example of how valued Saracens’ talent is.
Saracens are getting relegated, right?
It's getting a little complicated. https://t.co/MvXyyVWlWq
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 18, 2020
Barritt has been a key figure in helping to create the atmosphere to allow the youngsters to thrive. “The club is a breeding ground for talent and players are given the self-confidence and belief to go out there in the big arena and perform.
“That shows the harnessing of talent in the academy, and the coaching and feedback from senior players has been instrumental in getting them up to speed. The club can be very proud of how many future stars we have unearthed. They will be part of the next Saracens chapter.
“Nick has been fantastic in the course of the last couple of seasons and when you get this opportunity you have to take it with both hands. As a club, we have been hugely proud of his progress.
“We have also had Vincent Koch winning the World Cup with South Africa, Sean Maitland scoring tries for Scotland and, of course, the England contingent. All of those players come back to the club and bring a blend of experience and ideas to the group and push us forward.”
WATCH: RugbyPass goes behind the scenes with the Barbarians ahead of last November’s game against Wales
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
6 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
8 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
8 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments