Rugby’s most outspoken and influential journalist
SARACENS’ BID to regain the Heineken Cup in their first season back after suspension from the Premiership came to a halt when they lost to La Rochelle in the quarter-finals in early April.
But what was actually bending that day? Was it the Saracens campaign or something wider and more significant? Was it the end of an era? In that game Billy Vunipola, a fantastic core player in the Saracens success, was replaced with what looked like a serious knee injury and he’s now in a race to make the World Cup.
Saracens have still dominated the Premiership this season, with some thunderous performances, not least the day when they put 50 points past Leicester. They have changed style and become a wonderfully attractive team, one of the reasons the feeble cats’ chorus which would have Owen Farrell dumped from the England team in favour of Marcus Smith often sounded so ridiculous.
Farrell has been a titan in
