Vunipolas hail Sarries brotherhood

❑ GEORGE FORD missed a penalty with the last kick of the game as Bath suffered a 28- 25 defeat by Stade Francais in a dramatic Challenge Cup semi- fi nal in Paris yesterday.

At 18- 6 down, Bath staged an impressive second- half comeback, with tries from Semesa Rokoduguni, Robbie Fruean and Elliott Stooke putting them back into the lead. But, in a remarkable fi nal quarter, the game swung back and forth as Hugh Pyle’s try plus a conversion and drop- goal from Jules Plisson put Stade ahead.

There was still time for Bath to try to send the game into extra- time, but Ford missed from the tee in time added on to leave Stade to celebrate reaching the fi nal where they will meet Gloucester, who beat La Rochelle 16- 14 on Saturday. Brits said: “Sometimes people wonder how you get an extra fi ve per cent out of a player; how can you get him up off the ground. If you feel so much love for the team and want to earn the respect of the guy next to you, all the shared experiences of the past help you do a lot more for each other.

“You could see it in that defensive set before half- time when we were down to 14 men and Munster were on our line. People defend for each other because they want to, not because they get paid. They want to earn respect – and have fun in Barcelona together.”

After the Gaudi architecture comes a fortnight jockeying for home advantage in the Premiership semi- fi nals before the big one – the Champions Cup fi nal in Edinburgh on May 13 against Euro bridesmaids Clermont, who saw off Leinster yesterday.

“Clermont have been there or thereabouts for what feels like years and years. You kind of feel it is going to happen for them at some point,” said Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall. “When they have their best team available, they are an unbelievable handful. They have strength all the way through.” Saracens’ strength lies in the collective. And, for all Clermont’s stardust, that collective appears unbeatable.