IT’S HAIL TO THE CHIEFS
Sarries’ spirit sparks push
RICHARD WIGGLESWORTH says Saracens are on a mission to prove their spirit is unbreakable – whatever is thrown at the club.
The London side booked a Champions Cup semi- final against Racing 92 by upsetting Leinster in their own backyard.
They go to Paris on Saturday determined that a year which started with their expulsion from the Premiership for salary cap breaches will end with them still Europe’s top dogs.
Scrum- half Wigglesworth said: “We’re not looking for any sympathy because what’s happening is happening, but we are doing this with one hand tied behind our back because five or six of our best players are away on loan.
“Maybe we deserved this, maybe we’ve got to do it the hard way. Maybe also if we do it like this it will prove that what we built is true and special.”
Saracens deserved to savour their victory in Dublin, given big favourites Leinster had won every game this year while the visitors ditched half of their team to get under the cap and had spent months playing games of no consequence.
Wigglesworth said: “We have to get back down to earth quickly because, while this feels good, it means no more than any other quarter- final win.
“Emotionally the Leinster game was there for us because we’d wanted it for months. You
UNBREAKABLE: Wigglesworth could tell in how we played. But we’ve now got a massive French team with a huge budget and stars galore who are desperate to win this competition.
“We know what level of intensity we are going to have to bring.”
Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster had billed the game as Saracens’ ‘ last dance’, with their squad about to break up.
Defeat would have marked the end for Wigglesworth and Brad Barritt, while 19- point matchwinner Alex Goode is Japan- bound on a year’s loan.
But this band of brothers were not prepared to go quietly into the Dublin night.
Captain Barritt said: “The prospect of having another week together is what drove us.
“We owed it to ourselves to have a game that meant something to us – and to the Saracens badge, to represent it with respect and honour.
“This team has been built on hard work, showing resilience.” LEINSTER – Tries: Porter, Larmour. Cons: Sexton 2. Pen: Sexton.
SARACENS – Try: Goode. Con: Goode. Pens: Goode 4, Daly 2.