Milestone better latte than never for Barritt
BRAD BARRITT’S England dreams may have been fully roasted by Eddie Jones – but the coffee-mad centre is happy being part of the Saracens revolution.
He hopes the tiny coffee bean will help him make a killing in the business world when he finally hangs up his boots.
Barritt, 31, is investing time and money in a family-run company while also being involved with a Bio-Tech company and a coffee roastery firm called Tiki Tonga.
But right now the South Africa-born star has unfinished business on the field.
Saracens are fighting to regain the Premiership title they won in 2011 and 2015.
And next weekend they set out to try to win a third successive European crown.
Barritt makes his 200th appearance for the club against Wasps today – and the milestone has given him a chance to reflect on Sarries’ progress.
He said: “You are proud to play for the club for 200 games. The first 100 came pretty quickly and the second hundred has taken probably twice as long.
“When you first start at a club you never know how long it is going to continue for.
“I came here as a 21-year-old and remember my first game after Eddie Jones brought me here. I have the same hunger now as I had then.
“There has been a complete revolution at the club since I first came here. The performances and success of the team has grown year on year.
“It started with Brendan Ventor and now Mark McCall has taken that on and taken the club to new heights.
“This club is not the finished article. We are still looking to improve all the time.
“We need to if we are going to win more trophies.
“We’ve had great success over the past few seasons but this time we’re yet to complete the full 80 minutes and marry up our game.
“There are days when our attack has been hot and our defence has been poor, and vice versa.”
Barritt, capped 26 times by England, was one of the big-name casualties when Jones took over as national boss last year.
But he has no plans to hang up the boots in the near future.
He said: “I am loving my time here, playing some very good rugby and being part of a very successful team so I have no ambition to stop any time soon.
“I’m motivated by the people I work with every day.
“My personal feelings and attachment to the club motivate me.
“Having been here from the start and seeing where the club’s gone since 2008, I take huge satisfaction from being part of that journey.
“It’s being part of this group and part of the organisation you care for.
“I feel at home at Saracens and I am motivated every time I put that shirt on.
“To play with guys you call friends is pretty special. Every weekend it is easy to get excited about playing.”
Sarries’ Director of Rugby McCall added: “Brad has been a great role model for all the players here. He has been huge for us on and off the field.
“He’s the club captain and the leader of the playing group who sets an unbelievable example for all the other guys to follow.”
Saracens v Wasps, Today, 3pm SCORER: Lachie Turner CHAMPIONS Exeter Chiefs moved top of the Aviva Premiership after a 34-24 victory over the season’s surprise package Newcastle Falcons.
Touchdowns from Nic White, Lachie Turner and Sam Simmonds, along with a penalty try and 14 points from the boot of Gareth Steenson proved decisive for the men from the west country.
Falcons responded with tries from Jon Welch, Santiago Socino, Alex Tait,