NINE-TRY BAA-BAAS EMBARRASS JONES AND CO
multi-national squad enjoyed a Seventies-themed fancy dress outing in London. Chris Ashton went as a hippy. Yesterday he was a hat-trick hero against an England team he once served with distinction. The other tormentors-in-chief were his Toulon team-mates Semi Radradra and Josua Tuisova. They had partied in disco gear and afro wigs. Victor Vito helped himself to two tries. Finn Russell put aside his alter-ego, Austin Powers, to orchestrate another win two months after helping Scotland lift the Calcutta Cup. England had spent a fortnight in their training camp, preparing for this game and their upcoming tour of South Africa. Yet, they could not live with the pace and creative class of a scratch opposition team. Asked how many times they had trained, Lam said: ‘It was three. I videoed it so I could say: “Fellas, that was a really good training session but some of you probably don’t remember it! My analysis guy was key because I knew even though they might be half cut in the morning, they could still see the pictures!’ A fourth successive defeat was the last thing Jones needed ahead of a three-Test series against the Springboks. England were without around two dozen leading lights but this was still an affront to the coach and his team.
SARACENS wrested back the Aviva Premiership title from Exeter with a 27-10 triumph at Twickenham on Saturday.
LEINSTER added the Guinness Pro14 title to their European Champions Cup crown with a 40-32 win over reigning champions Scarlets.