STING WRAY ‘Wounded Sarries can shock’
JACKSON WRAY says a year of dealing with adversity has primed Saracens for what would be their greatest ever win in Europe.
The Champions Cup holders head to Dublin this Saturday to face a Leinster side unbeaten since last season’s final.
Sarries must do so without England captain Owen Farrell, the heartbeat of their club, who is serving a five- week ban for a dangerous tackle.
And they know that whatever happens they will be relegated and ineligible for next season’s competition. No wonder Stuart Lancaster’s Leinster are hot favourites to win the quarter-final and the tournament itself.
But Wray (right, with the 2019
Champions Cup trophy) insists Sarries have drawn strength from being written off.
Wray said: “The challenges seem to have been endless, and I’m m not even talking about the worldwide orldwide pandemic. But you either ther roll over and it gets worse, orse, or you get tighter.
“Since we had the points deduction eduction – first 35, then 105, 05, then relegation – we e have fought and played ayed for each other. ther. There are tough ough times, but ut we try y to o make any challenge have a positive impact.”
Saracens reached this last-eight stage by beating Racing 92 with 14 men, less than 24 hours after their Premiership relegation had been anno announced.
Of the t team on that day, Farrell is now banned and Ben Spen Spencer, Will Skelton, George K Kruis and Ben Earl have all left the club. L Lancaster has b billed Saturday’s g game as Sarries’ L Last Dance, a final s shot at glory b before an era ends.
The former England boss said:
“I’m sure they’re thinking this is their chance to do something together and then the rebuild will begin in the Championship.
“I don’t buy into the idea they’re a broken team at all. They’re the current champions and they are for a reason. They have a very, very good set- piece and an outstanding defence.”
But Lancaster gave Farrell his first cap and will know the size of hole the Sarries playmaker leaves.
Wray does do, and added: “Owen’s one of the best fly-halfs in the world, perhaps the best. He’s a big loss.”
Leinster Saracens
Champions Cup Quarter-Final
Saturday, 3pm