Saracens back at the top table as Earl hat-trick sees off Quins
MARK McCall spoke openly and emotionally about the “tough times” Sarries have had to endure to march back to within one small step of a sixth Premiership title.
The Irishman heaped praise on his men in black for the way they dethroned champions Harlequins, and for showing real “loyalty and fight” to put the troubled times behind them and set up more potential silverware glory.
Ben Earl took centre stage with his outstanding hat-trick of tries to press his claims for a place on the England plane to Australia this summer. But it was it a phenomenal effort by the men at StoneX Stadium to reach Twickenham at the first attempt back in the top flight.
Just three years after being kicked down to the Championship for breaching salary cap rules, Owen Farrell, Billy Vunipola and co are relishing next Saturday’s huge day out at HQ.
Director of Rugby McCall enthused: “I don’t know if it feels any different being in the final again after all that has happened over the last two and a half years. But I do know it has been a tough time for the club and everyone here. It was a problem of our own making and mistakes were made. But 99 per cent of those in the organisation were not responsible for what happened.
“Every one of them had an excuse to leave if they wanted and none of them did. That sense of loyalty probably saved the club and we saw out on the field today where that loyalty, unity etc comes from.
“We have a special group of players and we saw that with the level of resilience showed at different times of the match today. First at 12-3 down when their scrum and maul was on top and we managed to bounce back by scoring 26 unanswered points and played some good rugby. Then again in the final 14 minutes or so when we spent most of that time either with 13 or 14 men.”
It was the unyielding, ultra-physical and aggressive clash expected with several brawls, four yellow cards and end-to-end action.
Sarries led 15-13 at the break despite Quins exploding from the blocks with Alex Dombrandt crashing over for a try from a maul and then Marcus Smith scything his way through to set up the supporting Danny Care for a fine second try, to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.
Owen Farrell, who kicked an early penalty, began to take control and run the show with his cool head and skilful hands and feet. Earl, who has been out of the England scene for a while, showed plenty of reasons why he deserves to be in the forefront of Eddie Jones’ mind with both his intelligence and physicality around the field.
He powered his way over for Sarries’ first try, reaching out a long arm after heavy home pressure. Quins lost hooker Jack Walker to a yellow card for a high tackle on Farrell in the build up to a try ruled out for a Dombrandt knock on.
Farrell’s decision to go for the try rather than kick a penalty paid off with him off-loading to Nick Tompkins
to cross near the posts and the England captain converted for the half-time lead. That lead grew quickly after the break when Dombrandt failed to catch the restart and the ball was moved out wide to Earl to stroll over for his second try.
Farrell converted and the momentum was definitely with the hosts. Walker re-entered the battle with Quins back to full strength but the damage had been done and Sarries were all full steam ahead with prop Vincent
Koch charged through and feeding scrum-half Aled Davies to cross untouched. Elliot Daly was sent to the sin bin for a high hit on Smith. It was getting feisty once more with tempers fraying as players grappled on the ground.
Sarries were reduced to 13 men temporarily when Billy Vunipola became the third man of the afternoon in the sin bin for a shoulder hit to the jaw Andre Esterhuizen as two massive rugby masses collided in midfield.
Quins used their superior numbers to put wing Cadan Murley over in the left corner.
Sarries were back down to 13 men when Alex Lowzowski was shown a yellow for another high hit, this time on Joe Marchant. But Quins failed to break down the thick black wall again.
Indeed it was Earl who had the final say, diving over for his third try at the death and, after Farrell kicked the extras, Sarries could celebrate in style and prepare for a titanic Premiership Cup Final next Saturday.