Saracens had to physically, and mentally, break barriers
Rocky Clark looks at how Sarries broke their Exeter hoodoo to take the 15s title
After a gruelling 39-week season, Saracens women were crowned Champions of the Allianz Premier 15s league. They lifted the trophy after a convincing 43-21 win against a merited Exeter Chiefs side at Sixways stadium.
Alex Austerberry’s side took control early in the game, scoring three tries in each half. Austerberry credited fly half Holly Aitchison for steering the team to victory with her pace and tactical kicking, ensuring Saracens could play in the right areas.
Aitchison, normally a centre by trade, filled in for the injured Zoe Harrison and she helped Saracens win the territory game as they outmuscled a valiant Exeter pack at the set-piece.
The game was won at the breakdown with vital turnovers coming from all areas of the pitch, notably Sarah McKenna’s early jackal which turned the tide on Exeter and allowed Saracens the momentum to get into the game.
Ironically, Saracens’ last defeat before the final was against bogey side Exeter four weeks earlier when they went down 54-12. The hurt from such a heavy defeat drove a mentality to be ruthless and physical.
Every session contained driven lineouts, attack and defence, as well as some ferocious contact sessions, in preparation for the physicality of the Chiefs.
Exeter prepared with fastpaced attack with the intention of using width but were unable to capitalise on this in the final due to Saracens’ unrelenting defensive efforts. Wave after wave of double tackles, dominant collisions and bodies on feet meant that Exeter struggled to penetrate Saracens’ defensive wall.
Naturally, Exeter did show flurries of brilliance but not enough to challenge the momentum and scoreboard. The highlight for Exeter came from a brilliant individual try from Spanish superwoman Patricia Garcia, playing her final game before retirement. She took a quick tap when she saw gaps in Saracens’ defence and stepped her way through to score a wonder try.
Saracens have appeared to peak at the right time, saving performances of the year for the business end of the season, whereas Exeter looked lost at times and had no real answers to Saracens’ relentless defensive pressure, clinical execution of the lineout drive and physical dominance in the breakdown area.
Much of Saracens’ first title success since 2019 is credited to the form of Marlie Packer.
The back-rower has been a formidable force all season, for club and country, and proved her worth with outstanding leadership in the knockout games, capped by two tries and a player-of-the-match performance in the final.
Named England player of the year and nominated as World player of the year, Packer scored her 17th league try in the Championship winning display. No doubt then that coach Austerberry said that Packer “was in the form of her life”.
However, Exeter’s success can’t be ignored either. Coach
“Saracens appear to have peaked at just the right time”
Susie Appleby has handpicked her side to compete at the top of the women’s game.
A raft of quality fron North American fill the Chiefs’ ranks and after only two seasons in the Premiership, Exeter were crowned Allianz Cup winners in April, and were warranted finalists having knocked out Bristol in the semi-finals.
Exeter’s success this season was acknowledged when they were welcomed back to Devon with an open top bus parade to celebrate their cup victory and final status.
That success can be attributed by the backing of CEO Tony Rowe to get quality overseas players in while implementing a united club approach and a family feel for players and supporters. You only have to go to an Exeter home game to see the amount of support and crowds that the women’s game attracts and the tight camaraderie between players and staff that has led to the success of the team.
This year has been the most competitive Premier 15s season ever, which is also attractive for media coverage, fans and financial backing. Every team in the league has been beaten and every match could go either way. It’s why the Allianz Prem 15s has been referred to as the ‘best league in the world’ and what is clear is that players from all over Europe, North America and the Southern Hemisphere have taken to it.
I believe that by having ‘outsiders’ enter the finals, it has paved the way for other teams to aspire and realistically compete at the top of the table.
This opportunity and competition can only grow the game as well as gaining new supporters and players that will keep pushing the game to new heights.
The gulf between the top of the table and bottom has been vastly reduced but teams like Darlington Mowden Park need serious backing. To achieve this, the club needs investment to attract big name players to the team to be able to viably compete.
Women’s rugby is in a great place, and is on the rise. Record-breaking crowds in the Six Nations and the Allianz Prem 15s has seen unprecedented growth in the game.
All eyes will be on New Zealand in the autumn as the World Cup unfolds. Vast media coverage and record crowds are expected to continue the exponential growth of the game.
Watch this space.