McCall’s men must turn focus on Racing to maintain title defence
Europe is now club’s sole target but they face next two campaigns in the cold, writes Charlie Morgan
At the end of the worst week in Saracens’ history, the Champions Cup holders face free-running Racing 92 in an effort to keep alive their title defence. As a repeat of the 2016 final, and featuring a glut of international stars as bright as Maro Itoje and Finn Russell, this would have been a compelling fixture anyway. But it represents a major escape from the domestic trauma of relegation, announced last night.
But the developments of the past few days have added a morbidly fascinating twist. Even if Mark McCall’s side clinch quarter-final qualification, and even if they go on to win a fourth tournament in five seasons, they are poised to spend the next two top-tier European campaigns in the cold. After talks since the fiery meeting of the Premiership clubs on Tuesday, and given Sarries were sure to break the Premiership’s £7million salary cap for a fourth consecutive season, domestic relegation was inevitable. And so it has proved.
That bars them from the 2020-21 Champions Cup, and the 2021-22 edition, regardless of whether they play in England rugby’s second tier.
Mako Vunipola, who starts at loosehead prop in a Saracens team as close to full strength as injuries and suspensions permit, was phlegmatic on Tuesday. But that, remember, was before the storm broke.
He spoke of the formidable challenge Racing pose – “they can beat you up out wide and up front” – and the knock-on effects caused by the “constant noise. You would think, with the punishments being handed out, that people would understand that we have been dealt the blow,” said the 29-year-old. “We are going out there to represent Saracens as best we can.”
Vunipola’s words now seem laden with irony. He believed there had been “closure” for him and his colleagues, a sentiment echoed by club captain Brad Barritt, who said he would accept a pay cut if it meant keeping the squad together. “I do think the majority of the squad would go out on a limb to ensure there is minimal disruption,” Barritt said. “I would hate to see one of my friends and colleagues disappear because of this situation.”
These comments came on the day Premiership chiefs met and issued an ultimatum, and before the players knew anything. On Thursday evening, just over 48 hours after Saracens’ media session had finished, that news broke. And then close to 7.30pm last night, relegation was confirmed.
Barring an astonishing collapse from a rival team and a winning run to the end of the regular Premiership season on June 6, Saracens will finish at the foot of the table. Not that it much matters now. There will be no hasty ring-fencing – which would have required a degree of mercy from the same club chiefs who have been incensed by the salary-cap breaches.
Whatever closure Saracens thought they had has been blown apart again. The squad, evidently, need significant trimming. Remaining players will face awkward questions of whether they can be selected for England from a Championship club. Precedent exists and Rugby Football Union policy decrees that it is not a problem. Eddie Jones may think otherwise.
There is also the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour. Will Warren Gatland consider those who have been dirt-tracking up to Doncaster, across to Cornish Pirates and over to Jersey? Club loyalty is unlikely to be a factor when he is considering a party to take on the mighty Springboks.
Eight current Saracens were Lions picks in 2017, including Billy Vunipola – a pre-trip withdrawal – Liam Williams and Elliot Daly, both of whom arrived at the club after the tour. Williams is leaving, with George Kruis reportedly weighing up an exit.
Swift escapes to other Premiership sides will not be straightforward at this late stage of the recruitment cycle, even on loan deals like the one that has taken Mark Wilson temporarily to Sale while Newcastle serve their penance in the Championship. Squads around the league cannot be very roomy as far as salary-cap space.
So much, then, will be swirling in the mind of Saracens’ players as they take on Racing 92. “We weren’t exactly anyone’s favourite team in Europe, anyway,” Mako Vunipola shrugged earlier this week. “Nobody liked us, and this [the salary-cap saga] gives them more reason.”
Saracens are supreme partypoopers and the prospect of a Champions Cup quarter-final against Exeter at Sandy Park would be delicious. Win that, and a semi-final, likely on English soil, would stand between them and another Champions Cup decider. And then, who knows?