‘Yes... there is animosity with Sarries’
SARACENS warm up for their clash with Leinster by hosting Exeter today – and it is set up to be a physically taxing encounter with Chiefs boss Rob Baxter admitting that animosity exists between the English sides.
The clubs have been England’s dominant teams in recent seasons, meeting each other in three of the last four Premiership finals. There is no chance of that happening this year with Saracens relegated following persistent salary cap breaches.
But Exeter have been outspoken in their criticism of Saracens’ salary misdemeanours and that is bound to raise the temperature in north London despite the large gap between them in the table.
‘There’s obviously animosity, largely because myself or Tony Rowe [chairman and chief executive] have been happy to make media comments about what we felt about the salary cap,’ Chiefs director of rugby Baxter said. ‘But they wouldn’t have been different to comments made by any other club, it’s just that our comments carried more weight because we’ve played in finals against them.
‘There hasn’t been any love lost between us for seasons. We’ve both been operating at the top end of the Premiership for the last three or four years and the reality is that when you meet in the semi-finals or finals, you battle away.’
With Exeter’s place in the end-ofseason play-offs already confirmed, the main focus is on the battle for a top-four spot behind. Second-placed Sale, for whom England centre Manu Tuilagi makes his 100th Premiership appearance, host Bath, who are four points adrift of them in fifth.
‘There are still 10 points to play for after this weekend,’ said Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper.
‘But I do feel pressure from the players and the rest of the staff that we can deliver a program that allows us to go there and give it our best shot.’
Third meets fourth as Bristol travel to Wasps with just two points separating the sides.
Bristol have made 12 changes following their midweek win against Northampton and Bears director of rugby Pat Lam admits continuity in selection is impossible given the congested fixture schedule. ‘These boys aren’t robots,’ Lam said. ‘How they entertain everybody with what they do on the field is fantastic, but it takes a big physical load.
‘The demands only become too much if you play the same XV every week, which is what people want to see.’
Leicester welcome Northampton to Welford Road with the two Midlands rivals out of sorts. Both sides have managed just one win apiece since rugby resumed last month.
London Irish are seeking a first post-lockdown victory at home to Worcester, without a win in three. Irish director of rugby Declan Kidney said: ‘Worcester are hot on our tails in the league table and a result for them would see them jump above us. They will be travelling with that knowledge, so I expect the contest to be a highly competitive one.’ Meanwhile, England’s players have accepted a 25 per cent wage reduction for the 2020/21 season, the English Rugby Football Union has announced.
The one-year arrangement with England’s men follows talks between the RFU and the Rugby Players’ Association as a result of the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said: ‘I would like to thank the players and the RPA for their strong co-operation and collaboration which has enabled us to reach this new agreement.
‘This is a special squad of players and their appreciation and understanding of the difficulties being faced across the English game has led to this outcome.’
Under the terms of the new agreement, the RFU has made firm commitments around a range of player welfare initiatives with ongoing management of the player welfare process and clearly defined rest periods.
These include a one-week break after the Guinness Six Nations match against Italy in Rome on October 31, and post-England autumn matches, two weeks to be taken with their clubs.
There will also be the cancellation of a New Year camp and a week off during the Six Nations to replace a fallow week camp.
Sweeney said: ‘We are committed to ensuring the RFU runs a sustainable operation to safeguard the future of the game in England and are grateful to the England international playing group for their willingness to accept a reduction in fees over the next 12 months to support this.
‘We are committed to looking after their well-being during this challenging period of fixtures.’
England’s Saracens hooker Jamie George said: ‘The playing group wanted to address some concerns around welfare and rest for the EPS [elite player squad] and we are encouraged by the progress made by all stakeholders.’