Pressure on to deliver final packed with drama

AFTER an incredible week of football, I really hope rugby’s European Champions Cup final can produce some similar magic today. Rugby has its moment to shine with an era-defining match between Saracens and Leinster at St James’ Park late this afternoon. The sport is under pressure to deliver in this period of superb drama. It started with Tiger Woods’ comeback to win the Masters last month, and has continued through the Premier League title race, two special Champions League semi-finals, and before the agenda moves on to the women’s football World Cup, Cricket World Cup and the Ashes, rugby has to step up and ride this wave. I hope we get a classic game. This is a titanic clash that we’re all looking forward to and whoever wins it can say they are the top dogs over the last decade of rugby. This is rugby’s showcase. No sport can rest on its laurels in the race for eyes on screens and bums on seats. I think the link between the epic wins in the Champions League is the two managers. I am often asked if these performances come down to the players or the coaches. I would say if Jurgen Klopp or Mauricio Pochettino were not in charge of Liverpool or Spurs, those results just would not have happened. Which brings me to the two thoroughly impressive coaches at the helm today — Leinster’s Leo Cullen and Saracens’ Mark McCall (right). These former Ireland internationals, both understated characters, have done fantastic jobs with their sides. Cullen has won this trophy three times as a captain with the province, and once last year as coach. His sidekick, former England coach Stuart Lancaster, gets a lot of the credit for some reason, but there is a big difference being an assistant. There can only ever be one boss and Cullen has done brilliantly. Then you have McCall. He does not create any headlines — he lets his team do that. When international jobs come up, all the usual suspects are mentioned, but the one guy who should be at the top of everyone’s list is McCall. If I was choosing someone to take over any Test team, I would pick him. That is not just based on results but the way he goes about his business and the respect his side and other teams have for him. His value is huge and he is the reason Saracens will win this game — they will be too tough, even for Leinster. To be honest, it would be a shock to me if Leinster beat them. If the Irish pull this off, it will be Cullen and fly-half Johnny Sexton’s finest hour. That Saracens performance against Munster in the semi-final was brilliant, the best I have seen from them. Saracens and Leinster are fairly similar — they might have scored 32 tries each in the eight games so far during this competition, but that is not because of a swashbuckling style of play. Those tries come from absolute physicality. By the end, their opposition are waving the white flag. Saracens blasted Munster completely off the field in their semi-final. They have ball-carriers everywhere and relentlessly batter teams. At times, it is not amazing to watch, but it is so effective and makes for compulsive viewing. These teams are unbelievably tough. Toulouse and Racing 92, the best French sides, play a different way but I am PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW . ORIGINAL COPY . ORIGINAL COPY . ORIGINAL COPY . ORIGINAL COPY . ORIGINAL COPY

not sure some of their best players would fit into the Leinster or Saracens way. Every single player in their teams, led by Owen Farrell and Sexton, is physically tough. Saracens backs Alex Lozowski and Liam Williams, for example, are not big guys but, my word, they are big tacklers. This toughness, I think, comes from the coaches — Cullen and McCall. Like Klopp and Pochettino, they have built teams in their image. Amid all this physicality I hope this final produces some wow moments, because right now all the jaw-dropping rugby is coming out of France. That is why I still fear for England in their World Cup pool game against France. However, if Saracens win, that is good for England. I had Leicester and Wasps stars playing in European finals in their prime, so if Eddie Jones can pick up these Saracens as European champions, it’s a massive boost as they have come from a winning mentality which is contagious. The spine of the England team from Jamie George, the Vunipolas, to Maro Itoje and Farrell will come from Saracens. So, this is an important match for England, and for rugby.

MY PREDICTION:

Saracens by 15 points.