Sarries relegated
CHAIRMAN GOLDING APOLOGISES ... AND VUNIPOLA WARNS RACING TO EXPECT EUROPEAN BACKLASH
GEORGE FURBANK was the toast of NORTHAMPTON as they kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals with a bonus-point victory in LYON.
Saints crossed for tries from Mikey Haywood, Teimana Harrison, Cobus Reinach, Furbank and James Fish.
But it wasn’t until the 72nd minute that Saints took a lead they would not lose when Furbank went over for Saints’ fourth try on the way to a 36-24 win to claim their first victory in France for nine years.
Northampton co-captain Harrison said: “The win was a must and to come away with five tries was awesome. It puts us in a really good spot, so we’re excited.”
Northampton finish the pool stage on 19 points, but could still be pushed out of the last eight by Saracens and Gloucester, who play their final group games today.
GLASGOW are also in contention after an impressive 45-7 win at SALE SHARKS.
ULSTER edged out BATH 22-15 in Belfast to advance to the last eight.
They join the likes of LEINSTER, who beat BENETTON 18-0, and fellow fancied club Exeter Chiefs in progressing.
EXETER secured a first home Champions Cup quarter-final with a 33-14 bonus-point win over LA ROCHELLE.
Sam Simmonds scored two tries to ensure their match in the last eight will take place at Sandy Park.
Pool 4
Saracens v Racing 92
Sarries chairman Neil Golding (above) said: “I acknowledge the club has made errors in the past and we unreservedly apologise for those mistakes.”
Mako Vunipola warned that the players were ready to take their frustrations out on
Europe – starting today against
Racing 92. Vunipola, who turned 29 on Tuesday, has left the Parisians in no doubt that Sarries are fired up for the contest.
The England prop said: “What I am sick of is the constant noise, people saying Saracens should be doing this and that.
“We’ve been dealt a blow and now we’re going out there and trying to represent Saracens as best we can.
“How do we deal with that frustration? Let it out on the field, that’s how.”
Some of the ‘noise’ in the past 48 hours has come from the president of today’s opponents, Jacky Lorenzetti, demanding sanctions be extended into Europe.
Lorenzetti told French rugby paper
Midi Olympique that European regulations would be reviewed “so that the sanction produced in a country can be extended to continental competitions. “This should be effective within two years. The 11 English clubs have seen Saracens sanctioned, but 19 European clubs have been fighting for 10 years with Sarries to win the European Cup.”
There is no end in sight to this saga.
Will Sarries’ England stars stay and play in the Championship and will Eddie Jones consider them fit for Test duty?
How do they become salary-cap compliant after a year in the second tier without having a fire sale?
Jones names his Six Nations squad tomorrow. Vunipola does not expect much chirp from his England teammates but will confront it.
He said: “If people want to have a conversation then we’ll have it.
“I’ll be as honest as I can be.”