Unsung Tompkins shows power of Saracens culture
The one-for-all mentality that is at the core of Saracens’ drive towards a possible second European-premiership double at Twickenham on Saturday is epitomised by centre Nick Tompkins: unsung, unpretentious, kicking his heels yet again on the bench but able to come on for injured captain Brad Barritt and score a 14-minute second-half hattrick to sweep his team into their fifth Premiership final in six years.
Tompkins is what defines Saracens. For all the flak that has come their way over their salary-cap dealings, it is their ability to nurture English talent that sets them (and Exeter, for that matter) apart.
Tompkins was with Maro Itoje in the England Under-20 side who won the World Junior Championship in New Zealand in 2014. Itoje has become a global star while Tompkins is a name on the squad team-sheet, the high-quality backup that is the essential factor in any champion side.
This was Tompkins’s 100th game for Saracens, the willing, faithful deputy. That is what is meant by Saracens’ esprit de corps. It took them to a European title a fortnight ago in Newcastle and it has put them on the threshold of a historic milestone.
The 24-year-old will get his day in the Twickenham sun as Barritt’s hamstring problem has ruled him out of contention. Tompkins admits that he has had cause to ponder his future and wonder if he has been right to forsake potential first-team rugby at another club. Yet Saracens exert a real hold on players. Very few leave, even if Tompkins acknowledges that seeing Itoje’s rise has occasionally given him food for thought.
“You look at it and wonder why am I not doing as well as Maro?” said Tompkins. “Well, I’m not a freak! And he is unbelievable. You’ve got to realise everyone is different, everyone takes their own journey. When you are younger, you are throwing your toys out of the pram, you want to be there straightaway.
“That’s one of the great lessons I have learnt at this club – biding my time – but you have got to keep working, because if you stop you go backwards. But it is really tough because you have got to weigh up, are
you doing the right thing, are you good enough? You have all these sort of questions going through your head.
“But being part of the Saracens’ set-up is a big draw card, killing any thoughts of leaving. The culture and the trips are one thing, but then being involved in these kinds of tournaments, some people don’t get them ever in a career.”
That sort of tribute would apply to so many in Saracens’ colours, be it the two props, Richard Barrington and Vincent Koch, who did such a number when coming on in the European final and put in another worthy shift against Gloucester, or Wallaby lock Will Skelton, transformed in shape after losing 21kg under the Saracens regime and transformed in attitude.
Skelton was part of a heavy-duty forward trio, alongside Itoje and the ever-impressive George Kruis. Saracens squeezed hard up front, kicked splendidly behind. Scrumhalf Ben Spencer showed why he should be on the plane to Japan as part of Eddie Jones’s squad, with his astute game management. Spencer was lively and involved, on hand to take Itoje’s pass for his try in the 29th minute.
The portents for Gloucester did not look great at half-time as they trailed 23-7. Tompkins’s hat-trick within minutes of the restart sealed their fate, the third try coming in the 56th minute from the pressure that built up following a line-out maul that the centre had joined.
Gloucester have made great strides this season under the shrewd, hard-nosed tutelage of head coach Johan Ackermann. But it is clear that much more needs to be done. They had their moments, scoring early through Ben Morgan and adding fine tries from Ruan Dreyer and Lewis Ludlow, but they were outgunned and out-thought. Gloucester never got to grips with Saracens’ aerial game, flapping and floundering as Sarries chased and harried. The Danny Cipriani-owen Farrell face-off was a non-event.
“It was unbelievable [to get a hattrick],” said Tompkins. “I will never forget this day.”
Scores 0-5 Morgan try, 0-7 Twelvetrees con, 5-7 Maitland try, 8-7 Farrell pen, 13-7 Spencer try, 15-7 Farrell con, 18-7 Farrell pen, 23-7 Williams try, 28-7 Tompkins try, 30-7 Farrell con, 35-7 Tompkins try, 37-7 Farrell con, 42-7 Tompkins try, 44-7 Farrell con, 44-12 Dreyer try, 44-14 Twelvetrees con, 44-19 Ludlow try.
Saracens: A Goode; L Williams (D Strettle 64), A Lozowski, B Barritt (N Tompkins 28), S Maitland; O Farrell, B Spencer (R Wigglesworth 52); R Barrington (R Adams-hale 57), J George (J Gray 66), V Koch (C Judge 57), W Skelton (N Isiekwe 54), G Kruis, M Itoje, J Wray, B Vunipola (M Rhodes 62).
Gloucester J Woodward (B Vellacott 75); C Sharples (H Purdy 54), B Twelvetrees, M Atkinson, T Marshall; D Cipriani, W Heinz; J Hohneck (V Rapava Ruskin 57), F Marais (M Sherry 57), F Balmain (R Dreyer 57), E Slater (T Savage 27), F Mostert (L Ludlow 57), R Ackermann, J Kriel (J Polledri 65), B Morgan.
Referee: L Pearce.