Saracens show their pride to grind out win in face of abuse
If there was one word that summed up Saracens’ performance against Gloucester it would be “pride”.
This was not Saracens’ A-listers. This was the supporting cast, mainly academy products, who were forced to run the gauntlet of catcalls and boos from a Shed that gleefully waved fake bank notes in their faces.
They could have easily melted in the harsh spotlight of their salarycap scandal. Instead they played with their heads up and chests puffed out. Expertly marshalled by a half-back combination of 19-yearold Manu Vunipola and Richard Wigglesworth, 36, Saracens outfought and out-thought a disappointing Gloucester team.
Captain Jackson Wray admitted that the punishment of a 35-point deduction and £5.36 million fine had been “devastating” but said that the true measure of the club could be found in the way they pulled together last week. The celebrations at the final whistle were as animated as any of their recent victories in major finals.
“You saw a reaction from our group which was a young group that has been together for four weeks now,” Wray, the No 8, said. “We’ve tried to put how we feel about the club on the pitch. It’s been an opportunity for some even before this, but tonight we took it to another level. For that group this week has been an unbelievable learning experience, myself included. To have gone through the ups and downs of this week and to finish like that makes me immensely proud to have been there tonight.
“You saw that throughout the game with the disallowed try and then us scoring straight away [through Ben Earl]. It was a sign this group is very, very strong and I couldn’t be prouder of the performance. I’d like to think we are a very tight group anyway through good times and bad.
“Whenever good or bad things happen it brings us closer together. The highs and lows of that game meant we were very emotional afterwards. It was massive.”
Saracens now head into a European double-header in which director of rugby Mark Mccall has confirmed they would be unable to go full-bore with the looming points punishment.
With all the criticism that has come Saracens’ way, the squad have thrived with their backs against the wall – yet Mccall says that mindset will not work in the long run. “We understand very well a siege mentality isn’t sustainable over seven or eight months,” Mccall said. “Being fuelled by anger or frustration or sorrow is too negative. “I think Jackson is right – this is all fuelled by how together the group is right now and how we want to support each other. That’s something we can really build on in the weeks ahead.”
Mccall is set to keep his frontline World Cup stars in reserve until the Gallagher Premiership begins again at the end of the month. Yet, as Saracens showed against Gloucester, they have more than enough strength in depth to cope with the absentees. Academy products Nick Tompkins, the centre, and Earl, the flanker, scored tries while Vunipola added 11 points with the boot as they dismantled Gloucester up front.
Wray revealed that the England players were itching to return, but said the club would grow stronger from being forced to dig deep in this period.
“This is a challenge we’ve had for a while at the club now,” Wray said. “To have guys like Manu in there running the game at 10 is a massive thing. These times are how the squad grows over the years. We learn from these things – guys like Nick Tompkins and Nick Isiekwe have grown through these times no matter what we’re fighting for.
“We’ve been speaking to them about the Rugby World Cup final and then this comes around as well. We have been devastated as a squad and they were as shocked as we were. They have been around the club a lot this week and they’re as desperate to give back to this club as we are.
“I think you’ll see that when they’re ready to go.”