Skipper Barritt salutes Saracens ‘leaders’ after European triumph
● English club show resilience in battling back to lift Champions Cup for third time ● Maitland and Vunipola tries key to win
Brad Barr it th as hailed Saracens’ leaders and the“p heno men al” response by his team that saw them crowned European champions for a third time in four seasons.
Saracens were in trouble at St James’ Park, trailing Leinster 10-0 just before half-time, with England star Maro Itoje sin-binned and props Mako Vunipola and Titi Lamositele off injured. But they regrouped spectacularly, drawing level by half-time of a memorable He inek en Champions Cup final and then dominating the second period to claim a 20-10 victory that made them England’ s most successful club in the competition’s history.
The fightback owed everything to Saracens’ resilience and delivery under pressure as they denied Leinster a record fifth European title.
“It was almost like the Maro yellow card released us and allowed us to play our game, and it’s just pleasing when you can have a reaction,” Saracens skipper Barritt said.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the leaders around me. But more importantly, the way the team responded to those key messages, because a message is only as good as the guys who follow it, and they were phe - nomenal.”
Former England centre Barritt was named man- of-the - match, and he earned a glowing tribute from Saracens rugby director Mark Mccall.
“I’m absolutely chuffed that Brad was made them an-of-the-match, because he deserved it, ” Mccall said.
“He is a magnificent capta in for our club. In games like these games, he’s as tough as they come, and the way he defended, the way he set targets was inspirational.”
Tries by Scotland wing Sean Maitland and Billy Vunipola underpinned Saracens’ victory, which was a ninth successive win in this season’s competition, having gone through their group unbeaten before the knockout phase.
V uni po la, who was booed most time she touched the ball during his team’s Champions Cup semi-final victor y over Munster, again received jeers. He was handed formal warnings from his club and the Rugby Football Union last month after he posted on social media that “man was made for woman to procre-ate that was the goal no?” and also liked a social media post from Australian player Israel Folau that stated “hell awaits” for homosexuals.
But he was at his brilliant best in the final, claiming the late touchdown that sealed an outstanding success.