Sarries have never let standards slip, warns centre Lang
EDINBURGH centre James Lang knows all about the tough challenge three-time European champions Saracens will bring in the Heineken Champions Cup today.
He played against them on numerous occasions for his previous club Harlequins and beat them away from home in his first season with Edinburgh.
Although Saracens spent a year in the second tier of English rugby after being demoted for breaking the salary cap, Lang doesn’t think they have dipped at all in terms of standards over the past ten years.
‘This is a world-class team we will be facing in Europe,’ said Lang. ‘I have played Sarries a few times and know how tough they are to play against.
‘They have never really dropped off in terms of standard. They may have been in a lower league for one season but were still a great side even then and came straight back up.
‘You want to test yourself against the best teams in Europe and we are in the Champions Cup and taking on arguably one of the best teams of the past decade.
‘I once beat them at home for Harlequins in the LV Cup back in 2017 at the Stoop. There was always a big rivalry between Harlequins and Sarries, a bit like us and Glasgow. It was easy to get up for these games when I was at Harlequins as Saracens were winning everything at the time and everybody wanted to beat the top dog.’
Lang believes his Edinburgh side can take confidence from beating Saracens in the second-tier European competition, the Challenge Cup, this time last year. It was one of his first games for the club and he played his part in a 21-18 victory at the StoneX Stadium secured thanks to a try from prop forward WP Nel 14 minutes from time. That set Edinburgh off on a good run in Europe which saw them top Pool C before beating Bath in the last 16 and ultimately going out to Wasps in the quarter-finals.
‘We know what to expect from Saracens,’ said the Scotland international. ‘It is all about stopping them and not allowing them to bully us up front. I know we won there last year but it will be a different game on Sunday.
‘We go there off the back of two disappointing defeats to Benetton and Munster in the URC but this is a good opportunity for us to step up and put a marker down and show everyone we are here in the Champions Cup to stay.
‘The biggest thing about our win down there in the Challenge Cup last year was our physicality and we spoke about that this week as well. If you give Saracens momentum and time on the ball, they are going to be deadly and cut you so we can’t allow them to do that.
‘We have to match them up front physically and not give them time on the ball. That will take an 80-plus minute performance from us to make that happen and, if we are off even for a few minutes, for a few plays, they will make us pay. It is about staying on it from minute one and staying physical against them.
‘In saying that, it is not just all about Saracens and we have focused on ourselves as well because I think our attacking ability is great with the personnel we have and the shape we play. If we can match them physically — and be physical in defence — it can be a good test and we can win.’
Saracens have gone fully-loaded with Billy Vunipola, Owen Farrell,
Maro Itoje and Jamie George all starting for the Premiership leaders, who have won their first nine league games.
Today’s match is a special occasion for the club as they are making their return to Heineken Champions Cup action after two seasons away. Having won the competition in 2016, 2017 and 2019, Sarries were relegated to the Championship in 2020 for breaching Premiership salary rules.
Captain Farrell said: ‘This competition is very special and this club has enjoyed some incredible moments over the years, so we’ll be working to continue that this season. Edinburgh have quality all over the pitch, so we’ll need to make sure we’re on top of our game to get off to a good start in the competition.’