Following a 35-25 victory for Saracens over Sale Sharks in the Premiership final, here’s our five takeaways from the match at Twickenham on Saturday.
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A thrilling and physical 2023 Premiership Final saw Saracens eventually pull clear 35-25 from a magnificent and spirited display from Sale Sharks, as Owen Farrell delivered an absolute masterclass of game management and sheer brilliance.
Farrell’s variety from pivot and ability to bring in the speed and penetration of Max Malins, Elliot Daly and Alex Goode was simply too much for the superb Sale defence, who competed manfully all afternoon in a brutally contested gainline battle.
Tries from Daly, Malins, Ivan van Zyl and a penalty try that almost would have seen Malins scoot over for his second were all as a result of the speed and width of the Farrell game. Standing flat as you like on the gainline and working in close pop pass pods with a wider disconnected three-man pod standing with width, he teased and tantalised the Sale defence all day, demonstrating to all that he is without question the finest outside half in England.
Sale can leave Twickenham with their heads aloft; they contributed to a magnificent and tight match – and Bevan Rodd’s impact, alongside Raffi Quirke, almost saw them take themselves into a winning position.
But it wasn’t to be – this was Saracens at their finest and Farrell at his perfect best – a special win for their fans and followers, resuming the service to their fans dating back to 2019.
Breakdown battles
The efforts of Saracens in the midfield and back three is obvious for all to see, but this match was won not by the backs but by some immense efforts up front at the coalface of the breakdown.
Saracens played almost a ball marking system – throwing two clearers in at lightning speed to dominate that early collision. Maro Itoje, Jackson Wray and Marco Riccioni were absolutely massive in removing Sale ruckers, quickly, legally and effectively and with Theo Dan (on in 13th minute for Jamie George who worryingly went off with a head injury) and Ben Earl offering an ever present steal threat, Sarries had clearly picked the Sale forward effort apart in their team briefings.
Tom Curry and Jono Ross were manful in trying to turn the tide, but Curry spent a lot of time running lines in the wide channels to try and get around the speed of the Farrell-led Sarries blitz. Perhaps they needed to be more circumspect at times, but Curry was one of Sale’s most potent carriers, running 13 magnificent carries for some 54 metres, one of which set up the Sharks come back as the excellent Rodd finished brilliantly to try and ignite a comeback.
There’s no feeling like it 🏆🙌@Saracens | #GallagherPremFinal | #SARvSAL pic.twitter.com/aQYHZBiR0x
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) May 27, 2023
Transition attack
If one thing defined the difference between the two teams it was Saracens’ ability to react to transition ball from defence to attack that was the biggest.
Four 50:22s, one from Farrell that must have been fully 70 metres, demonstrated the sheer understanding that the Saracens back three have with their half-backs. Daly, Alex Goode and Malins could very well been a starting back three for England this season had the side been picked on form.
Transition is always around little moments and Saracens won so many of them; an Itoje lineout intercept when Sale were powering to the line and a Duncan Taylor charge-down on Carpenter that resulted in a try for the brilliant Daly to score were both game turning moments that took place within a minute of each other.
Alex Sanderson admitted after the game that it’s those close moments that win or loses premierships. “We like it here,” he said. “We’ll be back – this is part of our journey and it’s how we learn to bolt on the cohesion that we saw from Saracens into our play.”
“Those little moments, that speed of transition – that comes from playing together for long periods of time – as I said, it’s cohesion but we’ll get there and I couldn’t be prouder of the boys.”
After eights
Two massive club figures, both uncapped but superb Premiership performers, Jono Ross and Jackson Wray both hung up their number eight jerseys this afternoon.
Farrell paid tribute to Wray, and also centre Duncan Taylor, another man leaving Saracens.
“I can’t imagine this place without them. No question that we’re gonna have to work hard to fill the boots – not just as players, because they’re both absolutely unbelievable people – incredible characters and people that you trust and people that turn up every single every single day never mind every single weekend.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the two – they’re some of my best mates and they both exemplify the spirit and family atmosphere of this great club.”
Ross explained: “Sale is a special specil place. I think it’s grown over the years over and with Alex I think it’s gone to another level. I owe a lot to this club – my kids were both born in Manchester so it will always be our home away from home.
“No question I will miss rugby but it was the right time for me to go. To be honest, next step is to enjoy a couple of days of the boys, then get back home, get on my farm, enjoy some sun and then get cracking on the future – but first it’s all about time with my family.”
A super 6⃣ for @Saracens 🏆👏#GallagherPremFinal #GallagherPrem #SARvSAL pic.twitter.com/qFcqK1iFKS
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) May 27, 2023
The bottom line
The 2022/23 Premiership‘s journey has been one full of roadworks, diversions and traffic jams this season. For some, the memories will be painful – the fans of Worcester, Wasps and now possibly London Irish will want to forget it as quickly as they possibly can.
The final was a great match, but with only 61,000 seats sold, the public have sent a message to PRL that they are less than satisfied.
For Sale and Saracens, it will go down as a wonderfully memorable season – one where both clubs grew back to something near their historical best and one that rightly saw them as the two best sides in England contest a wonderful finale.
But rugby deserves to have more resilience and more surety than it does right now. Budgets are squeezed, players are leaving in droves for more lucrative contracts and the national team are at an uncertain point in time.
Let’s hope that the spectacle we saw today reminds the viewing fans just how wonderful the PRL product is, and let us all pray that next season that wonderful word ‘resilience’ becomes the key phrase of the year.
READ MORE: Saracens make it Premiership title number six as they battle past Sale Sharks in gripping final