Battling Saracens seize the moment

SARACENS may have assembled a new wardrobe, but they have not thrown away their old clobber.

- PAUL REES

For all their greater intent with ball in hand – they nearly scored a try after two minutes from a move that started behind their own line – their seventh final in 10 years owed much to their renowned defence.

Northampton arrived as the leading try scorers in the Premiership this season and had run in 11 in their two meetings with Sarries, but they were knocked back behind the gainline time and again in the opening half as Saracens assembled an 18-point interval lead that was sufficient to allow them to withstand a comeback after the Saints received a dressing room dressing down.

Ben Earl led the way with 22 tackles as Saracens tackled upright ball carriers low and swarmed all over the breakdown, forcing turnovers and penalties. Northampton lost their cohesion, players found themselves isolated and, finding no refuge up front, were dragged below the surface.

It may have been different had Sean Maitland been shown a card after 25 seconds. The Saracens wing clattered into George Furbank as Northampton’s full-back steadied himself to claim a box-kick.

There was head contact but referee Karl Dickson ruled it to be an early challenge and awarded a penalty, although earlier in the season it would very probably have merited a card because he was never in a position to win the ball and Furbank needed lengthy treatment.