SARACENS' BID to regain the Heineken Cup in their first season back after suspension from the Premiership came to a halt when they lost to La Rochelle in the quarter-finals in early April.
But what was actually bending that day? Was it the Saracens campaign or something wider and more significant? Was it the end of an era? In that game Billy Vunipola, a fantastic core player in the Saracens success, was replaced with what looked like a serious knee injury and he's now in a race to make the World Cup.
Saracens have still dominated the Premiership this season, with some thunderous performances, not least the day when they put 50 points past Leicester. They have changed style and become a wonderfully attractive team, one of the reasons the feeble cats' chorus which would have Owen Farrell dumped from the England team in favour of Marcus Smith often sounded so ridiculous.
Farrell has been a titan in Saracens' attacking set-up and, as we went to press, they had secured a home advantage in the play-offs and were still substantial favourites to take the title. They've won the European Cup three times, the Premiership five, and been so good that not only have they dominated but sent most English clubs into fits of jealousy.
But what happens next? Whether or not they take the title this year, an era does seem to be ending. Mako Vunipola has been playing wonderful rugby and Billy was showing signs of returning to his best, with England’s options at No 8 more a chasm than an area of strength. But neither brother can be considered in the long term anymore.
Bu hikaye Rugby World dergisinin June 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Rugby World dergisinin June 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
"I stress-test my coaches' ideas but ultimately you have to let the bakers bake"
Northampton Saints' director of rugby explains how to be an effective coach
REMEMBER WHEN...WE HAD A HOTLINE ON RUGBY GOING PRO
RW readers could ring in to have their say on the amateur-pro debate
RUGBY RANT
Editor Joe Robinson on why rugby needs to take kit launches more seriously
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO...BE A SEVENS REFEREE SELECTOR
Irish official David Keane lifts the lid on his role behind the scenes
“You can still be fully professional and enjoy yourself"
The Wales great who also represented the Lions and Scarlets with distinction
CLEVEDON RFC
Giving grass-roots rugby the love that it deserves...
Downtime with... Jacob Umaga - "Best player in my family? I have to say Uncle Tana"
The Benetton fly-half on Italy, basketball and talented kinsmen
SHANE MCDONALD
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
100* Not Out
RW charts a century of Samoa's flagship national team, including its dramatic rebirth in the late 1980s
Chunk
More than a decade since his retirement, we caught up with Allan Jacobsen, the larger-than-life former Scotland prop