Peter Bills: Why Are Saracens So Good? Because Their Players KISS

Saracens’ first half demolition of Toulon in the opening round of the Champions Cup was a lesson in the enduring value of the old mantra: Keep It Simple, Stupid.

KISS!

It is as cute, relevant and shrewd a mantra for rugby today as when it was first uttered, maybe 25 or more years ago.

It’s alleged that former Wallaby coach Bob Dwyer thought it up, although that has often been disputed. What is not in doubt is its relevance to the game today, as much as back then.

Keep It Simple, Stupid.

I was reminded of its relevance last weekend in the opening round of the European Champions Cup. What the English and European champions Saracens did to Toulon – European champions themselves for the three previous seasons – in their own backyard in the south of France, was a lesson in the age-old ways that have underpinned this game.

Of course, Saracens have been able to learn from the best. New Zealand’s whole 17-test unbeaten run, which will become a new record when (‘if’ hardly seems appropriate in the present circumstances) they beat Australia again this weekend in Auckland, has been predicated on the values of KISS.

The All Blacks start with the basics. If you don’t have those, they argue, you don’t have much chance of winning, certainly not on a consistent basis. So, in no particular order, giving and taking a pass correctly, catching the ball, making your tackles, kicking accurately and meaningfully, running straight as often as possible and reading the game. Only after you have done that lot can you then bolt on qualities such as intensity, fluidity and vision.

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None of that is rocket science. Yet the more I watch rugby at any level, the more reason I see to remind teams of the KISS principle – at junior level, school level, provincial and test match levels. And you can be sure Saracens have watched, studied and learned from the New Zealand teams. One of the reasons why they are champions of England and Europe is they have wise, shrewd people at the helm and always have had. It makes a terrific difference. And of course they have the money to buy some outstanding players.

Their first half demolition of the French club last weekend was a classic of the genre. Toulon were blown away not by Harlem Globetrotters style handling but by opposing backs and especially forwards who passed accurately, held those passes, off-loaded in the tackle and sought momentum in the movement.

As former England hooker Brian Moore wrote this week, it could have been the All Blacks themselves wearing Saracens jerseys. Players ran intelligent lines, they kept the ball alive in the tackle, they offered supporting options to the ball carrier and cut out the million dollar passes which so often ruin an attack.

Watching it all was like a breath of fresh air, not least to England coach Eddie Jones. He avows he does not want to copy the All Blacks but if his players can’t do those basics consistently well, then he has no chance of serious success, no matter what style he chooses.

Some things are non-negotiable in sport, like serving accurately in tennis, putting well in golf and catching passes in rugby. When all the hype is removed, these and other elements like it are simply essential.

I emphasise the point because it is amazing how many teams, even in the professional ranks, continue to ignore these basic truths. Far too often, big forwards throughout the Aviva Premiership, Guinness Pro 12 and French Top 14 Leagues will put macho posturing ahead of smart, intelligent contributions to their team. They spy a smaller, lighter half-back or first five eight in their path and can’t resist the temptation to smash into him. The fact that they likely go to ground in the process, forcing their team-mates to recycle possession and the entire momentum of the attack to be lost, seems beyond their intellectual grasp.

If you go to ground in modern day rugby, you are being defeated. You are giving opponents vital moments to reorganise their defence. Keep the ball alive, better still take the tackle thereby committing the defender but off-load out of it and you’re giving your team a genuine chance of seriously breaking the defence.

To some hulking great brutes, this stuff is in the Einstein class. But not to the All Blacks and, most encouragingly, nor to Saracens.

Watching the English club’s grasp of these age-old technicalities was the most uplifting sight of the sporting weekend in the northern hemisphere. Long may it continue.