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Revealed: 'Wicked' pub meeting put Saracens on road to Prem final

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

England international Elliot Daly has described how a pub meeting became the catalyst for Saracens to begin the remarkable journey that has taken them from automatic relegation from the Gallagher Premiership in January 2020 into this Saturday’s showpiece final versus Leicester at Twickenham.

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The Wicked Lady is a Harpenden pub that is an eight-minute spin from the Saracens training centre 3.6 miles away at Old Albanians and it was there two-and-a-half years ago when the London club’s star-studded cast assembled to talk through the ramifications of their dramatic top-fight expulsion.

Saracens’ England players had gone into camp following the European win that took place against Racing a few days after their automatic demotion was confirmed, but they gathered later that week to try and absorb the consequences of the dramatic decision that had been taken.

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The Breakdown | Sky Sport NZ | Episode 17

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The Breakdown | Sky Sport NZ | Episode 17

Key to what unfolded was Mark McCall having a discussion with England boss Eddie Jones regarding whether Championship rugby would affect the selection chances of Saracens’ international contingent and when word came back that it wouldn’t, a collective commitment was made by numerous star players to stand by the club during its year in the second tier.

Saracens proceeded to win the Championship title in June 2021 and their first season back in the Premiership final will now culminate in next Saturday’s title-deciding encounter against the Tigers. “It was a very weird, difficult time,” said seasoned England international Daly, casting his mind back to the extraordinary winter where the London club was knocked off its perch due to off-field shenanigans.

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“There were a lot of murmurings on what was going to happen and what points were going to be deducted. We got deducted (initially 35 in November 2019) and we were staying up and then they deducted us more points (in January 2020). It wasn’t just something set – it carried on pretty much for the whole season.

“We didn’t really know until one of the Europen games, Racing at home, and that was the week where they told us we are getting relegated whatever happens. We met in a pub down the road when it all started kicking off and all the senior players were there. We had just come back from something (with England).

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“We sat down in the room and didn’t really know what to say at the start because it was a very difficult situation to be able to deal with but we realised that as a club we needed to get the club back to where it belonged but we still wanted to play with England. It was a hard chat with everyone, and Eddie was actually brilliant with us when that all came out.

“Mark McCall spoke to him and said, ‘What is the craic here, do they need to go somewhere else for you to pick them?’ He basically said, ‘I will be watching the games.’ We didn’t have many but it was like. ‘I will be watching the games and if they are still performing at the level they will be in camp and then they will be in contention’.

“That is what we needed to hear at that point because we didn’t know what to do, didn’t really know where to be guided, so after that conversation, it was obvious that we were all going to try and stay.

“Nick (Tompkins) had to go, Ben Earl, Max (Malins) because they want to play Test rugby. They need to play week in and week out, not in a season where we don’t know where the next game is and we don’t know how many games there are going to be. That was the most difficult thing but after that chat, it was brilliant how we all just bought in, said we are staying here, we are getting us back up and then we will go for it next year.”

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The Londoners are, for sure, going for it but not without another shock to the system along the way, that infamous March 2021 defeat at Cornish Pirates in their maiden Championship outing. “The best thing that probably happened to us was us losing the first game,” continued Daly, harking back to where it all started for Saracens in the second division.

“It was a wake-up call that we need to switch our heads on here to this league, to this team to get us back to where we belong. Everyone at Saracens had put so much effort into us and we wanted to repay them on the pitch and get us back where we belong and hopefully then competing as we are doing this year.”

For Daly, the collective reaction typified how special a club he believes Saracens is. “It’s very hard to put your finger on it but it’s literally as soon as you walk through the door it’s weird, it’s one of those things where rugby isn’t actually the first priority, it’s how you are as a person, how your family is, how are you getting on?

“After my move down (from Wasps), it was more about are you settling in well, how’s your wife, how are your family, are they okay with you being here, that type of thing and then the rugby stuff comes later. That is one thing about Saracens, everyone knows everything about you and actually cares about stuff outside of rugby.

“The rugby is obviously the most important thing but if you are not in a good headspace you are not going to be playing your best stuff and that is the one thing everyone cares about each other here, that is a massive thing going towards the culture of the team.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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TRENDING Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea
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