This wasn’t meant to happen. And we’re only just learning what an achievement this is.
We all wondered - and you didn’t need to play full back for Leicester, England and the Lions to do so - just what the Oval Park Brains Trust had in store. Little did we realise such a comprehensive victory was on the cards.
And comprehensive it was, far from the tight scoreline. It is only down to the innate experience of being champions that took Saracens so close. Did they actually look like scoring a try?
But the biggest surprise is that there was no surprise at all. No rabbit from the hat, no bunch of flowers pulled out of a box, no great conjuring tricks. Was there anything massively different from what we have seen in previous occasions? I am no brilliant game analyst but on reflection, there really wasn’t.
Perhaps a sharper eye than usual was kept on Saracens’ main threats - Farrell, especially, was offered very little space whatsoever. Should Farrell have gone for the corner in the last minutes - rather than the posts? Possibly, though after previous events, should we have expected him to?
Ford (and others)’s masterful tactical kicking has won them many a game. Steward was crowned “King of the Air” a long time ago. Montoya was both a trojan at the coalface and dead-eye at the lineout. Chessum continues to offer muscle and brains and Wigglesworth arguably produced his best performance of the season. These are just some of the displays which caught my eye.
If your eye didn’t pick up some dust watching Ben and Tom Youngs at the end, then who am I to judge?
What isn’t irrelevant is that Billy Vunipola apart, one or two Saracens individuals are starting to run out of time. Suddenly you realise that Alex Goode is 34, Owen Farrell is 30, Mako Vunipola and Jamie George are both 31. Only Vunipola Jr appears to have recaptured some zest on Saturday’s evidence and he is 29.
They are far from finished and they brought on Saturday a burning collective (and wholly unjustified) desire for redemption. But can they get any better from here, because Leicester’s collective will was overwhelming..?
Leicester’s win shows the benefit of backing yourself and your mates. It’s a reward for faith between the coaching staff and the players. It’s about trust.
The sheer audacity of the strategy takes some taking in. In large part, Leicester essentially beat Saracens at their own game.
I can’t think of a team who did that in the past. It might herald a whole new era. Bravo.
WHO HAS FREDDIE’S SHORTS?
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
June 28th - Champions Cup draw. 2 from Edinburgh, Ospreys, Clermont or Lyon
Week beginning July 18th - Premiership fixtures due out with the first games around September 10th/11th
And whether it’s ERC or EPCR, the mystery of why we have the Champions Cup draw at the height of summer remains beyond me..
FOR EVERY BIT OF POPCORN, COMES THIS
THE WAR ON CONCUSSION ISN’T WORKING
One serious note about Saturday which has now been confirmed.
We still have a problem with concussion in rugby union and if anything, it’s getting worse.
If concussions are still increasing, so that they are the most prevalent in the women’s game and are 48% of all men’s, then Houston we have a problem.
Whether you argue about whether Aled Davies or Matt Scott should have seen red or yellow, misses the whole point. Teams are not going to hold back in trying to take man and ball, or in going higher especially when in defensive situations.
Punishing high tackles with more red cards isn’t working.
And if you don’t enforce more red cards, what actually are we doing as a game?
We’re going to have to lower the tackle height and soon, probably to around waist height. The quicker we face up to it, the better.
LAST ORDERS
Last thoughts on the final come from the great Graham Simmons. When Sky had the all the rights in Christendom, his packages were must watch. He remains a good egg.
I’m all for more diversity on screen but someone on British television should still be using him. I know there’s a paywall but enjoy for as much as Rugbypass allow you to.
Because he writes beautifully. The talented bugger.
Summer well, friends. I’m off for chicken nuggets….
Not much too much to add tbh.. we’ll, maybe a chunk.
As I tweeted live from Birmingham Walkabout bar where I watched final with my daughter (+ an Irish fella named John who tbh knew his Tigers onions, who also claims to know GM personally as he is his brothers neighbour 🤷) I proudly shed a few Tears when TY joined Ellis to raise trophy.. no dust, just raw emotion.
Sarries do need to evolve as a squad whereas maj of “next gen”Tigers are yet to reach their prime but are primed to do so as our elder statesmen call time on their careers. No team will dominate anymore but we, I believe, are on the cusp of a new, consistent Tigers period of challenging for major honours. (Caveat to that is retaining core of squad along with current coaching set up beyond 2023).
I know SB stated publicly he had no specific timescale for us challenging/winning Prem title, but my gut feels that we probably hoped/aimed to finish top 4 this season and we have therefore ‘overachieved’ so are therefore ahead of the non schedule.
Next season we obvs look to defend Prem plus go at least as well if not further in Heineken Cup. (I already have my final tickets as I live in Dubs now) and be consistently competitive.
It’s just wonderful to be able to do so realistically rather than blind hope after recent tough years isn’t it.?
Oh.. and almost finally. Freddie Burns was loved by maj of Tigers prior to Saturday.. I think revered now. Was delighted for him as much as I was gutted for GF, he loves the club and now he has his name deeply etched into Tigers folklore forevermore.
Finally (yay I hear you cry). Thanks again Chris for the RL comms but also & moreso for your sterling efforts with this, it’s always insightful. Genuinely grateful for your efforts. Have yourself a great summer fella.
Phil. (‘@aguyonhere’)
#TigersFamily #DublinTiger