Well, Sarries have finally won the Premiership Title. The didn't finish top of the league, but they did have the most wins and they did beat Northampton, Gloucester and Leicester twice (Gloucester, twice at home and Leicester, three times in total).
In a tense, but relatively open game, they dominated Leicester for much of the game (and most of the first half), were never behind, but could never get more than 10 points clear of their under-performing opponents.
Saracens launched themselves off of the blocks from the start and never looked back. So many of their players stood up and were counted in this match, individually, as supporting units and as a team. They have worked so hard this year on their team unit and it seems to have paid off.
Like last year, the game wasn't over until the final whistle. Sarries, four points ahead with 3 minutes to go gave a penalty away from their scrum and Leicester kicked to touch. The following line out resulted in 32 phases in overtime before Sarries gave away another penalty from which Leicester tap started and carried on. Three phases later, the ball carrier was isolated and penalised for holding on in the ruck and Sarries had their title.
The match started with Sarries dominating the game on every level (except possibly the scrum) and were able to get ahead and stay there. By half-time, Farrell had converted three penalties and the conversion of James Short's excellent touchline try. Sarries went into the break 19-9 ahead.
In the second half Flood missed two penalties before converting a couple to bring Leicester to 19-15, followed by one by Farrell and another by Flood leaving the score at 22-18 setting it up for an amazing final unsuccessful drive from Leicester.
It was a riveting, nail-biting final (just like last year), between the teams with the best offensive and best defensive records in the league this year. They both showed why they have been the best this season and no-one would doubt that after this final.
Leicester: Hamilton; Agulla, Smith, Allen, A Tuilagi; Flood, Youngs; Ayerza, Chuter, Castrogiovanni, Mafi, Skivington, Croft, Newby, Crane.
Replacements: Twelvetrees for Hamilton (75), Stankovich for Ayerza (78), Hawkins for Chuter (68), Cole for Castrogiovanni (53), Slater for Mafi (71), Waldrom for Crane (50).
Not Used: Grindal, Staunton.
Sin Bin: Youngs (5).
Saracens: Goode; Strettle, Wyles, Barritt, Short; Farrell, De Kock; Stevens, Brits, Nieto, Borthwick, Botha, K Brown, Burger, Joubert.
Replacements: Wigglesworth for de Kock (50), Gill for Stevens (62), Du Plessis for Nieto (60), Vyvyan for Botha (57).
Not Used: George, Saull, Mordt, Cato.
Att: 80,016
Ref: Wayne Barnes (RFU).
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