Lionhearts Needed: AP Final

  Having pulled and broken Tigers’ claws, Bath’s Final date with Saracens will be a clash of rugby cultures. The original Saracens, led by Sala-ud-Din, distinguished themselves in a historic clash of cultures: laying waste to Jerusalem and defeating Crusader armies with lance, Greek fire and scimitar. Few commanders in an often divided Crusader camp had any success against them. One who did was Richard the Lionheart and Bath will require the hearts of Lions at Twickenham next Saturday.  

The success of Saracens rugby is evident in their 10 representatives in the preliminary England World Cup squad. Four of Lancaster’s forward choices, the Vunipolas, Kruis and Itoje are supported by a notable foreign legion of pack warriors in Brits, Hargreaves, Burger, Brown and Hamilton, plus aspiring young English prospects in George and Wray. It is not just forward power though as 6 of those World cup hopefuls are backs. Wigglesworth and Farrell are game controllers, Ashton and Strettle provide pace on the wings, Goode a sharp rugby brain and fancy footwork from fullback and Barritt the midfield steel and focal point. In support of them come De Kock, Hodgson, the wily Wiles and even more aptly named Bosch. This is a club with enviable strength in depth. What do Saracens do with this talent? Their standard game plan is often derided as too conservative. Where Bath, in recent weeks, have treated attack as the best form of defence, the Saracens modus operandi has been to use defence as the first weapon of attack. This risk averse approach does not appeal to all (“rugby for actuaries”) it might be called. It is however, undeniably effective as Northampton Saints have just discovered. In the clash of styles, will Saracens prevail in the tension of a final? Can their wolf pack defence set a snarling ambush for a club noted for attack, but who may be too romantic in running from all quarters without first gaining the forward ascendancy?

The stereotypes do not tell the whole story though. Saracens backs score plenty of tries – from kick-chase as Saints found to their cost and from the counter attack chances created by the Wolfpack defence. Bath’s October victory against Saracens was founded in part on a heroic rush defence effort which put the visitors off their stride. While many would back the north London outfit to have the edge up front, Bath can claim their own forward credits. The two front rows, forged in fire, coped with everything Leicester threw at them. Dave Attwood (19 tackles in that match) has shown the mark of the gladiator in recent matches and a mouthwatering match up is in prospect between the back rows: for carries: Vunipola-Houston, for “hits”, Burger- Burgess, for turnovers, Itoje –Louw.

The expected Bath answer of course lies in their attacking range. A side who can score 13 tries against Leicester in 3 encounters will be expected to find a key to unlock any defence. That defence, led by Jacques Burger will be stifling, but the one bookmaker to declare odds so far seems to favour Bath. Bath’s backs are definitely in form- all likely starters and bench players having scored a try in one of the last few games. Much will depend on who is selected to referee the final and how he regulates the breakdown, tackle and offside. Burger, who leads the wolf pack, plays on the edge and many would say, over it. One slip could be costly for him and his club: inattention by Bath could be equally costly – the West Country forwards need to screen George Ford from Burger’s predations.

Recent finals have proven that matches involving Saracens go to the wire. They also have recent experience of European Cup Final rugby – destroying Clermont last year to contest the final against Toulon. For those reasons, I believe that the majority of bookmakers will make them favourites, especially as Cup Finals are usually tense, defence driven affairs. Saracens look to have too much power, nous and experience. Bath however, bring free spirited attack in their 150^th anniversary year. This is Cup Final rugby, when anything can happen. So, what will happen? Will the Saracens scimitar scythe through the Bath backline, or will it be the sweep and footwork of Bath’s attack sending the Wolfpack into howls of defeated anguish? The house that Jack built began with an unlikely single point victory 31 years ago. Bath can, and will, travel in hope.

Possible Teams:

Bath: James, Batty, Wilson, Attwood, Hooper,Burgess, Louw, Houston. Stringer, Ford. Rokodoguni, Eastmond, Joseph, Banahan, Watson Replacements: Auterac, Webber, Thomas,Day, Garvey, Fearns. Cook, Devoto.

Saracens: Vunipola, George, Du Plessis; Kruis, Hargreaves;Itoje, Burger,Vunipola. Wigglesworth, Farrell, Strettle, Barrit, Taylor, Wyles, Goode

Replacements: Gill, Spurling, Johnston, Hamilton, Wray, De Kock, Hodgson, Ashton