Owen Farrell insists there’s a lot extra to return from Saracens after guiding the membership to Gallagher Premiership glory with a 35-25 success over Sale at Twickenham.
Sarries’ 35-25 victory made amends for final season’s last-gasp ultimate defeat by Leicester to ship their first silverware since being relegated for wage cap breaches in 2020.
England skipper Farrell dismissed the notion of redemption for that painful loss to the Tigers as he outlined his optimism for the long run.
Asked concerning the end result within the context of Saracens’ latest setbacks, the fly-half mentioned: “It feels important but I’m not too sure, if I’m honest.
“I think what’s more important is how we’ve been all season. The difference that we made at the start of the year, the difference in raising our ceiling of where we can go.
“And, at this moment in time, regardless of how today went, it still feels like there is a lot for this young team now still to go.
“There is a feeling of wanting to get the best out of ourselves and that will carry on for a long time now.”
Saracens defied a spirited Sale, mini harm disaster and local weather activists to develop into champions for a sixth time.
Two Just Stop Oil protestors introduced a halt to the sport within the first half once they ran on to the pitch to throw orange paint powder earlier than being led away by stewards amid jeers from the gang.
A penalty try to scores from Max Malins, Elliot Daly and Ivan van Zyl helped the London aspect to victory in blazing sunshine, aided by 13 factors from the boot of man of the match Farrell.
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall believes his skipper is taking part in the “best rugby of his life” and has taken his management to “a whole new level”.
“If you spent a week at our training ground, you wouldn’t believe just how influential he is, how clear he is with the playing group, how emotive he is, what standards he sets, how supportive he is to team-mates young and old,” McCall mentioned of Farrell.
“He’s playing the best rugby of his life at the moment but his leadership has gone to a whole new level.
“When the game was in the balance and it was 25-23 (to Sale) and we lacked a bit of energy, our senior players grasped the nettle really and saw us through very well in the last 15 or 20 minutes.
“We had a lot of control in that period of time and I think that’s down to their experience in those situations. They’ve been there and done it before and they showed a lot of experience when we needed it most.”
Sale stayed within the combat and pounced in a dominant third quarter to briefly lead due to tries from Tom Roebuck and Bevan Rodd earlier than finally falling brief.
Hooker Akker van der Merwe claimed the Sharks’ opening rating throughout a primary half during which Saracens misplaced Jamie George to a potential concussion and wing Sean Maitland to harm, having already seen prop Mako Vunipola withdrawn from the bench forward of kick-off.
Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson admits the loss was “crushing” however believes his underdogs can be again at Twickenham within the close to future.
“If I was to put it (the defeat) on anything, it’s difficult because there are a million moments that make a difference,” he mentioned.
“I’ve yet to go and pull them (the players) in and tell them to get used to this place. Just in the few conversations I’ve had, there’s a feeling that we’ll be here again.
“The odd fairytale does happen but rarely from my experience. You’ve just got to be better at handling moments like the ones that occurred today and that takes experience.
“That’s what we’ll build on. We’ll just get better, we’re a young side for the most part.
“I’m sure after the crushing feeling I have right now of missed opportunity, the underlying emotion will be one of pride and excitement for what we can build on.”