Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Saracens vs Gloucester LIVE: Reigning champions through to another Premiership final with crushing win

Follow the latest updates from the Premiership semi-final at Allianz Park

Jack de Menezes
Allianz Park
Saturday 25 May 2019 14:23 BST
Comments
Saracens vs Leinster: Mark McCall hails Billy Vunipola for doing his talking on the pitch

Your support helps us to tell the story

My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.

Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.

Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond

Eric Garcia

Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

Saracens will defend their Premiership title after defeating Gloucester 44-19 in a dominant display to book their place in next weekend's Twickenham showcase.

Gloucester briefly threatened an upset by scoring the first try of the match just three minutes into the semi-final through Ben Morgan, but the response from Saracens was emphatic as Sean Maitland, Ben Spencer and Liam Wiliams scored before the break.

The best was saved for the second half though, as Nick Tompkins came on to score a 28-minute hat-trick, with Gloucester scoring late consolations through Ruan Dreyer and Lewis Ludlow. Re-live the action below.

What time does it start?

Saracens vs Gloucester kicks off at 1:30pm on Saturday 25 May.

Where can I watch it?

The Premiership semi-final will be shown live on BT Sport 1 from 12:45pm.

What is the other semi-final?

Premiership table-toppers Exeter Chiefs take on Northampton Saints at 4.30pm.

Odds

Saracens: 1/6

Gloucester: 11/2

Draw (after 80 minutes): 25/1

What happens if it’s a draw?

There will be a five-minute break followed by a period of extra time of ten minutes each way, with a one-minute interval. If the scores remain equal, then the winner will be the team which has scored the most tries in the game (including extra time).

If the scores are level and the number of tries scored is equal, then there shall be a place kick competition. Each team nominates three kickers who will attempt to slot the ball through posts from six designated positions on the 10 and 22-metre lines. If the scores are tied after the six kicks for each team, it will go to “sudden death” from the middle of the 10-metre line. The three kickers must have been playing at the final whistle of extra time.

Teams

Saracens: Goode; Williams, Lozowski, Barritt, Maitland; Farrell, Spencer; Barrington, George, Koch; Skelton, Kruis; Itoje, Wray, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Gray, Adams-Hale, Judge, Isiekwe, Rhodes, Wigglesworth, Tompkins, Strettle.

Gloucester: Woodward; Sharples, Twelvetrees, Atkinson, Marshall; Cipriani, Heinz; Hohneck, Marais, Balmain; Slater, Mostert; Ackermann, Kriel, Morgan.

Replacements: Sherry, Rapava Ruskin, Dreyer, Savage, Ludlow, Polledri, Vellacott, Purdy.

79 mins: Farrell sends a penalty to touch inside the Gloucester 22 and Saracens are going to try to finish with a flourish here.

Jack de Menezes25 May 2019 15:15

80 mins: It doesn't come as Itoje knocks on.

FULL-TIME: Saracens 44-19 Gloucester

Saracens are through to the Premiership final to face either Exeter Chiefs or Northampton Saints!

Jack de Menezes25 May 2019 15:16

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in