Saracens vs Sale Sharks LIVE: Result and reaction from Premiership Rugby final after protesters disrupt game
Saracens 35-25 Sale Sharks: Saracens win their sixth Premiership Rugby title as Sale fail to end a 17-year wait for the trophy
Saracens defied a spirited Sale Sharks, a mini injury crisis and climate activists to clinch the Gallagher Premiership title for a sixth time at Twickenham.
A 35-25 victory over the Sharks made amends for last season’s last-gasp defeat by Leicester at the same stage and delivers their first silverware since being relegated for salary cap breaches in 2020.
Two Just Stop Oil protestors brought a halt to the game in the first half when they ran on to the pitch, letting off orange smoke bombs before being led away by stewards amid jeers from the crowd. Both were arrested and while orange patches were still evident on the pitch at the final whistle, the interruption failed to take the shine off an enthralling climax to the season.
Saracens threatened to pull clear before and after half-time but Sale stayed in the fight and then pounced in a dominant third quarter that saw tries by Tom Roebuck and Bevan Rodd seize the lead. But drawing on all the experience accumulated during 13 years of Premiership and European finals, Saracens showed their resolve to hit back through Elliot Daly and Ivan van Zyl.
Relive the action from the Premiership Rugby final as Saracens beat Sale:
Saracens 0-0 Sale, 3 mins
Great line by Tizard and he’s inches away from the line. Penalty coming as well for Sarries for offside as they probe out wide. Sale defence holding firm and we’ll go back for the penalty under the posts. Sarries going to take the points
Saracens 0-0 Sale, 2 mins
Goode gets under a high ball really nicely. Sarries are sticking plenty of bombs up into the sun and it’s paying dividends early on. Sale spill another and Saracens have possession entering the opposition 22.
KICK-OFF! Saracens 0-0 Sale
And we’re underway! An early let-off for Sarries as Sam Dugdale pinged for not rolling away at a ruck and the favourites clear towards halfway
Saracens vs Sale LIVE: Latest updates
The teams are out on the Twickenham turf, the anthem has been played and we’re nearly ready to start.
Saracens vs Sale LIVE: Latest updates
Alex Goode laying down some Premiership final wisdom. No one knows these occasions better than the Saracens star as he gears up for his ninth appearance
Saracens vs Sale LIVE: Latest updates
Sale Sharks tapped into Sir Alex Ferguson’s revered motivational powers ahead of the Gallagher Premiership final against Saracens.
The former Manchester United manager visited Sale’s Carrington training base on Tuesday, where he addressed the squad.
The 81-year-old became Sale’s latest keynote contributor after rugby league great Jamie Peacock spoke to the players ahead of their play-off victory over Leicester earlier this month.
“We thought we would try and wring a little bit of gold out of Sir Alex – and he didn’t disappoint,” Sale rugby director Alex Sanderson said.
“He had the lads on the edge of their seats and he came up with some real good bits of advice – not new stuff, but when it comes from Sir Alex’s mouth, it is gospel, isn’t it?
“It is small percentages of what you can add, an increased feeling of how special this week is. It was good to have him in and good to have him in our corner.”
Saracens vs Sale LIVE: Latest updates
Ben Earl is looking to help Saracens regain the Gallagher Premiership title and put down an early World Cup selection marker at Twickenham on Saturday.
Saracens flanker Earl has been among the league’s most consistent performers, highlighted by him winning Premiership player of the season last year. But while his England career is into double figures in terms of caps, he has made just two Test appearances since March 2021.
“The moment you start looking for excuses, the moment you start thinking I am just unlucky, my face doesn’t fit, is probably the moment you give somebody the reason to drop you,” Earl said.
“I’ve kind of got to stay with it. Steve was unbelievably positive about my work in the Six Nations. Unfortunately, selection didn’t always go my way, but I am trying to stay positive and put my best foot forward in these big games, which are probably the games he is looking at the most.
“I think I have played as consistently as I did last year, which was a big challenge of mine. There is no point winning some of the accolades I did last year and not backing it up. Selfishly, the elephant in the room is that I wish I could have played a bit more for England in that Six Nations campaign.
“For whatever reason, I didn’t, and I have learnt a lot from that. I am looking forward to going again, putting my best foot forward in these big games, which has been a big focus of mine.”
Saracens vs Sale LIVE: Latest updates
It’s a glorious day at Twickenham and the fans are out in their droves to watch this contest. There was an electric atmosphere to greet the teams as they arrived.
Saracens vs Sale LIVE: Latest updates
Sale Sharks skipper Jono Ross feels “the time is right” for retirement - but not before one last challenge that could deliver a dream career finale.
The South African number eight will lead Sale into their biggest game for 17 years on Saturday, with Saracens standing between them and the Gallagher Premiership title.
The 32-year-old has made more than 150 Sale appearances, including topping the Premiership tackle-count for three successive seasons, and proved a driving force behind their resurgence led by rugby director Alex Sanderson.
And taking silverware back to the north-west of England would mean mission accomplished as he hangs up his boots.
“I am massively proud of where the club has come from over the last six or seven years,” Ross said. “When I arrived, we finished eighth or ninth and the goal was to make the play-offs, which we did.
“Now to be in the final is massively special and rewarding for all the work that has gone in, but the job is not done and we have another big hurdle this weekend. I think you have got to learn from games like the defeat to Exeter in the semi-finals a couple of years ago, and the mistakes we made.
“Maybe we expended too much energy during the week, but the way we have wanted to play this year we have really found our identity. We have another game against the best team in the league, we are going in as underdogs and we have to go out there and make sure it is a special day.”
Saracens vs Sale LIVE: Latest updates
Farrell on Ford battle: “I have known George since I was a kid. When you come up against him, first and foremost you know you are playing against a quality player.
“You know you are playing against someone who knows what they are doing and as he has shown since coming back into the Sale team, he has been outstanding.
“He’s in a good place, he looks calm, he looks in control and I am sure he is a big driver behind this Sale team so I am looking forward to it.”
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