The Star-Studded Saracens Team That Won Their First Premiership Title 10 Years Ago Today
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Saracens were crowned English champions for the first time ten years ago today.
Steve Borthwick led Saracens to their first-ever Premiership title beating Leicester Tigers, the team Borthwick coaches now, 22-18 at Twickenham in the Premiership final.
A then nineteen-year-old Owen Farrell won the battle of the kickers, landing five penalties and a conversion to outshine England flyhalf, Toby Flood.
Winger James Short scored Saracens' only try of the game in the first half as Saracens led 16-9 at halftime.
Schalk Brits helped set up the try for Short as the hooker set off on another surge just outside the Leicester 22, haring across the face of Marcos Ayerza before unleashing Short for the corner.
The two flyhalves traded penalties early in the second half. Flood missed another shot at goal but was on target as the clock ticked towards 70 minutes.
Farrell and Flood traded penalties once again as Leicester Tigers made a late run for a come from behind victory.
Saracens managed to hold out and deny Alesana Tuilagi a try and stalled the Tigers pack long enough to see them to victory.
🔟 years ago today, @Saracens won their first Premiership title beating Leicester Tigers in the Final 🏆 pic.twitter.com/1WiLTRH4AJ
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) May 28, 2021
Leicester: 15 Scott Hamilton 14 Horacio Agulla 13 Matt Smith 12 Anthony Allen 11 Alesana Tuilagi 10 Toby Flood 9 Ben Youngs 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Craig Newby (capt), 6 Tom Croft, 5 George Skivington, 4 Steve Mafi, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Thomas Waldrom, 21 James Grindal, 22 Jeremy Staunton, 23 Billy Twelvetrees.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 David Strettle, 13 Chris Wyles, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 James Short, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Mouritz Botha, 4 Steve Borthwick (capt), 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Matt Stevens.
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Petrus du Plessis, 19 Hugh Vyvyan, 20 Andy Saull, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Nils Mordt, 23 Noah Cato.
