‘It could be the best final ever’ – Richard Wigglesworth

Adam Kyriacou
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Saracens scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth believes it could be “the best final ever” when they face Leinster for Champions Cup glory on Saturday.

Wigglesworth, who made his 100th European appearance in the semi-final victory over Munster, insists there isn’t much between the two teams.

“It’s probably the final everyone wanted. Two top teams will be going at it, it’s the reason you play the game,” he told Saracens’ official website ahead of the showdown at St James’ Park in Newcastle.

“It is going to be a fascinating battle. You have so much respect for Leinster, remembering how they did us in the quarter-final last year. They are well coached and well led by Johnny Sexton, but it is the little things with them, how quickly they get off the ground and how hard they work.

“They do not have any ‘dead men’ and so have few weaknesses. Both teams have very good set pieces and great defences; the differences are not big, just subtle ones people may be able to pick up on the day.”

Saracens won the tournament back-to-back in 2016 and 2017 before Leinster went on to lift the trophy for a fourth time last time out.

Many of the players who featured on those occasions will go head-to-head this weekend, experience Wigglesworth feels could make it the “best final ever”.

“Because we’ve had so much success everyone forgets what we went through to get here,” he continued.

“We suffered a lot of pain in Europe before winning in the Lyon rain (in 2016). The feeling that day was relief because we had put it to bed. The best thing now is that there is no sense of panic; that is not bought but comes from experience. We can react to pressure and get the job done.

“When we lost before, it tended to be because we were unable to cope with it but, if Leinster win, it will be because they were the better team. Both sides have so much experience and class that it could be the best final ever.”

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