Saracens v Northampton: Premiership preview as hosts set to power their way to the final by beating brave Saints

Dylan Coetzee
Premiership: Split with Saracens' Earl, Farrell, Smith and Augustus

The Premiership regular season has come and gone with only four teams remaining to battle it out for the coveted title.

The first of two semi-finals offers the most intriguing of match-ups as the high-flying, powerhouse Saracens welcome the adventurous and entertaining Northampton Saints to their fortress StoneX Stadium where they have been unbeaten all season long.

There are many layers to the clash from the showdown of the tactical minds of Mark McCall and Phil Dowson to the intricacies of the forward battle up front, all mashed together for a fascinating fixture.

Saracens finished the regular season with a comfortable lead at the top of the table, so much so that they earned the right to rest some of their superstars in anticipation for this clash.

Meanwhile, Northampton come into the semi-final, having won three of their last four to claim the final play-off spot and are in good shape to battle for the title.

First plays fourth as the Premiership enters its knockout stage on Saturday as these two sides look to be the first to book their place in the final at Twickenham.

Team news

Saracens director of rugby McCall has drawn upon a wealth of knockout experience for the semi-final.

Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Marco Riccioni start in an all-international front-row, with Maro Itoje and Hugh Tizard in the engine room. Nick Isiekwe partners Ben Earl and Jackson Wray in the back-row.

Owen Farrell captains the side from fly-half with Ivan van Zyl his half-back partner. Nick Tompkins and Alex Lozowski are the centres, with Alex Goode at full-back and Sean Maitland and Max Malins on the wings.

Theo Dan and Elliot Daly are the notable inclusions on the bench.

As for Northampton, Courtney Lawes starts in the number six jersey, where he will earn a club record 165th Premiership start, taking him past Stephen Myler’s 164.

He is joined in the back-row by captain Lewis Ludlam and in form number eight, Juarno Augustus. David Ribbans and Alex Moon are the second-rowers, with props Alex Waller and Trevor Davison packing down either side of hooker Tom Cruse.

In the backs, Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith are the half-backs, with Fraser Dingwall and Rory Hutchinson the centres.

Tommy Freeman and James Ramm start on the wings, with George Furbank at full-back. Director of rugby Dowson has opted for a 6-2 split on the bench.

Where the game will be won

Saracens of old squashed teams through physical and set-piece dominance, constantly battering away and leveraging the game in their favour by being ultra-polished in every facet of the game.

That has not exactly been the case this campaign as they have not had things their way all the time, with their scrum not being up to their lofty standards. The likes of Maro Itoje and Jamie George really need to stand up and deliver.

If Saracens can effectively execute their fundamentals there is not much in the way of that spot in the final.

Saints on the other hand need to stick to their explosive and expansive game to try and run Saracens out of their boots. Avoiding a set-piece battle and getting the ball to the dangerous outside backs will be the key message.

If the visitors can keep the pace of the game high and not get suffocated by Saracens they do stand a chance.

Last time they met

What they said

Saracens director of rugby McCall claims his team is being driven by how they lost last season’s final to Leicester Tigers when Freddie Burns nailed a late drop goal to steal the title.

“I guess it wasn’t so much losing the final, it was how we lost it, which is the thing that is driving us, I think,” McCall said on Tuesday.

“It felt like we played within ourselves. It was how we lost, not because we lost.

“Anyone can lose a final – knockout games are hard to win – but when you don’t feel that you have given it a proper go, then you carry that all summer. I guess that has driven this season to a degree.”

Meanwhile, Northampton’s Ludlam noted how this Saracens team is more willing to take risks than sides that came before them.

“You can see their counter-attacking threats have been really impressive this season and they’ve probably turned the risk dial up,” he told his club’s website.

“They take more risks these days and it is important you stay alive to those moments and stay connected because in the moments you switch off, they’re not a team who are just going to kick the ball back for no reason.

“If the opportunity is there, they’re going to try to take it. They’re a brilliant side and they’ve developed their game from what Sarries used to be.”

Players to watch

Jamie George is one of the experienced leaders in the Saracens pack that will be crucial in determining the outcome of the game. Outside of his leadership role, the hooker will need to be flawless in the set-piece and busy in open play as fans have come to enjoy. He is an important cog in a forward pack that can win the game if they dominate.

Maro Itoje’s performance is just as crucial. The second-row needs to be a physical presence in the face of the Saints pack, getting under their skin as well as dominating the collision area. His role in the line-out is also imperative as Saracens hope to squeeze their opponents.

Flank Ben Earl has been a quality performer all season long and it is no surprise to see him in the Premiership Dream Team. He will again be influential with his work-rate key to the forward battle. Just like George and Itoje, Earl will need to execute his role well and if he does it will go a long way in Saracens securing a spot in the final.

Second-row David Ribbans has grown into some player at Saints, kicking on from his Test debut last year to put in consistent performances for his club this season. He has a big task of leading the charge in matching up to Saracens up front. The work he and the rest of the pack do will be crucial in determining whether or not their electric stars in the backline can have a real go at Saracens.

Another man who needs a monstrous performance is Juarno Augustus who has been outstanding in the carry all season long for his club. He is a truly physical specimen and that will be paramount in the clash. The number eight will be looking to add to his consistent performances that have been vital for Saints.

Scrum-half Alex Mitchell is the key link between the forwards and backs. His speed of the base triggers the attack and should he get quick enough ball the livewire can create sparks on attack. His combination with the talented Smith is another important aspect of this game. Mitchell has all the tools to show the quality that earned him a spot in the Premiership Dream Team.

Main head-to-head

Play-off rugby is often determined by the finest of margins where the key decision-makers need to get things right throughout. This week is no different without the main battle between fly-halves Owen Farrell and Fin Smith.

Big games require big performances from big players and few are more important than Farrell. The veteran fly-half, who was nominated for player of the season, is central to Saracens and will be influential on the game as a player and a leader. He is one of the most fierce competitors the game has seen and Saracens need him to pilot their ship to yet another final. Expect Farrell to be at his brilliant best again as he hopes to dominate the battle against Saints star Smith.

Smith, on the other hand, has played with freedom and confidence all season long, earning himself a nomination for newcomer of the season. It is richly deserved as the young star has been brilliant. Now he steps into one of his biggest challenges as he faces up to one of England’s greatest ever in a knockout game. There could not be a greater platform for a player so young to showcase his talent. He will know that he will need to be at his absolute best to get one over the veteran.

Prediction

Saracens are a truly brilliant side and certainly a cut above the rest, as the final table suggests. Saints have the potential to prove a banana skin for the Londoners but the class of Saracens will almost inevitably shine through. Saracens to win by 10 and qualify for yet another final.

Previous results

2023: Northampton won 38-29 at Franklin’s Gardens
2022: Saracens won 45-39 at StoneX Stadium
2022: Northampton won 58-34 at Franklin’s Gardens
2022: Northampton won 46-35 at StoneX Stadium
2019: Saracens won 54-28 at Franklin’s Gardens
2019: Saracens won 36-17 at StoneX Stadium
2018: Saracens won 38-27 at Franklin’s Gardens
2017: Saracens won 57-13 at Franklin’s Gardens

The teams

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Max Malins, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 9 Ivan Van Zyl, 8 Jackson Wray, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Hugh Tizard, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Christian Judge, 19 Callum Hunter-Hill, 20 Toby Knight, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Duncan Taylor, 23 Elliot Daly

Northampton: 15 George Furbank, 14 James Ramm, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Tommy Freeman, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Lewis Ludlam (c), 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 Alex Moon, 4 David Ribbans, 3 Trevor Davison, 2 Tom Cruse, 1 Alex Waller
Replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Sam Graham, 22 Tom James, 23 Tom Collins

Date: Saturday, May 13
Venue: StoneX Stadium
Kick-off: 15:30 BST (14:30 GMT)
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant Referees: Ian Tempest, Sara Cox
TMO: Stuart Terheege

READ MORE: Stormers v Connacht: United Rugby Championship preview as defending champions set to reach back-to-back finals

Features Ben Earl David Ribbans Fin Smith Owen Farrell

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