Afternoon all. Football may have the FA Cup final today, but there is also a huge encounter as far as English domestic rugby is concerned - Bath vs.
Saracens in the Aviva Premiership final. It promises to be an entertaining encounter at Twickenham.
First things first, let's take a look at the team news, starting with Bath...
BATH XV: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13
Jonathan Joseph, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 George Ford, 9 Peter Stringer, 1 Paul James, 2 Ross Batty, 3 David Wilson, 4 Stuart Hooper (c), 5 Dave Attwood, 6 Sam Burgess, 7 Francois Louw, 8 Leroy Houston
BATH REPLACEMENTS: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Dominic Day, 20 Matt Garvey, 21 Carl Fearns, 22 Chris Cook, 23 Ollie Devoto
It's little surprise that head coach Mike Ford has opted to make no changes to the side that demolished Leicester in the semi-finals last weekend. Hat-trick hero Matt Banahan will start on the wing, with Anthony Watson taking on the number 15 duties.
And now for Sarries....
SARACENS XV: 15 Alex Goode, 14 David Strettle, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt, 11
Chris Wyles, 10
Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 1 Mako Vunipola, 2
Jamie George, 3 Petrus Du Plessis, 4 George Kruis, 5 Alistair Hargreaves (c), 6 Maro Itoje, 7 Jacques Burger, 8 Billy Vunipola
SARACENS REPLACEMENTS: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Chris Ashton
Just like his Bath counterpart,
Mark McCall has made no alterations to his Saracens team. However, there is a change on the bench, with Schalk Brits returning from illness at the expense of Jared Saunders. There had been suggestions that Chris Ashton would also be included in the team following his illness, but he once again will start the contest among the replacements.
Our very own Jack Prescott is in place at Twickenham and here is his view:
Right, let's take a look at what the two bosses have been saying in the days leading up to this game. Here is McCall talking about his Saracens side:
"This is our fourth Premiership final in our last six seasons, which is a good achievement in itself. Twelve months ago, when we sat in the dressing room at the end of the game against Northampton, it seemed a long way off and a difficult journey," he told BBC Sport
"Last year we went into the final having lost the European Cup final to Toulon the week before, which was a draining experience physically and mentally. We go into this game in a different mindset."
Meanwhile, Bath's Ford offered up: "People look at us and say we've won nothing yet, and they're right," he told
BBC Sport.
"For all the good rugby we've played, I think there'll be one or two sceptical people out there who'll say 'is it winning rugby?' And we've got to go out on Saturday and prove that it is. We'd be stupid to change anything, to freeze and tighten up and think that we can't play our way because it's a final."
© Getty Images
As McCall mentioned, Sarries have featured in three of the last five finals, winning on one occasion. That came back in 2011 when they defeated Leicester 22-18, while last year they were beaten 24-20 after extra-time by Northampton Saints. However, if they were to win this time around, they will become the first side to win the Premiership title having finished outside the top two in the table.
Bath, on the other hand, are novices to this stage. They've never won the Premiership since the playoffs were introduced, with their last appearance in the final coming back in 2004 when they were edged out by Wasps 10-6. They last lifted the trophy back in 1996 - some 19 years ago.
There is an overriding feeling, though, that this is Bath's best chance to end the drought. Their young backs have a carefree attacking style which has won many admirers this term, with only two teams having run in more tries. What's more, they also have England internationals George Ford and Jonathan Joseph in fine fettle.
Talking of Ford, this encounter has been billed as a battle between him and his fellow England fly-half Owen Farrell. Courtesy of
BBC Sport, here is how the pair have matched up this season:
And here is how former England international Jeremy Guscott, talking to
BBC Sport, sees the battle between the duo.
On Ford: "It is important to keep the scoreboard ticking over, but Ford can get you out of trouble in a number of ways, and Farrell does not have those same abilities at the same level. Ford is playing extremely well. He's the Premiership Player of the Season and he's been excellent."
On Farrell: "Farrell's game is suited to the way Saracens play. They do not run a great deal, they do not carry the ball a great deal, they kick-chase, they defend hard and they are mentally tough."
Ford & Farrell: "The battle between them in the final is not really one against one, performance against performance. You won't see them come up against each other physically too many times."
Right, we are now just 10 minutes away from the action getting underway. There's a great atmosphere building inside Twickenham.
And this is what the two teams will be hoping to lift at the final whistle:
Video footage from inside the two dressing rooms courtesy of BT Sport shows plenty of fist bumps going on. There are some determined-looking players in there, that's for sure!
A huge cheer goes up all around the stadium as the two teams enter the field of play. We'll soon be off and running.
KICKOFF! This clash of styles gets underway thanks to the boot of Farrell. Game on!
There's some early defensive work for Saracens as Bath make a decent start to proceedings. Then, moments later, Watson is on the receiving end of a high one from Farrell on halfway, but the television match official decides that there is nothing do there.
TRY! BATH 0-5 SARACENS (FARRELL)
CONVERSION! BATH 0-7 SARACENS (FARRELL)
Great start for Saracens, who get the game's first points on the board with what was their first meaningful attack. It starts with Strettle out on the right, before the ball is worked across the pitch. Billy Vunipola is also heavily involved in freeing Farrell, who goes over the line unopposed. He then makes light work of the extras to put his side 7-0 up.
BATH SUB: Having received a clattering from Farrell, Watson has left the pitch and is being assessed by the medical team. Ollie Devoto is on in his place at full-back.
TRY! BATH 0-12 SARACENS (GEORGE)
Jamie George may be a big lad, but he looked like Usain Bolt moments ago. He picks up a Bath error and shows those chasing him a clean pair of heels to cross over for his ninth Premiership try. Farrell is just wide with the conversion, but in his defence, it was a tough chance. Nevertheless, that's a great moment for George and Saracens.
More from our man Jack Prescott in place at Twickenham:
More bad news for Bath because Watson has failed his medical assessment, which means that Devoto will stay on.
PENALTY! BATH 0-15 SARACENS (FARRELL)
Slightly right of the posts, there was never any real doubt that Farrell was going to miss the chance to add the three points as soon as Saracens were awarded the penalty. It's a 15-point lead now and that's some cushion, even at this early stage.
PENALTY! BATH 3-15 SARACENS (FORD)
Goode clatters into Bath's Rokoduguni on the right touchline after the ball has left his foot, meaning that a penalty is rightly awarded. The angle is a tight one, but Ford makes easy work of it. Bath are finally on the board and their supporters will be feeling much more positive because of it.
MATCH ACTION! Courtesy of the Saracens Twitter page, here's George scoring the game's second try.
TRY! BATH 3-20 SARACENS (WYLES)
CONVERSION! BATH 3-22 SARACENS (FARRELL)
What a fantastic try that is from Saracens - I doubt they've scored many better this season. It's all started by Strettle, who breaks through on the right flank and is unlucky not to go over himself. The ball is worked over to the left swiftly, with Wyles coasting through to score his 15th try this term. Farrell then shoots between the posts to put Saracens back into a commanding position.
Here's how Guscott has viewed the opening 37 minutes, talking on
BBC Sport:
"Bath are used to setting up in the shape that they like but Saracens have looked at it and they know how to defend against it. Bath are trying too hard, they are making mistakes and Saracens are capitalising on it."
PENALTY! BATH 3-25 SARACENS (FARRELL)
Sarries keep extending that lead! Farrell is only a matter of yards away from the posts and he sends his central-positioned kick comfortably over. It's a long way back for Bath from here.
HALF-TIME: BATH 3-25 SARACENS
As the whistle is blown for the break, Sports Mole's Jack Prescott, in place at Twickenham, has summed up that half perfectly over on his Twitter by posting: "Sarries have been clinical, Bath catatonic."
Bath have just not got going today. They've committed too many mistakes that have been punished and have also struggled hold any territory for a significant amount of time. More worryingly for those connected with the Somerset-based outfit, Sarries' lead of 22 points is the biggest ever after the opening 40 minutes in a Premiership final.
Meanwhile, thanks to footage from BT Sport, we've been able to see that it's a very content Saracens dressing room and you can understand why. As every player came in, they were met with handshake by captain Hargreaves. To be fair, it's been a top performance from Sarries and not an unattractive one either. In short, they've been clinical and have more than one hand on the trophy.
Can Bath get back into this contest? It's a long way back, but they do have plenty of players people of scoring tries. But, to do that, they must start dictating what the Sarries' defence is doing. Too many 50/50's are breaking for Sarries and if Bath are to stand any chance of pulling off an unexpected comeback, that has to change.
MATCH ACTION! Here's more images of the big man going over to score his side's second try:
RESTART! Ford gets proceedings back underway, with his side needing something very special to win. It's a cliche, but the next try is so important here.
An early penalty for Bath, which Ford sends into touch deep inside the Sarries' 22. This is the sort of start to the second half that they needed, but they've got to make it count.
PENALTY! BATH 6-25 SARACENS (FORD)
Is the comeback on?! Bath make their early pressure count thanks to the boot of Ford, although he was ever so close to striking the post with his close-range kick.
BATH SUB: A couple of changes for the side that trails with Batty and James coming off, with Rob Webber and Nick Auterac entering the action.
SARACENS SUB: And now Sarries make a switch which sees Argentina international Juan Figallo take the place of Du Plessis.
TRY! BATH 11-25 SARACENS (JOSEPH)
CONVERSION! BATH 13-25 SARACENS (FORD)
Now we have a game on! Joseph has been one of Bath's best players this season and he's hauled them back into this contest with a fine individual try. Ford sends the extras over and they are now just 12 points adrift. What's more, Saracens look like they are tiring a little bit.
SARACENS SUB: Another alteration for Sarries as Neil de Kock takes the place of Wigglesworth.
BATH SUB: There's changes galore as players start to tire. Attwood is the Bath player that trudges off, with Matt Garvey taking his place.
PENALTY! BATH 16-25 SARACENS (FORD)
Slowly but surely, Bath are chipping away at that Saracens lead. It was expected that the two fly-halves would play a key role today and so it has proven. Once again Ford sends a penalty between the posts and there are some nervy faces on the Sarries' bench.
PENALTY! BATH 16-28 SARACENS (FARRELL)
That could well be a big moment in this game. Farrell's penalty is fairly central, but there's plenty of yards between him and the posts. Yet, he keeps his composure and finds the middle. That's stopped the Bath juggernaut a little bit. It all came about after Devoto had been caught offside.
The referee Wayne Barnes seems to be losing his patience with the players a little bit following another collapsed scrum. Moments ago you heard him shout "fellas, fellas, listen", before having a chat with the two teams.
Not a good omen for those of a Bath persuasion:
SARACENS SUB: There's a warm applause for Barritt as he is replaced by Charlie Hodgson. It will be interesting to see if he moves into the number 10 position, with Farrell moving out wide, or whether it's a straight swap.
According to BBC Sport, Bath have had 81% of the ball in this second half, but time is now running out fast. In fact, Saracens are doing a good job of shutting this game down at present.
There's around three minutes to go at Twickenham and Bath are 12 points behind. In short, they need a miracle.
FULL TIME: BATH 16-28 SARACENS - SARRIES ARE THE AVIVA PREMIERSHIP CHAMPIONS!
There you have it. From the moment that Farrell went over for the game's first try in just the fifth minute, Saracens were the better side and controlled most of the encounter. They are deservedly crowned champions.
As for Bath, they will be disappointed with their performance over the course of the 80 minutes. They lost too many 50/50 battles and couldn't get themselves into the game for any length of time.
And that's as far as our coverage of the action at Twickenham goes today. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and until next time, goodbye.
