Article content NEWCASTLE, England — Saracens won a third European Champions Cup in four years when it overcame defending champion Leinster from 10-0 down to win their final 20-10 on Saturday. “We spoke in the last six weeks about being the toughest team, not in a physical capacity but the mental toughness it takes to win these big games,” Saracens captain Brad Barritt said. “It’s about soaking up pressure and responding when you get the opportunities. We knew when we went down 10 points there was so much left in the tank.” We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Saracens win 3rd European Cup rugby title in 4 years Back to video Leinster used the advantage of a yellow card for Saracens flanker Maro Itoje to scrum, from which prop Tadhg Furlong scored a converted try and 10-0. But Saracens flyhalf Owen Farrell kicked a penalty conceded by counterpart Jonathan Sexton, and deep in injury time Farrell helped to set up Sean Maitland in the corner for the half to finish 10-10. In the second, Leinster flanker Scott Fardy was yellow-carded and from the resulting penalty Farrell kicked Saracens ahead. The English side secured victory 13 minutes from time when No. 8 Billy Vunipola picked up from the back of a five-meter scrum and shrugged off four defenders to reach the try-line. Leinster was pinned in its 22 for the rest of the match, thwarting its hope of a record fifth European crown. —— More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP–Sports<doc-sep>1 Learning through failure helps power shift to London Leinster were a year ago hailed not only as the best team in Europe but potentially the best ever after winning the Champions Cup. Saracens were among their victims but it is a tournament in which the best dare not stand still. Its history shows clusters of teams who have held sway for a while – Leicester, Toulouse, Munster, Leinster and Toulon – but it is not difficult to see Saracens becoming its most dynastic club. Leinster do not lose many games and hardly any when they have a 10-point advantage just before half-time but Saracens have this decade become versed in the art of winning on the big occasion, learning through failure. 2 Strength in depth set both sides apart from pack Part of the reason why Saracens and Leinster were above the rest by some distance this season was their strength in depth, and the presence of Clermont Auvergne in the Challenge Cup which the Top 14 side duly won on Friday. Replacements played a significant part in Saracens’ victory: the props Vincent Koch and Richard Barrington were both on the field before the half-hour mark, Richard Wigglesworth appeared at the moment Leinster were struggling to find their second breath and Nick Isiekwe and Schalk Burger had cameo roles. Saracens’ achievement is all the more remarkable given the struggles of their fellow Premiership sides in the tournament, and if there are salary cap questions to be answered, they also have a bond that is as tight as tight can be. 3 Lesser lights shone in match-up of internationals The final was a Test match in all but name, and not just because most of the players who took the field were full internationals. It was a match likely to be decided by a few plays, and for all Saracens’ dominance in the final 25 minutes, Leinster created openings that were quickly shut. A feature of Ireland’s Six Nations campaign was that they struggled when chasing a game: Leinster looked at their least effective after they fell behind, jettisoning their systems in increasing desperation. England were also ineffective playing catch-up but Saracens carried on regardless after falling 10-0 behind. They had leading internationals but it was Koch, Alex Lozowski, Brad Barritt and George Kruis – a Lion back to his best – who were involved in key moments. They were not reliant on their big names. An Alex Lozowski tackle on Jack Conan late in the first half helped shift the momentum away from Leinster in the final. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho/Rex/Shutterstock 4 Result means one Welsh side in next year’s competition Saracens’ victory means Ospreys will take on the Scarlets this Saturday in a play-off for the Pro14’s final place in next season’s Champions Cup. Wales may be grand slam champions, but their record in Europe is – compared to that of England, Ireland and France – dismal. They have never won the Champions Cup and their only finalist was Cardiff in the inaugural season in 1995 when teams from England and Scotland did not take part. The tournament has grown somewhat since then but Wales’s contribution to it has diminished, even when nine clubs were reduced to four regions. Finance plays a part, as can be seen on benches, but it has also been a failing of coaching, with the exception of the Scarlets last season. Wales should, as Ireland did from 2000, use Europe to boost interest in the game below international level, but Saturday’s result means they will only have one team involved next season, the same as Italy. 5 Hook-up of hemispheres likely to gain traction Are Saracens outgrowing the Premiership? They are at Worcester next Saturday in the final round of the league campaign; not quite a world away from St James’ Park but it is a clash between two clubs with markedly different ambitions. If Europe is a bridge between club and international rugby, no other English club can get beyond halfway, even Exeter. With Super Rugby growing weaker every year through players leaving for Europe and Japan, a tie-up between the hemispheres gains traction. The travelling and the cost are factors against, but St James’ Park was so markedly different to what Sixways this weekend will be that a question to be asked is whether the three professional leagues in Europe act as a drag on ambition.<doc-sep>England and Saracens forward Billy Vunipola scored his side's second try Heineken Champions Cup final Leinster (10) 10 Try: Furlong Con: Sexton Pen: Sexton Saracens (10) 20 Tries: Maitland, Vunipola Cons: Farrell 2 Pens: Farrell 2 Saracens came from behind to win their third European title in four years with a 20-10 victory over Leinster in the Champions Cup final at St James' Park. The Irish side held a 10-point lead until the 39th minute but Sarries drew level when Sean Maitland's try cancelled out Tadhg Furlong's opener. Both defences stood firm after the interval but Owen Farrell kicked Saracens in front just before the hour. Victory was sealed when Billy Vunipola crashed over from the back of a scrum. Farrell kicked the conversion as the Londoners scored 20 unanswered points and put in a dominant second-half performance, despite losing both their starting props to injury in the first half. Saracens - who become the first English side to win three Champions Cups after ending their European campaign unbeaten - will play a Premiership semi-final later this month as they continue to pursue the double, while Leinster remain on course to defend their Pro14 title. Farrell wins the battles of the 10s The 2019 Champions Cup final was dubbed as the battle of the fly-halves as international heavyweights Owen Farrell and Johnny Sexton renewed their rivalry, in front of nearly 52,000 spectators at Newcastle United's home ground. Both players were 100% successful off the tee but it was Englishman Farrell who was the more influential as Saracens avenged last year's quarter-final defeat. The England captain produced moments of excellence to draw his side level at half-time, having only conceded seven points with Maro Itoje in the sin-bin after waves of relentless Leinster running. Farrell kicked the penalty to get Sarries on the scoreboard before his deft pass allowed Maitland an easy run-in to score their opening try, in a move BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Matt Dawson believed was "straight off the training ground". Sexton ran more metres and made more passes than his opposite number after opening the scoring with an early penalty, but Farrell's game management in the critical moments allowed his side to gain an advantage. The trophy's journey back to England was all-but confirmed when Vunipola dived over with 13 minutes remaining as the England forward continues to impress after a controversial few weeks. Vunipola was booed again, this time by the vociferous Leinster support, for his controversial social media post defending the now-sacked Australian international Israel Folau's assertion that "hell awaits" gay people. Saracens will be hoping Vunipola's late injury to his left shoulder is not too serious as they return to domestic rugby looking to claim more silverware. Leinster's early work undone With just a minute remaining of the first half, the plan for defending champions Leinster had been effective. The Irish province were more mobile at the breakdown and they looked to bully Saracens into submission up front, as the north London side lost props Mako Vunipola and Titi Lamositele to injury as early as the 29th minute. Itoje was sent to the bin for his part in an accumulation of penalties close to the Sarries line just a minute later, before Furlong powered over from close range for the game's first try. But when Saracens - with captain Brad Barritt leading from the front - regained their composure, Leinster found it difficult to contain their fast and fluid game. Saracens made 12 offloads compared to Leinster's four as they looked to keep the ball alive and stretch the game with strike runners Liam Williams and Maitland. The English side were more clinical in the right areas, and while Leinster had 56% possession, they struggled for creativity and were unable to penetrate Saracens' defence - scoring only three points while Sarries had 15 players on the pitch. Saracens set to dominate for years? England World Cup winner Matt Dawson on BBC Radio 5 Live: That was a magnificent turnaround by Saracens. Who says they can't win it again and again and again over the next few years? Most of the team will be around for several years yet. It's a ridiculously talented squad with great coaches and infrastructure. They have been absolutely brilliant today. BBC rugby correspondent Chris Jones: At 10-0 up Leinster looked in control, but in a week of sporting comebacks, Sarries dug deep, scoring a brilliant try through Sean Maitland. In the final quarter Sarries were astonishingly relentless and Billy Vunipola's powerful try was the killer blow as Leinster ran out of steam. It's three Champions Cups in four years for Saracens and, given the hunger and age of this squad, this legacy will only grow. European Champions Cup final wins 4: Toulouse, Leinster 3: Saracens, Toulon 2: Leicester, Munster, Wasps 1 : Brive, Northampton, Ulster, Bath Man of the match - Brad Barritt Saracens captain Brad Barritt has become only the second man, after Leinster head coach Leo Cullen, to win three European titles as captain. The centre led by example as he completed a remarkable 28 tackles, made 54 metres across 16 carries and was deservedly named man of the match. 'It's a game of small margins' - what they said Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell said: "It's a massive occasion for the whole club. It's not just about the lads on this pitch, everybody that's behind the scenes makes this club what it is. "We were playing against a really good team who've got to back-to-back finals and they tested us. But this is a tight-knit group and that's what makes us good. "Billy's played well and that's what he does on a regular basis. It's not just off-field stuff, it's other things as well and we've allowed it to make us tighter. You saw that today." Leinster fly-half Johnny Sexton said: "It's a game of small margins. We were 10-3 up and had the ball in their half and decided to go for an attacking play. "I thought we could have won it and scored ourselves which would have put the foot on their throat, but they are a champion side and they scored instead. "At the start of the second half we started really well but we didn't take our chances close to their line. They made their pressure tell and we didn't. "There were a few decisions that didn't go our way and we felt there was a knock-on before that second try." Line-ups Leinster: R Kearney; Larmour, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Sexton (capt), McGrath; Healy, Cronin, Furlong, Toner, Ryan, Fardy, O'Brien, Conan. Replacements: Tracy for Cronin (51), J McGrath, Bent for Furlong (70), Ruddock, Deegan for Toner (74), O'Sullivan, R Byrne, O'Loughlin. Saracens: Goode; Williams, Lozowski, Barritt (c), Maitland; Farrell, Spencer; M Vunipola, George, Lamositele, Skelton, Kruis, Itoje, Wray, B Vunipola. Replacements: Gray, Barrington for Lamositele (29), Koch for M Vunipola (29), Isiekwe for Skelton (62), Burger for B Vunipola (75), Wigglesworth for Spencer (56), Tompkins, Strettle. Attendance: 51,930 Referee: Jerome Garces (Fra)<doc-sep>
Saturday was a great day for English rugby — and for England's World Cup challenge. A third of this Saracens team will now go to Eddie Jones' squad as European champions and bring a much-needed winning mentality, especially after the Six Nations. Aside from the obvious stars, the two players I highlighted before the game, Liam Williams and Alex Lozowski, played really well. And Brad Barritt just seems to play in teams who win. Saracens' Champions Cup win is good news for England's World Cup challenge There was a nice moment when Owen Farrell kicked Saracens level on half-time and Barritt waited to congratulate him while everyone else went down the tunnel. That said a lot about Barritt and the respect those two clearly have for each other. Alex Goode, who after the game was crowned European Player of the Year, was exceptional again. He is in the same bracket as Danny Cipriani in that at any other time, with any other coach, he would be in the England starting team. Selection is an art not a science and unfortunately for Goode he just does not fit Eddie's thinking. Would you pick him over Anthony Watson or Elliot Daly? If I'm honest, I wouldn't. Would I pick Farrell and George Ford above Cipriani? Definitely. A third of the Saracens team will now go to Eddie Jones' squad this summer When the Sarries players join up with England again they will bring a relentless, brutal style of play into the set-up. But the big question is — is that good enough to win a World Cup? Can you beat France and Argentina with massive ball-carriers and an aggressive defence? Can you beat South Africa, Australia or New Zealand like that? The answer might be yes, but I think England need to come up with a plan to be 'Saracens-plus'. They can build on the foundations of this Sarries team and add yet more power. Bring in Manu Tuilagi and Joe Cokanasiga and it goes up another level in terms of physicality in the back division. Meanwhile, the likes of Jonny May, Daly and Henry Slade bring a new level of speed and playmaking ability. Everyone has to buy into it, like Saracens do. It might not be pretty but crikey it is effective. Look at the way England beat Ireland in February. That was 'Saracens-plus' for sure. It was nice to see the mutual respect between Owen Farrell (left) and Brad Barritt (right) What this style is doing to rugby as a sport, though, heaven only knows. At times it is like a professional version of British bulldog! I watched the game on French television, and when you don't listen to the commentary there is a lot else you seem to notice. The ruck has almost become a non-event now. So few people are involved in rucks that the teams just spread across the field and it really does become like rugby league. When you then see that Barritt made 28 tackles at centre it is further proof that the game has changed. I don't think I made 28 tackles in a year! Defensive coaches are becoming heroes but the superstar coach will be the attack coach who figures out a way through these brick walls. For me this starts and finishes at the ruck. Saracens do have a 'plan B' but they are never going to play like the All Blacks. Alex Goode, who was crowned European Player of the Year, was exceptional In 2003 we were the fittest and strongest team but did not solely play a power game. Our aim was to play 15-man rugby, and we won a World Cup with it. We had a call — 'killer' — where we would attack straight through the middle of the ruck. The aim was to draw players in to make the space out wide. If they did not come in we just went route one and through the ruck. It got us attacking, offloading and it negated rush-defences. That can be a way to get through the defensive walls across the field in the modern game. You have to do something different. When England get to quarter-finals or semi-finals they need to be 'Saracens-plus'. To me the 'plus' element is having the ability to do everything that bit faster and having that extra flexibility, not to change the game-plan, but to adapt it when needed. Well done to Saracens on lifting another trophy.