After an incredible week of football, I really hope rugby's European Cup final can produce some similar magic on Saturday. Rugby has its moment to shine with an era-defining match between Saracens and Leinster at St James' Park on Saturday evening. The sport is under pressure to deliver in this period of superb drama. It started with Tiger Woods' comeback to win the Masters last month, and has continued through the Premier League title race, two special Champions League semi-finals, and before the agenda moves onto the Women's football World Cup, Cricket World Cup and the Ashes, rugby has to step up and ride this wave. After an incredible week of football, the pressure is on for rugby to deliver a final full of drama I hope we get a classic game - this is a titanic clash we're all looking forward to and whoever wins it can say they are the top dogs over the last decade of rugby. This is rugby's showcase. No sport can rest on its laurels in the race for eyes on screens and bums on seats. In the football it was not just the dramatic nature of these recent games, but the quality on show too. Lionel Messi's free-kick, to Vincent Kompany's screamer for Manchester City to Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur's comebacks. It has been spell-binding. Those two Champions League games showed why football is the biggest game in the world. At its best it is just an amazing, passionate, emotional spectacle - I was glued to the television for both. I think the link between the wins is the two managers. I am often asked if these performances come down to the players or the coaches - I would say if Jurgen Klopp or Mauricio Pochettino were not in charge of Liverpool or Spurs those results just would not have happened. Having been in a losing and winning coaching box I really feel for Barcelona's manager Ernesto Valverde and Erik ten Hag at Ajax. No one has a clue what they're going through; the effect on your life is just astonishing after defeats like those. Which brings me onto the two thoroughly impressive coaches on Saturday - Leinster's Leo Cullen, and Saracens' Mark McCall. Both former Irish internationals, and understated characters, have done fantastic jobs with their sides. Cullen has won this trophy three times as a captain with the province, and once last year as the coach. His sidekick, former England coach Stuart Lancaster, for some reason gets a lot of the credit but there is a world of difference from being an assistant, there can only ever be one boss and Cullen has done brilliantly. Then you have McCall. He does not create any headlines - he lets his team do that. Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has won the Champions Cup three times as a captain When international jobs come up all the usual suspects are mentioned but the one guy who should be at the top of everyone's list is McCall. If I was choosing someone to take over any Test team I would pick him. That is not just based on results but the way he goes about his business and the respect his and other teams have for him. His value is huge and he is the reason I think Saracens will win this game - they will be too tough, even for Leinster. To be honest it will be a shock to me if Leinster beat them. If the Irish pull this off it will be Cullen and fly-half Johnny Sexton's finest hour. That Saracens performance against Munster in the semi-final was brilliant, the best I have seen them play. Saracens and Leinster are fairly similar - they might have scored 32 tries each in the eight games so far during this tournament, but that is not because of a swashbuckling style of play. Those tries comes from absolute physicality. By the end their opposition are waving the white flag. Saracens completely blasted Munster off the field in their semi-final. Saracens and Leinster are fairly similar, they've scored 32 tries and are unbelievably tough They have ball-carriers everywhere and relentlessly batter teams. At times it is not amazing to watch, but it is so effective and makes for compulsive viewing. These teams are unbelievably tough. Toulouse and Racing, the best French sides, play a different way but I am not sure some of their best players would fit into the Leinster or the Saracens way. Every single player in their teams, led by Owen Farrell and Sexton, are physically tough. Saracens backs Alex Lozowski and Liam Williams, for example, are not big guys but my word they are big tacklers, and hard players. This toughness, I think, comes from the coaches - Cullen and McCall. Like Klopp and Pochettino, they have built teams in their image. If the Irish province can pull this off it will be Cullen and fly-half Johnny Sexton's finest hour Amid all this physicality I hope this final produces some 'wow' moments as right now all the jaw-dropping rugby is coming out of France. That is why I still fear for England in their World Cup pool game against France. However, if Saracens win that is good for England. I had Leicester and Wasps players playing in European finals in their prime, so if Eddie Jones can pick up these Saracens as European Champions it's a massive boost as they have come from a winning mentality which is contagious. The whole spine of the England team from Jamie George, the Vunipola brothers, to Maro Itoje and Farrell will come from Saracens. So this is an important match for England, and for rugby. MY PREDICTION: Saracens by 15 points.<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>(CNN) Saracens scored 20 unanswered points to defeat Leinster 20-10 in the Champions Cup final in Newcastle on Saturday, winning a third title which makes the north London side the most decorated English rugby team in European competitions. It was a victory that denied Leinster a record of its own. A fifth European crown would have seen the Irish side surpass Toulouse and lay claim to being the most successful club side in the northern hemisphere. Tiki tiki Tonga!!! ⚫️🔴 pic.twitter.com/ol3MUJYb7i — Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) May 11, 2019 But a Billy Vunipola try midway through the second half saw Saracens take control of what was a high quality, bruising encounter. Saracens' attention can now turn to the possibility of winning a fourth English Premiership title in five years before the season comes to a close. "Leinster are an amazing team and they are so good when they get on the front foot so we had to try and steal their momentum and we did that with line speed and physicality," said hooker Jamie George. Read More<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.