Saracens claim victory over Munster is turning point in their season

Luck may have nothing to do with it but Munster might be asking themselves “why us” after running into a Saracens side which produced its finest performance of the season.

The English Premiership giants and last season’s Heineken Cup final runners-up have had, in the words of director of rugby Mark McCall, a stuttering season to date but they believe they have put that behind them following a comprehensive 33-10 Champions Cup pool victory over the Irish side at Allianz Park on Saturday.

“After about half an hour we were walking back as Owen (Farrell) was kicking and Chris (Ashton) said ‘it’s a great feeling again isn’t it, it’s great for us to be back’,” scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth said, recalling a mid-match conversation.

“That was us out there. That was the feeling we had and I think we sensed it in the week. Everyone was excited to get out there. We know about this Munster team expecting to turn up and bring it. They’re a massive momentum team and if we gave them any momentum, like we did for five minutes, there it was like ‘ooh, this is them’ but we controlled everything brilliantly. One to 15 and the boys who came on, they were immense and it was a great feeling out there.”

Ashton, who did his hopes of an England recall this week for the Six Nations no harm with a two-try performance described by McCall as “outstanding”, agreed with his team-mate that a corner had been turned with their performance against Munster.

“I think we’re a team that prides ourselves on turning up every week. Last week (losing at Gloucester in the league) was disappointing for us and I think the week before as well, we haven’t been at the level that we’re normally at,” the winger said. “Today, the occasion that it is, it’s not a mental thought, I think we just turned up today and that was the Saracens we want to be every week. Hopefully that will be a turning point in our season.”

Ashton did more than just score tries, his kicking and chasing helping to keep Munster on the back foot and pinned in their own 22, particularly in a dominant first-half.

“I just think the first 20, 30 minutes they couldn’t get out of their half and we kept putting them back in that corner and it was very difficult with the wind and the sun in their eyes to get out. We just capitalised on that. Our forwards got on the front foot and we scored a quick try in the corner and got a try from a penalty tap and from there took the game away from them.”

Now Saracens travel to Clermont for the final pool game looking for a win to overtake the French side and claim a home quarter-final berth with Ashton relishing his first game at Stade Marcel-Michelin. “It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go and play so I’m looking forward to it. This competition gives you this opportunity to go to a place like Clermont and I’m very much looking forward to it.

“They’ve a great record there which they’ve had for many years, and the players they’ve got and the way they play, they want to entertain and their fans expect nothing less. We’re up for the challenge.”