THERE was almost too much to absorb in one gulp at Twickenham on Sunday but ultimately it was about Freddie Burns and a tale of two celebrations. One premature and one non-existent!
Four years ago, he famously blew a Bath win over Toulouse in Europe with a premature celebration in goal that saw him fail to touch down. It was a crushing, tearful, remorseful moment for one of the most likeable and whole hearted players on the circuit and it affected him badly, his career stalled for a good while before he eventually got it back on track.
Fast forward to the 80th minute yesterday with 30 seconds to go with both sides in pieces mentally and physically. Burns was only on because George Ford was injured, but it was clearly he who needed to step up to attempt the dropped kick the situation required. He had the skillset and experience but was he thinking clearly?
He was. He chipped the kick over nicely enough, it wasn't a towering thing of beauty but it did the job. But not a flicker of joy or celebration from Burns. He, more than any rugby player on the planet almost, knew the job wasn't done. Instantly, he was shouting at colleagues and urging them to sprint back into position for the restart.
He set the tone by sprinting full bore back to his defensive position in front of Tigers' posts – full-back Freddie Steward moves around as he is Leicester's main receiver – and then there he was shouting again jabbing his index fingers into his skull almost manically. Think! Think! Think!
Use your brain, don't lose it mentally like I did back at The Rec on that cursed afternoon. The entire Twickenham crowd and those watching from afar on TV knew exactly what he was saying and thinking and who in sport could begrudge him his moment of redemption.
Hopefully Burns has a few decent years left – Richard Wigglesworth is seven years his senior for heaven's sake – but with an England recall not really on the cards you sense this might be his career defining moment.
If so, what a memory to savour.
Tigers' victory might have been dramatic, but it was thoroughly deserved, indeed they should probably have won more easily. They did a defensive number on Saracens, rarely looked like conceding a try and, although their kicking game will have frustrated those used to the basketball type games that have littered the Premiership this season, their tactics were clever and execution sound. Cup finals are for winning.
“Instantly, Burns was urging players to get in position for the restart”
All sorts of Leicester warriors put their hands up. There was the brave leaping Steward who looked nervous early doors but soon found his best form; the tireless Ellis Genge who made more than one vital tackle, turnover kings Julian Montoya and Tommy Reffell and the bruising South African units Jasper Wiese and Hanro Liebenberg.
At the heart though was a trio of ex-Sarries who knew exactly how their opponents yesterday operate, and it's possibly worth mentioning that all three are also proud rugby products of Lancashire, so a nod to the red rose as well. I am, of course, talking about Steve Borthwick, below, Richard Wigglesworth and Chris Ashton.
Their imput in training this week will have been immense. How to beat Saracens in a final? Well there can be no guarantees but you match them up front for 80 minutes – not 75 minutes – and you keep them pegged back with a relentless kicking game, backed up with a strong kick chase and ruthless tackling.
Yes, you absolutely must match them physically but that doesn't mean always opting for the physical confrontation.
Keep their big units moving around the park – or in the case of kick tennis stranded in midfield – and have the nous to slow the game and play on your terms when in possession. Oh and take every point scoring opportunity you can and if at all possible, keep 15 on the park. Or at least don't have more cards than them.
Borthwick, who enjoyed probably his best playing years at the end with Saracens, served under Brendan Venter, Eddie Jones and Mark McCall and was always going to be an exceptional modern day coach. He also has that grassroots feel for the game garnered at Hutton GS and Preston Grasshoppers which was his launching pad for greater things.
After spells with Japan and England it was not a surprise that Tigers turned to him. What is surprising is that the former England lock has turned things around so quickly at Welford Road.
“At the heart was a trio of ex-Sarries who knew how their opponents operate”
Part of that process was signing up Wigglesworth – one of Kirkham Grammar School's finest – to lend his vast experience both on the training field and when required on the pitch. Wigglesworth, right, is an unheralded English gem, now the winner of Premiership titles with three separate clubs during his 20 year professional game. Unflappable, he plays at his pace and this was a game that required such a cool presence. Borthwick's coach on the pitch.
There was one moment which summed it up when Tigers had been pressing hard through Steward and Ashton and were awarded a penalty five metres out. Firstly, whether to kick, scrum or tap and go? Wigglesworth wanted the tapped penalty but then took time to organise what was clearly a rehearsed move.
He also wanted the tap as far infield as Wayne Barnes would allow and then motioned a small pod spearheaded by Wiese to hang back on his right. Genge took the penalty and thundered into contact as expected but Wigglesworth recycled at pace and immediately located the powerful Wiese cutting an unstoppable angle running down the blindside. Try time.
And Ashton, the eccentric but wonderful scorer of tries? Again he knows Saracens background, he is not frightened of them. The on field confidence that duo exuded would have been considerable and, although you can't measure these things, I fancy it would have been vaguely unsettling for Saracens to look across and see the two Peter Pans of English rugby.
