‘Nobody wants us to win and we don’t care’: Jackson Wray describes joy after Saracens challenged haters to win their first Premiership title in four years… as retired striker hails team-mates for having stuck together after relegation fo
- Saracens won their first Premiership title in four years by beating Sale 35-25
- They banished the pain of last year’s defeat in the final with a thrilling win
- Retired striker Jackson Wray hailed his teammates after their stunning triumph
After protesters tried to paint them orange at Twickenham, the Premiership final teams left yesterday to paint two towns red.
The trophy spent Saturday night in bed with English prostitute Jamie George, and was destined to be transported to the capital by the title winners on their fancy dress party – while Sale drowned their sorrows in Marbella.
It was a thunderous decision, but Saracens emerged deservedly victorious from a turbulent campaign, which saw them finish top of the declining league by five points.
Once two pitch invaders were drawn in, under a torrent of beer and abuse, it was a competitive contest and Sale pushed the favorites all the way. Second-half tries from Tom Roebuck and Bevan Rodd propelled Alex Sanderson’s side into the lead, which they held onto until 13 minutes from time, before Saracens struck twice to avoid a repeat of the horrific death of last year.
The champions have been pressured to make amends for their dramatic loss to Leicester 12 months ago – and also to top off the revival project, after they were relegated at the end of the 2019-20 season for salary cap breaches revealed by Mail Sport. With a winner’s medal to show for his last appearance before retirement, striker Jackson Wray recalled a vow made in the darkest days, saying: “I remember, we sat down and said, ‘We let’s go back to the top. We don’t know when, but we will get there.”
Saracens clinched their first Premiership title in four years with a thrilling 35-25 win over Sale
Retired striker Jackson Wray praised his teammates for their stunning triumph
“It hit me as soon as the whistle went off today. I thought about what a journey it’s been to get here. What a journey.
“I think people don’t talk about it enough. It was the biggest fine in the history of the sport (£5.36m in 2019 for breaching the salary cap) – in a game where you lose money. money every year. The owners said, ‘We made a mistake and we’re going to stay and fix it.’ Together, we did it.
“We did our part as players – we stayed, we fought and we went against everyone. Even today. Everyone was with Sale. All the clubs in the country were with Sale.
‘You know what? That’s how we like it. Nobody wants us to win and we don’t care. We want to do well for each other and for the club, because this club has given us everything.
Man of the Match Owen Farrell was huge. “He’s an incredible player and leader,” Wray said. “He understands the game better than any of us. There’s a reason he was one of the best players in the world for a very long time. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s the English number 10.
“He yells at you to get off the line, so you get off the line. He’s yelling at you to get off the ground, so you get off the ground. He is a conductor of everything.
Elliot Daly came off the bench to score the crucial penultimate try to restore Sarries’ lead. After his team held on for glory, he was asked if this could be the start of another dynasty. “Well, we hope so,” he said.
He insisted that Saracens are motivated by being a team hated by their opponents
Wray also hailed Owen Farrell, saying he showed why he is one of the best players in the world.
