Was this the best Guinness Premiership final ever? The Tigers are the champions after a 33-27 victory over Saracens.
The game was truly marvellous as a spectacle, with both sides playing with width and looking for space, despite the damp conditions. Every time it looked as though Leicester were about to pull away, Sarries clawed their way back into it.
And then they took the lead with a penalty with three minutes remaining, and it looked as though they had the game won – but then Dan Hipkiss killed the dream within a minute by scoring the final try that won it for the Tigers.
There were notable performances from Ben Youngs and Toby Flood, who could be England’s first choice half-back pairing this summer, whilst Ernst Joubert and Alex Goode stood out for Saracens.
Credit is due to both sides for putting on such a wonderful display, but the same can’t be said for the crowd that booed Toby Flood as he lined up a kick – the Sarries fans clearly thought that the penalty was unjust. It was the loudest booing I’ve heard at Twickers – louder even than when Andy Robinson graced the big screen for the last time – and there really is no place for it in the game.
That was the only negative element to a tremendous occasion, although Saracens will be devastated this evening. Congratulations to Leicester, who make worthy champions as always, but it was very nearly so different.
Photo: Tryimages.com
Great game but ruined for us by the moroic behaviour of Saracens ‘fans’ behind us. SEt off supporting Saracens but changed to Leicester.
Agreed, that episode was very disappointing. I think those that were booing were themselves being booed by everyone else, which obviously only made matters worse.
Still, cracking game of rugby, and let’s hope it bodes well for England this summer.
In the opinion those not earning from the game is Rugby Union in a better place now than it was 15 yrs ago? Please discuss (if you are young enough to remember or old enough to have been involved 15yrs ago!)
I have to agree that the fun was taken out of the day by some Saracens fans behaviour. I was with my 10 year old son and for the first time at a rugby match he had to listen to some disgusting language. Bottles were being thrown onto the pitch when refereeing decisions went against them and there was constant booing and jeering! Very poor and totally against the way proper Rugby fans conduct themselves.
Please let’s not let the football mentality come into the game of rugby.
I’d agree with you RosieBoy. There did seem to be a larger-than-usual number of idiots there…
There was a row of them in front of me, and every time one of them got up to leave his seat, the others would grab him and not let him go. In the inevitable struggle, a small child in the row in front was kicked in the head…not really what you want from your first visit to Twickenham!
I sound like a bit of an old man, but you don’t often see this sort of behaviour at Twickers!