Monday 26 May 2014 14:44, UK
Saracens trio Kelly Brown, Billy Vunipola and Schalk Brits have stressed the importance of recovering quickly from their Heineken Cup heartbreak in time for the Aviva Premiership final with Northampton.
The London-based club were crushed 23-6 by Toulon in Cardiff on Saturday but must regroup to face Saints at Twickenham next weekend.
Brown, Vunipola and Brits admit Northampton, who finished second in the table and clinched a superb 21-20 victory over Leicester in the semi-finals, are a strong side who could capitalise on Saracens' missed chance at an historic double.
"We are clearly disappointed but it's in the past now and there is nothing we can do – we can't change it,” said Scotland captain Brown.
We need to move on and doing so is something we've done successfully in the past. When we’ve had a setback we've moved on pretty quickly and it's a huge challenge next weekend.
“We need to move on and doing so is something we've done successfully in the past. When we’ve had a setback we've moved on pretty quickly and it's a huge challenge next weekend.
"If you look at Northampton’s pack it's really strong. They imposed themselves on Bath in the Amlin Challenge Cup final so, as an eight, we forwards are aware that we really need to front up. It's going to be a big test for us.
“Northampton are always tough and physical. We’ve had a great season but we’re aware that we’ve won nothing yet.”
Vunipola, the England No.8. said: “A loss in a final is always going to be a setback but we always seem to get a positive reaction and I hope we can do that this week.
"Maybe we lacked a bit of detail against Toulon and maybe I tried to take it on myself too much and went away from the team patterns. It's one area we need to work on – staying within the team framework rather than trying to be Superman.
"We can't take Northampton lightly and we can't just play on emotion.. We've got to go out with a great plan and carry that out. They will be at the top of their game.”
And South African hooker Brits added: “It is going to be very tough. The boys are sore and It's going to be hard. We will learn from it and we will get stronger through games like this one. You learn a lot more from losing than winning.”
