Will Aviva Premiership and European champions Saracens strike again?
Thursday 1 September 2016 12:36, UK
Ahead of the new season we assess Saracens' strengths and weaknesses as they look to retain their European and Premiership titles.
Drive of heartbreak
For Saracens the double heartbreak of their 2014 Premiership and European defeats was a tough pill to swallow, but it turned out to be the fuel they would need for for success.
A table-topping domestic campaign coupled with a rampant semi-final win in the Heineken Cup against Clermont, had put the North London club in pole-position for a season to remember in 2015.
However, their dream of claiming silverware ended in tears as they suffered two consecutive final defeats to Toulon and Northampton Saints.
"Without really realising it it was the hardest few weeks of my career" said Billy Vunipola. "I didn't really realise how much of an impact it had on me. But looking back it knocked me for six and it was tough to take but I tried to play it off as if it wasn't.
"But I have learnt from it and now that we have lost some more high profile games, such as the 2014 European semi-final against Clermont you just get on with it and realise that you can't put it down to yourself its just the way things go and you will get your chance again."
Mark McCall's side went on to use those demons to their advantage and credited those tough moments with their subsequent glories stating they helped provide the inspiration and experience to sweep all before them as they secured the illusive league and European double just two years later.
But how will Saracens react now that their biggest driving force for success, European glory, has been achieved?
International recognition
Club success has been emulated on the international stage for a number of the Saracens squad, with eight players going on to win a Six Nations Grand Slam and a 3-0 series win in Australia with England.
While the club is vocal in their pride for those involved, their absence during the Six Nations had a notable impact on those who remained at the St Albans base.
Saracens lost just four Premiership games in 20015/16, going unbeaten in Europe. All but their 29-23 defeat away to Harlequins occurred during the international break, including the 23-64 dished out by Wasps at Allianz Park in February, their heaviest home defeat in Premiership history.
Saracens could also face even more difficulties during international periods next campaign thanks to the new eight-year partnership between the RFU and the Aviva Premiership clubs providing Eddie Jones with greater access to players, a later deadline for selection, two additional training camps and more rest periods for his players, denying Mark McCall of his international stars for even larger periods than before.
Notable goodbyes
While the majority of the Saracens squad remain, the end of last season saw them bid farewell to some familiar faces.
Despite swapping one Burger for another with the signing of former IRB World Player of the Year Schalk, Jacques will be sorely missed by a club that modelled themselves on the never-say-die qualities he possessed.
While Schalk Burger is by no means a poor replacement, question marks will remain over just how big the hole left by the man regarded as a club great will be.
Following Burger into retirement was the Premiership's all-time leading points scorer Charlie Hodgson.
The former Sale fly-half provided Saracens with stability in the absence of Owen Farrell and while Hodgson will remain at the club in a scouting capacity, on the field that role will now fall to former Wasps fly-half 23-year-old Alex Lozowski, a man in the formative years of his rugby career.
While he is undoubtedly a prospect for the future, Lozowski will now face the task of running the show and steering the reigning Premiership and European champions in the absence of the now injured Owen Farrell.
It is not just on the field where Saracens have felt the price of their success. As Brad Barritt lifted the Champions Cup trophy aloft in Lyon, one man crucial to their success could only watch on from the sidelines.
Saracens, famed for their rock-solid defence, bid farewell to their defensive guru Paul Gustard at the half-way point of last campaign, their 'wolfpack' creator poached to take his place in Eddie Jones' England ranks.
Gustard left the club in the capable hands of his good friend and colleague Alex Sanderson, an abrasive and committed player himself before injury cut his career short, but will this loss be felt as the new chapter begins?
Just the start
For Jackson Wray, last season was just the beginning of the journey and the flanker insists his side's success will not dampen their hunger to add further honours.
"Obviously last year was a pretty special one for myself and the squad and sometimes you can almost think that you look back at the double and ask 'what next?'," said Wray. "For us it is about repeat success, it is only really the beginning for this group.
"When you look around and see the players that are in the group at the minute, we only really want to go and do that again to be honest and have that feeling of success again and that back-to-back. It has given us the hunger to go on and want to do it again to be honest.
"I think the togetherness and what we showed last year has only really been strengthened by what we did. That's how we are looking at it, we want to do it again, back-to-back, and look to better it if we can."
His thoughts were echoed by Neil de Kock: "What is different this year is we are on the back of a double win this time around" said the 37-year-old scrum-half.
"One of our core values at the club is humility and hard work and we realise these things don't just happen and it took the past seven years of hard graft and relentless training to get to where we are and we want to do that again. We have enough hunger in the team."
New faces
Ahead of the new season, Saracens have further strengthened their squad capturing the signatures of South Africa internationals Schalk Burger and Vincent Koch, 2013 British and Irish Lions tourist Sean Maitland, Fiji sevens star and Olympic gold medalist Savenaca Rawaca, Wasps fly-half Lozowski and Bedford lock Mark Flanagan.
Saracens used 41 different players during their double-winning campaign and champion a pre-planned rotation policy as the key to performing at the business end of the season.
With the loss of players on international duty and the desire to retain the three titles they currently hold, every man will play their part in their fight to remain on top.
Champion culture
Saracens pride themselves on the team unity they have created in recent years, providing them the extra-edge needed when times get tough, a fact that has helped them attract some of the biggest names in rugby.
"It is a great club of players who are driven by having success and making memories together," said skipper Brad Barritt.
"I'm so pleased I can do it with a group of guys who I can call my best friends. It makes it pretty special doing it with guys you love and who mean the world to you."
Flanker Will Fraser added: "I don't think people truly appreciate it unless you have been a part of it.
"In this culture, everyone believes and it has got us through some tough times, some tough games and got us to where we are today."
This culture has caught the eye of new signing Burger, who has ruled himself of national team selection to focus on his new side.
"It's a new chapter in my life and I'm looking forward to it" said Burger.
"Saracens have a great family culture and great results, so I'm keen to go over and learn and come back a better person."
