Alex Lewington interview: Saracens are made for the big occasions… we’re all ready

EXCLUSIVE
Sarries winger Alex Lewington
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Will Macpherson25 September 2020

In the wake of that hugely popular Netflix documentary, the narrative around Saracens’ Heineken Champions Cup defence, their tilt at a fourth European title in five years, is that it is the Last Dance. That when it ends, whatever the outcome, so does an era.

As they prepare to take on Racing 92 in Paris tomorrow, this is a theory Saracens reject. Yes, they have lost players already (many only on loan, though) and are desperate to send Brad Barritt and Richard Wigglesworth out on a high — but the motivation is not that it is the end of anything.

“I wouldn’t say it’s the last dance,” says wing Alex Lewington, one of those staying. “The vast majority of the squad that is here now is the squad for next season. We have a couple of key characters leaving, but [with] the amount of talent coming through at Saracens it’s always an evolving team.

“Brad or Wiggs will leave a big hole but they know more than anyone that any player is replaceable and the club will move on. We are going to the Championship for what we hope is one year, but once we are back up I believe we will be challenging for trophies.”

Saracens team

Saracens: Daly; Lewington, Taylor, Barritt, Maitland; Goode, Wigglesworth; M Vunipola, George, Koch; Itoje, Swinson, Rhodes, Wray; B Vunipola.

Replacements: Woolstencroft, Barrington, Clarey, Hunter-Hill, Clark, Davies, M Vunipola, Morris.

Lewington says Saracens take greater motivation from the fear of not knowing where their next meaningful game is coming from.

From their relegation earlier this year, they always had Leinster to concentrate on, and they ended up putting in one of the great European performances. Now they have Racing. Lose, and it is a couple of meaningless Premiership matches, then a Championship campaign with an unknown start date. Win, and a final against Exeter or Toulouse awaits next month.

“That’s where a lot of motivation comes from,” says Lewington. “At the moment we are operating week to week on really important games, and the only things that dictates if there will be another is our performance.”

Photo: Getty Images
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Saracens have had to reset this week after pulling off a performance that few outside the camp thought them capable of. It was a performance so epic that it provided evidence that their special decade was down to more than just money. Now, the challenge is to prove that Leinster was not their final.

Key battles

Simon Zebo vs Elliot Dal
Two quality, versatile international backs. Both teams will be acutely aware that loose kicking opens up a threat from the backfield. Saracens were brilliant in the air against Leinster last week, while Daly’s boot is always dangerous.

Finn Russell vs Alex Good
Goode got the better of Johnny Sexton in Dublin, but Russell poses a completely different challenge. With the Scot about, there is always an element of chaos — and Racing thrive on that.

Camille Chat vs Jamie Georg
George was the picture of passion in his superb 80-minute shift last week. Chat, an extraordinarily-shaped Frenchman, also had an outstanding game as Racing beat Clermont. This promises to be a tone-setting battle.

They have had the luxury of naming an unchanged 23 and we can expect their big names to have to play close to 80 minutes once more.

One advantage for Saracens is that this brilliant Racing side are no mystery to them. To make it this far in the competition, they have already had to beat them. Racing’s Paris La Defense Arena, which Lewington describes as “incredible, like playing a rugby match in the O2 Arena”, is no mystery either. They know that they must hit new heights once more, but Lewington is confident that is possible.

“One hundred per cent we can go up another level,” he said. “We are prepared for occasions like this. We have enough players that have done it enough times that there’s a belief running through the squad.”