sport news Bath 12-15 Saracens: Owen Farrell scores a late penalty to send visitors up to ... trends now
Owen Farrell was described as ‘unreal’ and ‘magnificent’ after he served up a reminder of what Saracens and England will miss next season in front of a watching Steve Borthwick.
This was a crucial victory for the defending Premiership champions, one Farrell said was much more like his team at their best. Farrell’s 78th minute penalty ended Bath’s second-half comeback and pushed his team back above the hosts and into second in what is a thrilling race for the play-offs.
Farrell’s last season before he brings his Saracens and international career to an end by moving to French side Racing 92 could yet end with a second consecutive league title.
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said of Farrell: ‘The way he played and led was unreal and magnificent. He competed for everything throughout the game and that meant his team-mates just followed suit. He has got a magnificent influence over the group when he is in that kind of mood.
‘He loves these sort of games when everything is on the line.’
Owen Farrell was described as ‘unreal’ and ‘magnificent’ after Saracens beat Bath on Friday
His 78th minute penalty ended Bath’s second-half comeback and saw Saracens rise to second
Farrell said: ‘For us to come here and stick in the fight like we did after a couple of tough results we’ve had of late was tremendous. We’ll celebrate that. We’ve gone back to being a little bit more ourselves. We felt more comfortable. By no means was that perfect.
‘There were loads of mistakes but we fought for each other and we enjoyed doing it.’
England head coach Borthwick, who played for both these clubs, was joined by his international assistant Richard Wigglesworth in the stands.
Farrell had an early kick charged down by Charlie Ewels. But he was at the heart of Saracens’ first try.
Tom Parton finished the move as he continued his fine form after scoring the fastest hat-trick in Premiership history against Gloucester last weekend.
Bath boss Johann Van Graan and his opposite number McCall had exchanged in long pre-match pleasantries but it was the former who would have been more frustrated by the first quarter.
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