Sarries must be humble and earn victory – Billy Vunipola

This season Saracens start the defence of their title as champions of Europe, and, as the first holders to win every game, it begins at a ground where the opposition has never lost a European Cup match. Which means that by the end of Saturday’s Pool 3 set-to against treble champions Toulon at their Stade Mayol stronghold, something is going to have to give – and Billy Vunipola, right, will do his damnedest to make sure it’s not Saracens making the donation.
The England and Sarries No.8 recognises the size of Toulon’s physical challenge, especially that of a juggernaut pack crammed with world-class international forwards who limbered up impressively last week by crunching Top 14 rivals Montpellier 28-6. He knows also that those same Toulon heavyweights will soon be hurtling in his direction with the sole objective of smashing him to smithereens.
Vunipola, who these days is a much more chiselled version of his 2015 World Cup self, says the only way to finish on top against the French giants is to sidestep them by using brain over brawn. He offers last season’s 21-9 victory over Racing 92 in the final in Lyon as a template.
“Playing against the French you have to play a bit smarter because they are bigger, and combined with the physical power they have players who can hurt you from anywhere. Against Racing we tried to play them in their half, and we strangled them rather than meeting them head-on. We didn’t carry that much, and we didn’t want to make it a battle where it was just me against (Racing No.8 Chris) Masoe.”
He believes that a Toulon pack featuring Duane Vermeulen (South Africa), Juan Fernandez-Lobbe (Argentina), Liam Gill (Australia), Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia), Samu Manoa (Samoa) and Guilhem Guirado (France) is likely to adopt a similar approach to Racing.
“The whole French game is geared towards set piece and dominating physically. There’s no shame for them in winning 6-3. We want the game to be quicker, and, no disrespect, to try to move them around. We want it to be about our game-plan and tactics rather than just an arm-wrestle.”
The key, according to Vunipola, is not to let Toulon pin you down, because a lethal penalty bombardment by their Wales and Lions marksman Leigh Halfpenny will follow.
“We have to focus on playing in the right areas. Leigh Halfpenny is in a similar mould to Jonny Wilkinson as a goal-kicker. Toulon want to squeeze teams, and he is a big protagonist for them as another great, accurate kicker. So, we’ve got to find a way to play smart, because I don’t want to take on Gorgodze, then Manoa, and then Vermeulen, with Gill coming in over the ball!”
Ask Vunipola how Saracens can emulate last season’s success and he says it is all about not getting above themselves, and adopting the outlook that they are starting from scratch.
“We are just another contender now. You have to bring it down again – to be humble – and to recognise we have no entitlement (to win) when we go to any other club. What made us great last year was that when we went to Ulster, or to Lyon for the final, we worked our socks off. If that’s not good enough, fair enough, but you cannot go anywhere expecting to win, because that way you deserve to lose.”
He added that defeat by Harlequins a fortnight ago had been timely: “We all hold to the idea that you’ve got to earn it, and we learned a great lesson against Quins. There was a lot of negative talk, including too much talking back to the referee, and questioning him rather than focusing on us. We were stealing our own energy by focusing on things that didn’t really matter.”
Playing Toulon on their own patch is a first for Vunipola, and although it holds no fears for him he acknowledges the inspirational qualities of French crowds – and the fickle way they can turn on their own.
“French teams are always different – at home it’s like they grow another leg. You can’t underestimate how much the crowd gives them energy. But, like Wasps did last year, you can take it away if you put them on the back foot. Then the crowd can be a hindrance, and they start panicking and doing things that they plan not to. Then you pounce…and that’s probably your only chance.”
Vunipola was also delighted that at the end of this week his Sarries and England team-mate Owen Farrell had completed an intense 45 minute training session as part of his rehab from back/hip trouble. This included an outline of why, notwithstanding the rapid strides taken by his understudy, Alex Lozowski, the England fly-half is so important to this European campaign.
“It’s not just the goal-kicking with Faz. It’s all the other stuff he adds, like the leadership role with England, and bringing that back the club. Remember, he won a Premiership title at the age of 18/19, and kicked all those goals. He’s got that experience behind him, all the highs and lows, and knows when to squeeze the opposition and when to go for them.”
However, he also paid tribute to Lozowski. “Alex has done a great job for us, and worked really hard, and I think ‘Loz’ will be awesome.”
Another new team-mate who has grabbed the No.8’s attention is his backrow partner Schalk Burger, below. He says the veteran Springbok is an inspirational character whom he loves playing alongside, and whose outlook on pro rugby since almost losing his life after contracting bacterial meningitis three years ago is a breath of fresh air.
“I like seeing the way he not just plays his rugby, but the way he lives his life. Over that year and a half he was so ill he didn’t know if he would come out the other side. He has a different perspective on life, and I love the way he lives it. Rugby is his job, and he enjoys being around the boys, but after that it’s not a stress in his life.”
Vunipola continues: “He’s not losing sleep around running the wrong lines, or dropping the ball. Once it’s done, it’s done. I’ve taken that off him, and it’s great to have someone of his calibre here. I also like to listen to his stories – and he’s seen a lot, so he’s got a few of them.”
Burger’s comeback after being at death’s door, culminating in him forcing his way back into the South African side in 2014 and playing in the 2015 World Cup, is remarkable. The same is true of his enthusiasm, in the Indian Summer of his career, to play in the European Cup for the first time.
He says he’s looking forward to catching up with old Springbok mates like Bryan Habana and Juan Smith, and newer ones like Vermeulen, who are all on Toulon’s books. He says, “These are guys I have played plenty of rugby with…obviously next week is a different story – we are playing against each other, so I’m sure they will be a good challenge.”
The flanker, 33, adds that he likes the format and cannot wait to get started: “I quite like the fact that it is in stages and blocks where it is a couple of weeks and it is high intensity, and everyone is targeting to play well.  For me it is something new, and something I have always looked forward to.”
However, Burger is experienced enough to know that every successful team is only a step away from falling prey to second season syndrome, and that Saracens do not have immunity.
He observes: “Stepping in here there are very high standards and massive expectation. We mustn’t get ahead of ourselves. No game or season is perfect. Every week we try and take a step forwards. Sometimes through mistakes or lack of energy you take a step backwards, or you don’t play too well – for example us against Quins – but you get back on the bike and just try and improve.
“For me it will be the first time going to Europe and playing a Champions Cup game, and this weekend we play Wasps in our stadium. They are playing some great attacking rugby, and in great style. It will be an interesting contrast of styles how we play, how they play.”
Burger adds: “I joined this team on the back of a very successful season, and the big challenge for us is going to be energy. It is how you manage the energy, how do we get ourselves ready to play on the weekend with the same sort of energy there was last year?”
The likelihood is that Burger will provide the answer through leading by example, and he will find a willing back row accomplice at his shoulder in the formidable shape of Billy Vunipola.