Match Review: Aviva Premiership Final

The finale of the Premiership season is over and Saracens have been crowned as the champions of England for 2015. And what a finale it was, with the final score 28-16.

The leagues best attacking team against the teams best defensive team, with the potential for the game to be nullified and kicks going backwards and forwards. As it was, it was quite the opposite, with plenty of tries to appreciate.

The game we expected to see came in the second 40 minutes, with the tired Saracens legs opening the game enough to allow Bath to showcase their attacking class, but by this stage, it wasn’t enough. With Saracens going in 25 points to 3 up at half time, Bath had a mountain to climb in order to get back into the game, and ultimately were unable to.

In the first half, Bath were off the game, without ideas and kept getting the basics wrong. Missing touch with kicks and miscommunication in the line out is the difference between winning and losing these games, and indeed their were two key passes that didn't stick that gifted 14 points to Saracens, which is what saw them over the finish line. Saracens blitz in the first half seemed to give the Bath team blinkers, and their attacking talents were given no room to shine. Sarries ultimately played some great test match rugby though, squeezing the game with their extraordinary defensive organisation in the first half, which helped see them over the finish line. The pressure they exerted allowed them to capitalise on the inevitable Bath errors and keep the points ticking over, while limiting Baths expansive play which might otherwise have overrun them.

Bath will leave Twickenham licking their wounds and wondering about what could have been, but there is so much youth and class in this side that you would be silly to bet against them making it this stage next year in their 150th year.

As ever though, the final has been a fantastic showcase of the great rugby we have had in the Premiership this season, and an exciting finale to a season that allows us to look forward to the Rugby World Cup.

Filed under: Gallagher Premiership, Match Analysis, Bath Rugby, Saracens
Written by: Edward Kerr
Follow: @edwardrkerr · @therugbymag