Farrell the 'masterful' steers Saracens into final after Maitland's lucky escape
Owen Farrell was hailed as “masterful” after leading Saracens back to Twickenham for a seventh Premiership final in 10 years.
The England captain turned on the style for watching national boss Steve Borthwick to set up a showpiece clash with either Leicester or Sale in a fortnight.
The Londoners buried the Premiership’s top scoring team beneath a five-try avalanche and Farrell pulled the strings throughout.
“I thought Owen was masterful,” Saracens boss Mark McCall purred. “You saw how he attacked and he defended as well as anyone.
"He is so in control of his game it’s not funny at the moment."
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Saracens rode their luck given Sean Maitland was mighty fortunate to escape a first minute card for clattering George Furbank in the air and leaving him in need of medical attention.
George Furbank requires medical attention after his controversial aerial collision with Sean Maitland (Getty Images)Not only did he stay on the pitch but scored the game’s first two tries against a Saints side playing its first game for three weeks.
Phil Dowson, Northampton’s director of rugby, refused to cry foul - preferring to direct his ire at his team’s defensive fallibility.
“We need to be better at not conceding tries,” he said. “That’s been an issue all season.”
England team mates Jamie George and Lewis Ludlam clash during yesterday's clash (Getty Images)He had a right to feel hard done by the Maitland call, but also to feel let down by the failure of George Furbank and Alex Mitchell to deny Maitland his first.
It got better for the Scotland wing soon after when Courtney Lawes was pinged despite Farrell looking the more obvious offender at that particular breakdown.
Saracens scrum-half Ivan Van Zyl celebrates his try (Getty Images)The fly-half kicked to the corner and, after Sarries’ maul fractured, switched play to the short side, threading through a grubber for Maitland to bag his second.
Saints had not reached a Premiership final since beating Saracens in 2014 and long before half time it was clear another opportunity would pass them by.
Dowson’s men might have scored a league-high 84 tries but there is a reason Sarries came in unbeaten in their last 15 games in the competition. They are ruthless.
Maitland scores the first of his two tries (above) and (below) is congratulated by team mates Maro Itoje and Marco Riccioni (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)On home turf they delivered a masterclass with nine first half turnovers, prompting McCall to declare: "I thought it was our strongest defensive performance for years." In marked contrast, Saints coughed up a try so soft it will give Alex Waller sleepless nights.
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The prop stepped offside but rather than protect the ball until the defence set he gave it to Ivan van Zyl and turned his back as the scrum-half tapped and burst through the unguarded hole to score.
Saints were so frustrated with themselves and vented it when Farrell was timed out kicking a penalty yet it was allowed to stand.
Northampton's Juarno Augustus is tackled by Hugh Tizard (Getty Images)The did bounce back with tries by Mitchell and James Ramm. But Sarries simply stepped up a gear and two late scores easily snuffed out the resistance.
SARACENS - Tries: Maitland 2, van Zyl, penalty, Malins. Cons: Farrell 4. Pen: Farrell.
NORTHAMPTON - Tries: Mitchell, Ramm. Con: Smith. Pen: Smith.
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