English rugby, it hardly needs stating, has a lot of problems just now but the quality of the product on the field is not one of them. Life will forever be plagued by the sort of people who complain all the time but let us celebrate, too, whenever we see superb rugby. We will never be rid of bad matches in this or any other sport, any more than we will be of moaners. But, if anyone is after exhilarating rugby, it is everywhere in the Premiership and has been for years.
Here Saracens reminded us that, when it comes to superb rugby, they remain in a class of their own at their best. Mere runners-up they may have been last season but they fairly dismantled the champions in north London, clearing the half-century, their highest tally against Leicester. Seven tries tell their own story but every single one was a gem. There could have been more. “Saracens are the standard-bearers,” said Steve Borthwick, Leicester’s coach, once of this parish, “and they have been for quite some time. They’re a team packed with power and pace.”
