Alex Goode insists Saracens will continue to ignore their “boring” tag as they step up their Premiership title defence.
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Wasps director of rugby Dai Young used the word to describe the champions’ style after Sunday’s 26-16 defeat at the Ricoh Arena, declaring: “You have to give them credit, but it’s a boring way to play.”
Saracens are known for their suffocating defence and kick-chase game, yet only Exeter have scored more tries in the Premiership this season and the London side are the form team in Europe.
Resurgent Leicester visit Allianz Park on Saturday in a fascinating clash between title rivals and Mark McCall’s men will persevere with tactics that have enabled them to amass 14 successive victories dating back to last season.
Dai Young to @bbc5live on Saracens gameplan: “It is boring, make no bones about it… but it’s very effective and very difficult to beat.”
— Chris Jones (@chjones9) December 27, 2015
“We have always had an attitude of worrying what’s inside the bubble,” England full-back Goode said. “From all accounts, what’s said about us has gone a full circle, going from being a bit negative to getting behind us and then going back to being negative again.
“It is a bit disappointing when a coach says that but it does not bother us as a group. We are not worried about what people say. We are top of the tryscoring stats, so it makes no difference to us.”
Leicester have won only one of the previous seven meetings between the English heavyweights – a 31-27 triumph in the 2013-14 season – and outside centre Mathew Tait admits a conservative gameplan serves Saracens well.
“Saracens are very good at what they do. It is a huge challenge for us down there but as a group we are excited about taking it on,” Tait said. Bath are hoping to post back-to-back victories for the first time this season when they travel to Newcastle with a win against relegation-threatened Worcester in the bank from last weekend.
“It’s just about making the next step now. We talk about the ‘next play’ a lot, no matter what’s gone before,” said openside Guy Mercer.
In other fixtures, London Irish will be seeking their second victory of the season when they travel to Gloucester while Sale host Wasps.
