Rugby Union: Saracens prop Mako Vunipola expects tough test at home to Bath in Aviva Premiership
Mako Vunipola (left) and Jackson Wray both scores tries for Saracens at Northampton Saints last weekend (pic: Paul Harding/PA) - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Sarries enjoyed emphatic 63-13 success at Northampton Saints last time out
Ben Spencer scores a try for Saracens against Bath earlier in the season (pic: David Davies/PA) - Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
Saracens continue their quest for home advantage in the Aviva Premiership semi-finals when they host Bath on Sunday.
The Allianz Park outfit head into the weekend’s round of matches second in the table, six points clear of Leicester Tigers in third, but eight behind leaders Exeter Chiefs.
With only three matches remaining before the end of the regular season, time is running out for Sarries’ rivals to overhaul them in the battle to finish in the top two.
Bath, meanwhile, look to have little to play for, with the West Country team 10 points off the play-offs and seven adrift of European Champions Cup qualification.
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But regardless of Bath’s position in the table, Saracens prop Mako Vunipola knows the north Londoners still face a difficult task this weekend.
“We know there’s a lot more to work on and we know it’s a tough test coming up,” the two-time British & Irish Lions tourist told the club website.
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“We’re a confident side and that comes from the belief we have in each other in this squad.
“We did a good job (at Northampton Saints last weekend) and we’ll look on what we can do to improve and put a good performance in against Bath.”
Saracens head into the game off the back of an impressive nine-try 63-13 demolition of Northampton last weekend, in which nine different scorers touched down for the visitors.
Alex Lozowski, Schalk Brits, Ben Spencer, Vunipola, Liam Williams, Chris Wyles, Sean Maitland, Jackson Wray and Nathan Earle all scored tries in the triumph.
It was a brillaint return to form for Sarries, who went of the European Champions Cup after a quarter-final defeat to Leinster the week before.
And Vunipola was delighted with the emphatic response Mark McCall’s men mustered to thrash Saints.
“We had to bounce back and have a response and the boys put in a hard shift,” he added.
“It wasn’t the best first half but we knew Northampton were going to come out of the blocks.
“We knew this was going to be the hardest game we played against them this year so I’m very pleased with the result and happy to get full points.”
With the battle still well and truly on for Saracens to secure a top-two finish, and with it home advantage in the semi-finals, the north Londoners know they need another victory over Bath on Sunday.
