Billy Vunipola steers the champions home as Saracens survive a storm | Robert Kitson

Saracens triumph after a torrid first half as their England No8 has the final word against Leinster in Newcastle

Just occasionally two teams can be so evenly matched it is almost impossible to separate them. Initially this was one of those contests, so tight it practically required a chisel to prise the prize-fighters apart. Until, that is, someone stood up and decided to take matters into their own, huge hands. Billy Vunipola is not everyone’s favourite athlete right now but no one can deny his relish for the big occasion.

If the boos that greeted him at various points on a cool north-east afternoon were intended to throw the England No 8 off his game they did not succeed. The saga of his social media intervention into the religious hornet’s nest stirred up by Israel Folau would have unnerved most human beings but, perversely, it works differently with Billy. Just as in the semi-final he stepped up when Saracens needed him most, stretching over for the decisive try of a game that will define the north Londoners as perhaps the toughest European Cup hombres of all time. The only lingering question-mark surrounded Vunipola’s left shoulder which forced him off late in the game; even rugby’s supermen have their breaking point.

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from The Guardian http://bit.ly/2LCEx1g