Mako the man as Saracens march on
Both brothers impressed as Saracens beat English Premiership rivals Wasps 24-17 in Saturday's semifinal but loosehead prop Vunipola was particularly outstanding, putting in 19 tackles, driving hard in open play and playing a key role in a rock-solid scrum.
Now Saracens will be crowned champions of Europe for the first time in the London club's history if they beat the winners of Sunday's match between English giants Leicester and Paris Paris-based Racing 92 in a May 14 final in Lyon.
That would go some way to easing their European heartache, with a defeat by Toulon in the 2014 final one of several near misses in the knockout stages of the continent's leading club rugby union tournament.
"It has been tough for us. We've had some tough times in the last couple of years but I think every team, if you look back, goes through that to hopefully achieve their main goal and we are no different.
"That experience will hopefully put us in good stead," Vunipola said.
Whereas Billy has made the England No.8 shirt his own, Mako has been vying for the Test loosehead prop jersey with Joe Marler.
Premiership leaders Saracens are now eyeing a domestic and European double.
Their form has been especially impressive given that the Vunipolas, fullback Alex Goode, flyhalf Owen Farrell and locks George Kruis and Maro Itoje were all involved in England's Six Nations triumph on top of their already extensive club commitments.
"We love playing for this club and fighting for each other. Luckily I got a few more ball carries [against Wasps]," Vunipola added.
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall, who said he wouldn't swap Vunipola for any other prop in the country, said the biggest change in the Wellington-born player's play had been in the set-piece.
"His scrummaging has gone to a different level. Everybody knows how good a rugby player he is, there's not too many who can do what he does with the ball and how many tackles he makes. He's a phenomenal player and it was one of his best performances," McCall said.
Saracens found themselves behind after just 73 seconds when Wasps scrumhalf Dan Robson finished off a scintillating move for a try. But they worked their way back into the match, with flank Michael Rhodes' charge-down try helping them into an 8-7 lead at half-time.
With Farrell finding some kicking form after a couple of early misses in a 14-point haul, Saracens pulled clear and sealed victory seven minutes from time with a penalty try awarded after Wasps collapsed a powerful driving maul that started outside the 22.
"The pleasing thing with this team is the resilience. We know that every team is going to have their 'golden moment' in a game and it's about staying focused for your next task. That's what we did, we applied the pressure," Saracens captain Brad Barritt said.
Agence France-Presse
