As disappointing as Sunday’s LV= Cup loss at the hands of Sale Sharks might be, it could be a blessing in disguise for Saracens.
Winning the treble was always going to be a very tall order; not mission impossible, but not a walk in the park either.
This loss does not mean the end of the world for Sarries though, if anything it is just the start of what promises to be a very exciting business end to the season.
Mark McCall’s men should use this week-long break to their advantage, to recharge the batteries ready for the long run in.
Some teams understandably want to keep momentum going, but history proves a break away from the game only seems to make the wolfpack all the more hungry to succeed.
First, there was Brighton. On the back of five premiership losses in six games, the squad swopped St. Albans for the seaside.
This was followed up by a 25-15 blitzing of Newcastle Falcons, a run of form that took the North London club all the way to their first ever Premiership final.
The same period in 2011, saw the infamous Miami trip, and I think we can all remember exactly how that season finished.
With only six scheduled games left for Saracens, ten if everything goes to plan, the end is in sight.
Sarries welcome Harlequins, Worcester and Bath to Allianz Park as well as making trips to Adams Park and Kingsholm to take on London Wasps and Gloucester Rugby respectively.
These important clashes paired with the Heineken Cup quarter-final showdown against Ulster ensure that every game is as tough a challenge as the previous one for the North London club.
Of course, there is no doubt that everybody involved with Saracens would have loved to add the LV= Cup trophy to the cabinet. It is silverware after all.
But if one loss means that Sarries can go marching on to a successful, and hopefully title winning campaign, it is a sacrifice that will be worthwhile in the end.
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