What next for Premiership champions Saracens after their domestic and European double? All eyes on another double according to veteran scrum-half Neil de Kock
There will no be relaxation in all-conquering Saracens’ quest for a vice-like grip on a golden era of success, according to the north London club’s veteran scrum-half Neil de Kock.
Former South Africa international De Kock played the final 11 minutes as Sarries dispatched Exeter Chiefs 28-20 at Twickenham on Saturday to retain their Premiership crown – a feat last achieved by Leicester Tigers in 2010.
Coupled with their maiden European Champions Cup success earlier this month, Saracens also became the first English side to complete a domestic and European double for 12 years, since Wasps in 2004.
Leicester secured such a double for a second successive year in 2002 and De Kock insists Saracens, who have featured in five of the last six major English and continental finals, will not cease in their relentless pursuit of silverware.
“In terms of a dominating for an era, it’s incredibly difficult with the level of competition, but there is no doubt we will try to go from strength to strength. It’s something that we’ll try and achieve,” Do Kock told City PM
“All the boys now go their separate ways. On everybody’s return for the new season we’ll get together and our central message will be laid out. I’m sure it will be one of ‘we want to keep going’.
“A domestic and European double is an incredible achievement and one that we’re incredibly proud of. By virtue of the fact it hasn’t been done for 12 years goes to show how difficult it is.
“We’re not going to rest on our laurels and we want to try and get better every single day. We talk about keep pounding the rock. We will enjoy the present and then go again and try and do it again.”
De Kock took to the field against Exeter alongside retiring ex-England and Sale Sharks fly-half Charlie Hodgson, the Premiership’s leading all-time points scorer, for a late cameo which represented his 256th Saracens appearance.
Now a senior statesman of the Sarries squad, the 37-year-old joined the club in 2006 and has witnessed a surge in the club’s fortunes, the foundations of which are centred on a well-documented and unique culture of team spirit.
He has been present for the entirety of director of rugby Mark McCall’s five-year tenure, which has now yielded five trophies, and the maturing of the so-called Class of 2008.
Fly-half Owen Farrell, lock George Kruis, back-row duo Will Fraser and Jackson Wray as well as hooker Jamie George were all members of the Saracens academy in 2008, a group fortified more recently by emerging talent such as towering second row Maro Itoje.
“We have got a hell of a good squad and some really talented youngsters who have put their hands up and it’s just wonderful to be a part of that,” added De Kock. “I don’t think some of the youngsters will have realised yet what they have achieved.
“The older you get the more reflective you become. Looking at what the team has achieved and seeing guys who came through academy aged 19 being a big part of that is wonderful.
“We’ve got guys in this squad who are at the top of their game and they’re only 24, 25 or 26 years of age. Seeing how much they have developed and added to the team is quite something. Long may it continue.”