Bath Rugby

Jamie George© David Rogers/Getty Images

Saracens' season has been driven by the heartbreak of losing both the Premiership and Heineken Cup finals last year. The wounds were still gaping when they arrived at Twickenham but they have buried those demons. In a performance of accuracy, power and unerring ruthlessness they punished Bath's telegraphed gameplan and error count. Bath showed some signs of life in the second half but Saracens won the key battles all over the field. On such foundations are champions built.

In perfect conditions Saracens, in front of 80,589 at Twickenham, added a second title to their first in 2011. As spectacles go it was entertaining with a couple of big hits drawing the customary gasps from those watching but it was a match where Saracens won the title in the first half with Bath failing to haul back the 22-point deficit at half-time.

The view from a Bath fan behind the press box was at one stage "how bloody boring are Saracens?" The retort: "It wins games."

Bath played their final a game early against Leicester last Saturday. The weather was set fair for their fleet-footed backs but this has been a performance they have run the risk of in the past three weeks. Bath are capable of creating the remarkable from nothing but far too often balls were dropped and penalties conceded. They never settled and Leicester simply didn't have the firepower to take advantage last weekend but to put Saracens' win merely down to errors from the opposition would be a gross disservice. Their tactics were perfect to nullifying Bath's attacking threats with Jamie George at the heart of their brilliance.

It has been a remarkable week for the 24-year-old. His natural shape is perhaps unfashionable in this ever-focused sport on body image but he can now lay claim to being one of the few in the front-row union to score a try from 35 metres. He was involved in Chris Wyles and Saracens' third try when his pass saw the winger dart over and was the first to put boot to ball in open play in the early stages of the first-half. He will now breathe for the next three weeks before going into Pennyhill Park with the goal of making the final World Cup squad after Dylan Hartley's bonce gave him a late reprieve. On this evidence, he should have been there from the start.

That George can keep out a player of Schalk Brits' ability shows just how special a hooker he is but it also showcases Saracens' strength in depth. Alex Goode controlled the game wonderfully from the back and even when they lost Alastair Hargreaves to a head knock, they barely blinked but instead went through their motions and stuck to the game plan. The kick-chase was superb and even when Bath got the odd sniff of open field, their defence reorganised and kept its structure.

The loss of Anthony Watson early on hurt Bath, the industrious Ollie Devoto did not offer the same attacking threat. Owen Farrell was lucky to escape a sin-bin for his outstretched-arm high tackle on Watson but he outplayed his opposite number and rival for the England fly-half jersey.

Saracens v Bath© Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Ford's kicking was uncharacteristically wayward in the first half and it was a loose nudge which led to David Strettle's early score. In contrast Farrell was pulling strings and dovetailing nicely with Alex Goode - another player who could have seen yellow for his shoulder on Semesa Rokoduguni - and their ability to pin Bath in their own half largely pacified their threat bar Jonathan Joseph's characteristic moment of wonderful instinctive brilliance for his try.

And when Bath did have any chance to attack, George Kruis and Jacques Burger chopped down their threat with ease. Saracens dominated the scrum and Maro Itoje also outplayed his opposite number Sam Burgess who, but for one bone-shaking tackle on Farrell, was largely anonymous. Bath's best player on the day was Dave Attwood and his performance would have impressed the watching Stuart Lancaster but this defeat will, as Saracens found out last year, take time to get over.

What it showcased was the lack of a Plan B for Bath. They have been the most easy on the eye team in the Premiership this year but sometimes there is no answer to a performance of raw strength and anger. Saracens had both in abundance and are worthy champions.