What is the job of a professional Gallagher Premiership rugby player? According to Marcus Smith, the Harlequins and England fly helped, it is “to entertain and put on a show for the people who come to support”. He’s in a good position to speak. His actions back up his words; Harlequins are recent champions and “the great entertainers”. They exposed the paucity of ambition witnessed at the highest level of the club game. Bold attacking play reaped the ultimate rewards.
Now Saracens, so long the pragmatic overlords who tyrannized the domestic and European game, have crashed the party. Owen Farrell may not be full-out party hats and streamers but he’s started the season with a smile and some seriously ambitious offensive rugby. Saracens are doing