Making the right call on and off the pitch
Rugby presenter Jill Douglas asks what it takes to make big decisions and looks back over the past five Gallagher Premiership finals to see who stuck their neck out to make the difference
There are many parallels between sport and business, whether it be resilience, risk taking, team work, developing winning ethos or values. One of the main drivers of success in business and sport is around decision-making and understanding how decisions are reached. It is something that the participants of the Gallagher Leaders Scrum know all about – an initiative by Gallagher to find eight business leaders and reward them with exclusive business and rugby prizes to help them take their firms to the next level with specialist support. The thing about decisions is that you are not going to get them all right all of the time. But how are those big decisions made? Usually it involves drawing upon all your experience, but also you have to be guided by the context of the environment you find yourself in. That’s worth bearing in mind when it comes to examining the past five Gallagher Premiership finals, as I have done, with a view to spotting the key moments when the right call was made on the field.
Business leaders at the Gallagher Leaders Scrum last year
Credit: Gallagher
The stunning spectacle of the Gallagher Premiership final at Twickenham in 2023 Credit: Shutterstock
The players who made these key decisions in these matches were all basing them on past experiences in one way or another. They might have been referencing games against the same opposition, games from previous years or the same season. So are the best decisions informed by experience, or – as is mainly the case in business – are they made by judging what you see around you? This is certainly where the rugby and business worlds converge. In rugby it is so important to look at your colleague or your teammate and try to read what may be going on in their heads. And what is happening with your opponents? Are they able to second-guess your decisions? Again, this relates to the business world where there’s pressure to stay one step ahead of your competitors. You can’t be taught that, but you can be taught how to look out for different signals that will influence your decision. There is one key difference between boardroom decisions and those made by rugby players in the white heat of a Gallagher Premiership final, though: the 82,000 fans at Twickenham scrutinising your every move. It really is a unique experience. But the essence of that decision-making remains the same – taking in what’s in front of you, who is around you and leaning on the experience you have. There are no shortcuts to being at the top of your game – in business or rugby – and these moments from the past five Gallagher Premiership finals demonstrate that. So let’s begin, by rolling the clock back to 2019…
2019
Exeter 34-37 Saracens
Farrell’s brave cross-kick
Simmonds’ tactical switch
Smith’s split-second decision
Burns’ bravery
Taylor – stepping up and charging down
Farrell’s brave cross-kick
Liam Williams jumps ahead of Joe Simmonds and catches the cross-field kick from Owen Farrell before going over to score the crucial try for Saracens against Exeter in 2019 Credit: Getty
At one stage, Saracens were behind by 11 points in what turned out to be the highest-scoring final ever at the time – and the largest deficit a team had ever overturned to win. Sarries knew they would have to play and chase more than the odd penalty as Exeter stormed into a commanding lead. Having somehow clawed their way back, Saracens won it with a tremendous performance in the final quarter. But it all started with the right call being made by Owen Farrell, when Exeter were still leading 27-16. Saracens recycled possession at a ruck on the Exeter 22 and Farrell could be seen assessing the options ahead of him. He spotted Liam Williams out wide where Exeter’s defence was stretched. In an instant, Farrell’s cross-field kick was sent Williams’ way, and he soared above the diminutive figure of Joe Simmonds, the Exeter fly-half, caught the ball and went over the line to score. It was the right call by Farrell who in an instant had downloaded his options, read the situation perfectly and seen the mismatch he was setting up between Williams and Simmonds, and then executed the kick to perfection.
Captain Farrell celebrates at the final whistle Credit: Shutterstock
The impact of the try gave Saracens self-belief when all had seemed lost. It was a big call, but the right call – and it changed the game.
Simmonds’ tactical switch
Exeter 19-13 Wasps
2020
Exeter’s Joe Simmonds makes up for his previous year’s disappointment by executing his surprising game-plan against Wasps. His first-half penalty kicks proved vital Credit: Getty
Exeter were on a revenge mission in a season that will live long in their history, as they completed a memorable double as champions of both England and Europe. They played the 2020 final in a very different way from the year before. It was as if the hurt of 2019 had taught them a powerful lesson, on top of the bitter experience of having lost three finals. They could easily have doubted themselves – but they refused to. Exeter led 13-10 at half-time with a try apiece for Henry Slade and Jacob Umaga, with the second of captain Joe Simmonds’ penalties giving the Chiefs a narrow advantage. Usually, Exeter would have driven for the line and tried to score five points from the penalty positions they were in, but Simmonds, mindful of the weather and the impact it can have on handling, led the way and trusted his boot to do the job. It was these kicks which, on reflection, won the day for Exeter, in a great example of a young captain making the right call. The lesson is that just because your side has had huge success with one particular tactic all season, the conditions still need to be right to execute it.
Simmonds and co-captain Jack Yeandle lift the trophy in 2020 Credit: Getty
Jimmy Gopperth levelled for Wasps before Simmonds regained the advantage with a third penalty in the 65th minute. When he bisected the posts it was his 32nd consecutive successful kick, a remarkable statistic. Simmonds went on to land a fourth penalty as the clock went red, becoming the youngest club captain to lift the trophy. A deserved end to the day for a leader who had made his biggest call just before half-time.
Smith’s split-second decision
Exeter 38-40 Harlequins
2021
Marcus Smith’s genius for Harlequins set up winger Louis Lynagh for two tries towards the end of a thrilling 2021 final against Exeter Credit: Getty
Exeter were back for a third year running against a side who had taken open, attacking rugby to new heights.
The final was free-flowing and high-scoring, and a great advertisement for the English club game. It was a final lauded as the best ever for the way it ebbed and flowed.
In the final Harlequins had led 26-14 before Exeter launched a stunning comeback to edge ahead 31-26 with 14 minutes remaining. The player who made the difference was Marcus Smith, who set the tempo for a Quins side whose can-do attitude, self-belief and confidence enabled them to overturn the odds and land their first title since 2012.
Smith it was who donned the hero’s cape and made the impossible dream come true. When it mattered most the fly-half’s eye for a pass and willingness to keep playing, allied to two nerveless touchline conversions, proved decisive.
Smith is joined by Danny Care and Luke Northmore in celebration following the famous win Credit: Getty
With less than 10 minutes remaining he picked up a loose ball, stopped momentarily to assess his options and, with a run and hitch kick, trusted himself to force the opening which Louis Lynagh made the most of. Suddenly, it was 31-33. Then Smith made the most crucial decision of the match. He could have gone for a dropped goal as he sat in the pocket, receiving the ball from a Quins’ ruck. Instead, he went right and sent a subtle delayed pass which stretched the Exeter defence just enough to allow Lynagh to elude the cover to score and make it 31-40. It was the right call in the most pressurised of circumstances. Had he gone for the dropped goal it would not have been enough, as Exeter were still able to conjure a late try of their own.
Burns’ bravery
Leicester 15-12 Saracens
2022
In a remarkable 2022 Gallagher Premiership final, fly-half George Ford had to be taken off with injury but his replacement Freddie Burns took on the challenge and finished as the hero for Leicester against Saracens Credit: Getty & Shutterstock
This was an altogether different game from the previous year in terms of style – but no less enthralling. With four minutes remaining the match was tied at 12-12 and extra-time beckoned. Saracens had kicked four penalties to level, after tries by Hanro Liebenburg and Jasper Wiese had given the Tigers the advantage. Leicester fly-half George Ford was forced off with an ankle injury after 24 minutes and had been replaced by Freddie Burns, who went on to make the biggest call of the match. Entering the final minute, Leicester – down to 14 men – were on the attack. They could try to force a penalty if Saracens infringed, but they also knew that if they kept their heads they could look to fashion a good position from which to look to drop the goal. They probed left and right, the forwards in unison trusting each other to do their job until Burns, sitting behind his pack, made the call that he was ready for the ball. He dropped for glory, scoring the winning points in what remains the highlight of his career.
Post-match scenes in the Leicester changing room as Richard Wigglesworth douses Ford with a bottle of fizz Credit: Getty
As a player, Burns wears his heart on his sleeve – an engaging character who’s had massive highs, but also some moments when things went wrong. But inside is a man of true resilience. It was a massive thing for him to execute, but that was Burns through and through. He had the confidence to deliver. The impact of missing could have been profound because, had the match gone to extra-time, being a man down would have had real consequences. But Burns used all of his experience to make that right call and execute that match-winning kick.
Taylor – stepping up and charging down
Saracens 35-25 Sale
2023
Elliot Daly goes over the line to score a crucial try for Saracens against Sale in the 2023 final and celebrates with Duncan Taylor whose brave call created the try Credit: Shutterstock
When you have performed at the highest level consistently over a long period, knowing what to do at the right time almost becomes instinctive. Making the right call is almost telepathic for teams like Saracens – they are a tight unit who know each other so well. They never panic and have repeatedly shown they have it in them to find a way to win. Sale had edged into a 25-23 lead, thanks to Bevan Rodd’s try from the bench, when Alex Goode launched a long kick which seemed almost aimless. Joe Carpenter, the young Sale fullback had plenty of time to gather and clear, but he took one step too many and dithered as he kicked to clear his lines. Duncan Taylor, in his Saracens swansong, made the right call to spread himself wide and commit to charging down the kick.
Jamie George holds the Gallagher Premiership trophy aloft in the Saracens changing room after the final
Saracens scented blood and went for the kill. With the Sale defence backtracking and in disarray, Saracens knew it was an opportunity they had to make the most of. Taylor pounced for the turnover and one phase later the ball was spun left and Elliott Daly, having read the situation, popped up on the blindside and scored the try which turned the course of the game.
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FINAL MATCH STATS
2019 FINAL MATCH STATS
Exeter (22) 34
Tries:
White, Ewers, J Hill, Slade, S Hill
Cons:
J Simmonds (3)
Pens:
J Simmonds
Saracens (16) 37
Tries:
George (2), Spencer, L Williams, Maitland
Cons:
Farrell (3)
Pens:
Farrell (2)
2020 FINAL MATCH STATS
Exeter (13) 19
Wasps (10) 13
Tries:
Slade
Cons:
Simmonds
Pens:
Simmonds (4)
Tries:
Umaga
FINAL MATCH STATS
Cons:
Gopperth
Pens:
Gopperth (2)
2021 FINAL MATCH STATS
Exeter (14) 38
Harlequins (19) 40
Tries:
Gray, Hepburn, S Simmonds, Devoto, Hogg
Cons:
J Simmonds (5)
Pens:
J Simmonds
Tries:
Penalty, Louw, Dombrandt, Esterhuizen, Lynagh (2)
Cons:
Smith (4)
FINAL MATCH STATS
2022 FINAL MATCH STATS
Leicester (12) 15
Saracens (6) 12
Tries:
Liebenberg, Wiese
Cons:
Burns
Pens:
Burns
Pens:
Farrell (3), Daly
FINAL MATCH STATS
2023 FINAL MATCH STATS
Saracens (20) 35
Sale (13) 25
Tries:
Penalty, Marlins, Daly, Van Zyl
Cons:
Farrell (2)
Pens:
Farrell (3)
Tries:
Van der Merwe, Roebuck, Rodd
Cons:
Ford (2)
Pens:
Ford (2)
FINAL MATCH STATS
Produced by Telegraph Media Group Writer: Jill Douglas | Project manager: Alex Rose | Commissioning editor: Jim Bruce-Ball | Sub-editor: Viv Watts | Picture editor: Alex Kelly | Designer: Matt Brant | Web editor: Jasmin Nahar
One of the all time classic finals for all manner of reasons, not least for the performance of Bath who played for two thirds of the match with 14 players after prop Beno Obano had been sent off. Despite being a man down Bath had turned the match around and with less than 10 minutes remaining led 21-18. Northampton’s hero was George Hendy who at the age of 21 had come off the bench early in the second half. His mistake had gifted Bath a try for Will Muir earlier but when it mattered most the young full back certainly made the right call at Twickenham. Receiving the ball wide out just inside the Bath half out of the right, Hendy looked up and spotted a gap. With his rangy ability to beat the first tackle and with his pace Hendy accelerated deep into Bath territory on a run which beat four defenders before he was felled 10 metres out. Even then he had the wherewithal to off load to Alex Mitchell, the supporting scrum half who crossed for the decisive score. Hendy’s trust in his ability and his decision to be bold resulted in him being made man of the match, the first time a replacement had been honoured in an English Cup final.
Hendy makes his mark
Northampton 25 - 21 Bath
2024
2024 FINAL MATCH STATS
Northampton (15) 25
Bath (10) 21
Tries:
Freeman, Sleightholme, Mitchell
Cons:
Smith, Furbank
Pens:
Smith
Tries:
Du Toit, Muir
Cons:
Russell (3)
Pens:
Russell
FINAL MATCH STATS
Drop-goal:
Smith
George Hendy (above left) helped Northampton to a famous Gallagher Premiership final victory against Bath last year Credit: Getty