Controversial columnist Stephen Jones makes claim that's certain to upset Leinster fans
Sunday Times columnist Stephen Jones is not one to shy away from issuing a strong opinion, even when it appears to fly in the face of popular opinion or even recent history.
Numerous Jones' articles have invoked the ire of New Zealanders, but he's also fond of the odd jab at the Irish too.
His latest dig came in the wake of Saracens' Premiership Final 27 - 10 victory over the Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham. Jones believes the newly crowned Premiership winners would beat Leinster, and by a solid margin too.
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The fact that Jones makes the claim despite Leinster dispatching Saracens comfortably just weeks earlier in the quarter-final of the European Champions Cup will rankle with some. Leinster went on to win that competition, all before being crowned the Pro14 Champions, after beating the Scarlets yesterday in the Aviva Stadium.
The Irish province became the first team outside of England and France to combine domestic glory with the continent’s top honour by overcoming the defending champions, who beat Leinster in the semi-finals en route to last year’s crown.
Asked by a fan on Twitter however, who would win should this Saracens team play Leinster and Jones was swift with a response: "Sarries by 12".
And he was quick to point out that was 'minimum' scoreline before suggesting 'easily, maybe more'.
RugbyPass columnist and former Ireland backrow Neil Best RT'd his claim, with the words "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."
Jones described Best's RT as pompous, before dismissing a suggestion by another Tweeter that Leinster were the best club side in the Northern Hemisphere as 'nothing like' the sort.
What has changed over the course of the lasts two months to suggest Saracens are now a significantly better team than Leinster and that a match between the sides would play out differently?
You'll have to ask Stephen Jones.
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A potential 5th star for Leinster and redemption adter losing 2 tight finals against La Rochelle against Toulouse and the chance for Jacques Nienaber to have some success without Rassie Erasmus running the show.
Go to commentsThanks Nick, and welcome back 😁 Vulavalu does look better this year, and about time. I suspect Schmidt will knock the hubris out of him. That one handed put down was so embarrassing. Mind you, I had thought Kiss would deal with that. Leaving aside the different games and skills, in NRL he had a very good (but no bullshit) type of coach in Bellamy, something he hasn't had in Union until this year. Bellamy would have roasted him unmercifully for an unprofessional put down.
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