Manoa: Unity key to Saints’ win at Saracens

Samu Manoa hailed the unity in the Saints squad after they smashed Saracens to book a place at Twickenham.
DETERMINED - Samu Manoa hailed the spirit in the Saints squad after the win at Saracens (picture by Linda Dawson)DETERMINED - Samu Manoa hailed the spirit in the Saints squad after the win at Saracens (picture by Linda Dawson)
DETERMINED - Samu Manoa hailed the spirit in the Saints squad after the win at Saracens (picture by Linda Dawson)

Manoa and Co will face Leicester in the Premiership grand final after a 27-13 rout of the regular-season table-toppers at Allianz Park.

The win was reward for a committed display from start to finish as Jim Mallinder’s men showed they are capable of beating the best.

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And Manoa, who was deservedly named man of the match after putting in an crushing performance, says it was Saints’ willingness to scrap for each other that saw them through.

“It was extraordinary,” said the American star. “Big up to the Saracens side, they’re a good side, we just had to break down the defence. That’s a big part of their game.

“We knew we had it in us and as the sign says in the locker room, ‘Why not us?’. That’s a big part of it. We all play for each other and play as a team, as one.

“The unity was there and we told everybody just to do their job, play as a squad and come out with a win.”

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Saints will now spend the next couple of weeks preparing for a showpiece showdown with east midlands rivals Leicester.

And Manoa sees no reason why he and his team-mates cannot claim the trophy, as long as they maintain the level of desire they showed on Sunday.

“We didn’t start off well at the beginning (of the season),” he said. “We had ups and downs during the middle of the season, but we can do it.

“We’ve got to believe in each other and play as one again.”