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Farrell stars as Saracens book final against Exeter

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Mark McCall has warned Exeter Chiefs his Saracens side are peaking at the perfect time ahead of the Premiership Rugby Final after they beat Wasps in an all-time classic.

Mark McCall has warned Exeter Chiefs his Saracens side are peaking at the perfect time ahead of the Premiership Rugby Final after they beat Wasps in an all-time classic.

England fly-half Owen Farrell produced a masterful display, kicking 27 points in the 57-33 win – the most points ever seen in a Premiership semi-final.

England lock Maro Itoje was one of six try scorers, with international team-mate Alex Lozowski also crossing for the host.

“We’ve been involved in an extraordinary game,” director of rugby McCall said.

“We switched off and let them back into it but we played some brilliant rugby today, and when it became a 36-26 game we kept playing and didn’t panic.

“The first 25 minutes was the best we’ve been this season and it feel like we’ve been peaking to do something like that.”

Saracens blasted out of the blocks with Farrell cutting through the Wasps defence before supplying Lozowski to score.

Prop Vincent Koch scored another before the break, while winger Chris Wyles – who retires this summer – added a third.

Wasps hit back through South Africa’s Willie Le Roux, while Jake Cooper-Woolley also crossed.

But Juan Figallo, Itoje and scrum-half Ben Spencer all scored further tries for Saracens – despite Wasps also crossing through Christian Wade, Thomas Young and a second for Le Roux.

A few short hours later at Sandy Park, Exeter eased past Newcastle Falcons 36-5 in a one-sided win.

The defending champions controlled territory and possession, with Nic White, Olly Woodburn and Don Armand all scoring tries in the win.

Exeter commanded 93 per cent possession in the first half and Newcastle did well to stay in the game before the Chiefs pulled clear in the second half.

“I think the scoreline probably doesn’t reflect how hard that was and how hard Newcastle made that game for us,” said scrum-half White.

“But none of that matters now, we go onto next week now.

“We’re having fun, we’re working hard and we’ll see where it takes us.”