Max Malins will play his final game for Saracens this weekend in a Premiership title decider that he has described as “unfinished business”.
When Malins joined Saracens in 2015 he hitched his wagon to a dynasty that would claim three European crowns and four domestic titles in five years. But a salary cap scandal and subsequent relegation in 2020 was destabilising and humbling. Last year Saracens had a shot at reestablishing themselves as the best team in the land but a late Freddie Burns drop goal enabled Leicester to steal their glory.
“That was hard to take,” Malins said before facing Sale Sharks at Twickenham on Saturday. “I’ve yet to play in a Premiership final and win it so it’s a massive motivation for me. I need this for myself.”
Malins is joining Bristol next season with the promise of regular game time in his preferred position at full-back. “That was a big factor in my decision making,” he said. “It’s where I can showcase my skills most.”
Not that Malins has been quiet on the wing. He was top tryscorer last season with 16 and has contributed 10 in the league during the current campaign. The 26-year-old has been one the beneficiaries of a new-look Saracens, who have played an untypical expansive game since that defeat to Leicester.
“We changed our mindset to be more open to opportunity,” he said. “Looking back at the final [last year], we very much got sucked into Leicester’s game and closed ourselves off to anything. There was a big emphasis during pre-season to open ourselves up to opportunity.
“It will take massive bravery and massive courage to continue what we have done [in the final]. Not every decision might be the right one and you’ve got to be able to take on that risk versus reward. We’ve got plenty of reward from it over the season. If it does go wrong we’ve got to clean it up and we’ve got the team that can do that.”
If English rugby elected its champions based on league form – as is the case with football – Saracens would have wrapped up the title with a game to spare. Instead they must risk it all in a one-off shootout. “Anything can happen,” Malins said. “The playoff system attracts interest. It puts a lot of emphasis and emotions on these big games.”
