Saracens defeated Sale 15-13 in the driving rain at Vicarage Road last Friday, posting a ninth win in 10 Guinness Premiership matches and extending their lead at the top of the table to six points.

The margin of victory in six of these nine victories has been less than seven points, less than a single score, prompting the uninitiated to suggest the resurgent north London club have been fortunate.

Luck may play a decisive role once or twice in a season but, almost by definition, luck alone cannot explain such an extraordinary record for a squad so few predicted would be challenging at the top of the table.

“For us, the important thing is that these players have become a group of friends,” explained Brendan Venter, Director of Rugby, to a slightly bemused media after the victory over Sale. “We can sit here and talk about tactics and planning and training – and they are all important – but the element that takes us over the line in tight matches is our character.

“It’s the spirit within this group of players and coaches. We really do play and coach for each other because we genuinely care for each other, and this genuine sense of togetherness translates into that extra ounce of energy to make that one last tackle in the closing minutes, or that extra ounce of effort to make that one last mighty push in the scrum.”

Adverse weather conditions reduced the match against a Sale to another intense physical confrontation, but the Saracens forwards, to a man, rose to the occasion and produced a powerful performance in the scrum and lineout to exert control over long periods of both halves.

Alex Goode and Andy Saull, two promising young English players who have recently signed new three-year contracts, both left the field with injuries, but Rodd Penney took over on the wing, Chris Wyles moved to fullback, Don Barrell took his place in the back row. Despite trailing 10-9 at the interval, the Saracens continued to grind down their visitors.

Derick Hougaard, matching an outstanding performance by Sale No.10 Charlie Hodgson, kicked a penalty to edge the home team into the lead, and then landed another to nail down a 15-10 advantage. Hodgson added another penalty late in the game, but Saracens closed out the win.

Home and away matches against Castres in the European Challenge Cup will be followed on December 27th by a Premiership match at London Irish.