• Maro Itoje: ‘He told us he would show up’ • No 8 scores decisive try in final against Leinster

Billy Vunipola gave a rousing speech on the eve of Saracens’ Champions Cup final victory, promising to deliver a match-winning performance. He then proceeded to score the decisive try against Leinster.

Vunipola sealed a third European crown in four seasons for Saracens and capped a remarkable individual performance, despite being greeted by a chorus of boos on his arrival at the stadium.

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The 26-year-old admitted that focusing on producing his best form has been a welcome distraction during the furore surrounding his apparent support for Israel Folau on social media.

Maro Itoje revealed his teammate’s rallying cry. “On Friday he spoke about when it’s his turn to show up for the team,” he said. “He told us he was going to show up and he did that in abundance. Billy always steps up in the big games. We have some big game players in our team and he is one – he does it when we need it.”

Vunipola was replaced with five minutes remaining on Saturday because of a shoulder injury, but Saracens are hopeful it will not bring an end to his season, with Jamie George heralding him as “the best No 8 in the world”.

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Asked if playing has allowed him to take his mind off the controversy, Vunipola said: “You could say that. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t reading things that have been said. But I am just grateful to be in this team and that is my job now – to put the team first.”

Saracens have a number of other injury concerns as they set about repeating the Champions Cup and Premiership double they won in 2016. Mako Vunipola suffered a hamstring injury and lasted only 30 minutes, while George sustained a blow to the shoulder.

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Despite the injury, the England hooker was integral to Saracens’ victory and he revealed how some harsh words from Owen Farrell in the first half – with Itoje in the sin-bin and Saracens trailing 10-0 – inspired their comeback.

“Owen said: ‘Right, what are we going to do about this? We can either mope for 10 minutes and cling on, or we can take it to them. You choose.’ We chose to take it to them,” George said. “I can honestly say that’s the best feeling I’ve ever had on a rugby field.

“We had to fight for everything. We were playing against the second-best team in Europe – it turned out to be the two best teams going at it. We were 10-0 down, but how tough the boys were was inspirational. It just made you want to be better and do more.

“The season that we’ve had, the amount of outside negativity that we’ve had – it just goes to show that if we stay tight as a group we can do anything. It’s us versus the world and that’s fine by us. That was the hardest we’ve had to work for a European trophy and that’s why it’s the best feeling.”