Danny Cipriani illuminated an otherwise dull Aviva Premiership showdown at Allianz Park that saw Saracens grind out a 30-14 bonus-point victory over Wasps.With England head coach Eddie Jones watching from the stands, Cipriani set up his team's only try with a dashing step and injection of pace and sped off on another eye-catching break in the second half.It will not have been enough to change Jones' thinking on a player he has repeatedly overlooked in favour of George Ford and Owen Farrell, but his creative spark behind an outmuscled pack breathed life into an eagerly-awaited clash that delivered few thrills. Wasps' Danny Cipriani was superb in the defeat to Saracens Saracens ended the league's last 100 per cent record with two tries from Jamie George in the final 12 minutes propelling them out of sight in a comprehensive victory that serves a statement against a team viewed as the greatest threat to their title.Billy Vunipola emerged as their star performer after a tireless shift in which he carried the fight to Wasps time and again to help Saracens move to the top of the table.

It was his older brother Mako who made the first indent on the visitors, however, after the loosehead prop burrowed over from a short-range line-out that was set up by a darting run from Schalk Brits and a brainless penalty by Nathan Hughes.Billy left his calling card on opposite number Hughes, a pretender to his England number eight jersey, by stripping the ball out of his hands to enable Saracens to launch a counter attack.It was not until the first quarter had passed that Wasps visited the home 22 for the first time and, although it was only a brief stay, there were signs that the balance of power was shifting.An attacking line-out ended just short of the line when prop Simon McIntyre was penalised for holding on, but a spin out of the tackle from the influential Ashley Johnson forced Saracens to scramble.Jimmy Gopperth landed a penalty to reward Wasps' endeavour, but their scrum was taken apart shortly after and Alex Lozowski sent his kick between the uprights.It was going to take a flash of genius to pierce Saracens' defence and it was delivered in the 38th minute when Cipriani skinned Billy Vunipola with a burst of acceleration, darted down an exposed left wing and fed the scoring pass to Josh Bassett.Once Kearnan Myall had been helped from the pitch with a bloodied head, the champions issued their response with a series of drives that ended with Richard Wigglesworth sending a fizzing final pass to Mike Ellery.Cipriani

glided into space to set pulses racing early in the second half, but having chipped ahead he lost the foot race with Lozowski.Gopperth and Lozowski exchanged penalties and, following a 10-minute spell of dominance from Wasps, Saracens began camping deep in opposition territory but failed to score the try to put daylight between the rivals.Instead, the next points were delivered by the boot of Gopperth and the visitors appeared to be seizing the initiative only for replacement hooker George to burrow over from close range twice in succession.kec hoodieWelsh rugby is set to lose another one of its stellar names with Wales full-back Liam Williams having decided to leave the Scarlets for European champions Saracens. ethiopian hoodiesThe departure of one of its favourite sons will leave a major void down west, with the man popularly known as ‘Sanjay’ having been one of the standout players in Welsh rugby in recent seasons. ethiopian hoodies

While there has been no official announcement from any party — understandable, as Williams has a major Test to prepare for against South Africa this Saturday — it is understood that the 25-year-old has agreed a two-year deal with the English big-hitters. Rugby writer Rob Lloyd, who has watched the former scaffolder rise through the ranks from a fresh-faced talent at Llanelli RFC to one of the most-wanted players in British rugby, analyses the factors that would have swayed the player in the direction of North London. hoodie dc kw superA professional career is a short one and the no-holds-barred nature of Williams’s rugby mindset means he picks up his fair share of injuries. nike bhm hoodieThe 25-year-old has been at Parc y Scarlets since joining Llanelli from his home club Waunarlwydd and the West Walians haven’t managed to qualify for a top-level European quarter-final in that time. gadsden hoodie

The closest they have come to Pro12 honours is a semi-final play-off in 2013. Contrast that to the bulging trophy cabinet in Barnet. Saracens are the current kings of Europe and have worn the Aviva Premiership crown for the last two seasons, losing to Northampton in the final the year before. They currently head the English top flight and are firm favourites to claim the prize again at Twickenham in May. hoodie ebmSarries are a side stacked with international calibre with the likes of world rugby’s breakthrough player of the year Maro Itoje, Billy Vunipola and Owen Farrell providing the heartbeat of Eddie Jones’s world ranked number two England side. They are also not shy about flashing the chequebook to bring global names on board each season. Williams is joining the gold standard of European rugby. Over the last 12 months or so Williams has emerged from the fringes of Wales’s starting XV to become one of the side’s key performers — highlighted by his outstanding displays in New Zealand in the summer.

He is a player who can not only make the unexpected happen with ball in hand, but is a courageous defender and one of the best around under the high ball. The word ‘talisman’ has been used many times by coaches and team-mates in Scarlets’ press conferences. With his contract expiring at the end of the season it was inevitable that his form for region and country would put him in demand and unfortunately for the West Walians, some big-game vultures have been swirling. It is understood there was a significant national dual contract — part funded by the WRU and Scarlets — on offer for Williams to stay in Wales, but a side of Saracens’ financial clout were always going to be able to more than match that. Who can blame a player in the form of his life for turning down the salary he is likely to be picking up in the capital? Of course, there is no certainty and Williams’s decision to depart the regional game will mean he is captured by the so-called Gatland’s Law and that brings some jeopardy when it comes to his international future.

However, if the full-back were a betting man he would feel the odds are stacked in his favour of being one of Warren Gatland’s wildcard (players who play outside of Wales) picks. At the moment, the Welsh Rugby Union’s senior player selection policy allows Gatland three wildcard choices. For the next two seasons that becomes four. For the current autumn campaign, Taulupe Faletau (Bath), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins) and George North (Northampton) are those in possession of the wildcards, making it a relatively straightforward choice for Gatland to add Williams as the fourth in 2017-18. The potential headache arises if Leigh Halfpenny, who is contemplating a return to Wales from Toulon — possibly to replace Williams at the Scarlets — were to be persuaded to stay in France or even lured to the English game. Williams’s model girlfriend Sophie Harries is based in London, a city that offers the obvious cultural attractions. There is also the motivation of a fresh start, the chance to sample a new environment and testing yourself in a different league in front of big crowds each week.