After finishing top of the table, the Saints came up short against a physical and determined Saracens outfit at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday afternoon, losing 24-29.
But while Wood told SaintsTV that the emotions would be bottled to use as an incentive for a better season next time around, the squad had gone into the current campaign looking to continue riding the crest of the wave of positivity created in Cardiff and Twickenham 12 months ago.
“You have to use the hurt and frustration we’re feeling now to fuel your next year,” he said. “But that means you only win one year and then lose the next to regain incentive. We didn’t want to do that this year; we wanted to feel the excitement and elation of last year and were using that to drive us.
“I don’t think we lacked heart or commitment; everyone could see the desire was there. It was a matter of execution. It’s really disappointing and hard to take, because we knew what they were going to do, they did it, and we didn’t cope with it.
“Saracens frustrate you into bad decisions. They do the simple things really well. They chase hard and are brave and committed, and they don’t get bored with it or knocked off their stride very often. That’s why they win so many games, why they went so far in Europe, why they’re so tough to beat and you’ve got to give credit to them for it.
“We can reflect ourselves on what we could have done better or differently, and we’re angry with ourselves that we didn’t put it into practice. But it’s too late now, there’s no second chance, other than to reflect on it for next year and to come back better.”
The full interview is available now at www.youtube.com/TheSaintsTV
