Abu Dhabi Saracens’ fearsome pack have rightly won many plaudits this season, but head coach Ali Thompson has once again found himself coming to the defence of his much-maligned back-line.

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While the Al Ghazal pack has undoubtedly been the cornerstone of their success this season, Thompson believes his backs are a match for any team in the Gulf Top Six or UAE Premiership.

His belief was certainly backed up by the fact that in their 40-12 win over Dubai Hurricanes on Friday night, five of their six tries were scored by the back division.

Scrum-half Rhuwan Pienaar and outside centre Pieter Morton both touched down twice and there was one for inside centre Steve Hamilton, while flanker Jonny Taylor, who scored the other, has also played as an auxiliary No9 this season.

Player/coach Thompson said: “We scored six tries, five for our backs. Our back line can compete with any in the league. Our forwards have had all the plaudits, but teams are developing strategies to break us down up front and I’ve never doubted our back-line.”

Elliott Reeder kicked five out of six conversions and the young fly-half has been just one stand-out performer in the back line since 
arriving in the UAE at Christmas. 

The 19-year-old, a product of the Saracens youth academy in the UK, has slotted into the No10 position seamlessly.

With two GT6 games remaining, Sarries have long since guaranteed their place in the top two and with it a berth in the West Asia Cup final, where they will face Doha.

The two teams go head-to-head in a mouth-watering preview of that final in Qatar this weekend as Sarries aim for a 100 per cent 
10-game win streak in the GT6

If you include the three Premiership wins at the end of 2014, Thompson’s men have actually won their last 11 games in a row.