London
Saracens must “relish” their European Champions Cup semi-final against French side Racing 92 on Saturday as it could be their last big match for a long time, director of rugby Mark McCall said on Tuesday.
The defending European champions will not be allowed to defend the trophy even if they win it after being relegated from the English Premiership for breaching salary cap rules.
McCall takes his side to Paris after a stunning victory over four-time champions Leinster in Dublin last week, achieved despite the absence of the suspended Owen Farrell.
The England captain will still be missing against a side the three-time European champions beat 27-24 in their last pool match, having lost 30-10 to them in their opening clash in Paris.
McCall said his players must make the most of the day. “For the group this may be the last game of this significance for a while,” he said. “We don’t know when the next will be.
“We have to relish it while we have got it as it may be at least a couple of years before we play in one again.” McCall said the win against Leinster reflected the winning mentality they had developed in European club rugby’s premier competition.
“I really think we have grown up in this competition in the last eight to nine years,” he said.
“It was 2012 the first time we got to the knockout stages and lost to Clermont in the quarter-finals.—APP
