McCall insists Saracens have learned from being 'spooked' in Europe last year

08 April 2023 , 09:59

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Ben Earl scores in a rare bright moment for Saracens during last season's Challenge Cup semi-final loss in Toulon (Image: Getty Images)

Mark McCall sends Saracens out against the champions of Europe insisting he was to blame for his side’s elimination a year ago.

McCall is the most successful club coach of the professional era with three European Cups and five Premiership titles to his name.

But he looks back with disappointment on last season when the Londoners were “spooked” by the semi-final atmosphere in Toulon and bundled out of the European Challenge Cup.

Stade Mayol was a bear pit that night, much as a packed Stade Marcel Deflandre is sure to be tomorrow, and McCall has been careful not to make the same mistake again.

“Last year it wasn’t the players’ fault it was mine,” said the Ulsterman. “We didn’t big the game up, we didn’t give it the gravity, we didn’t prepare the players for what they were walking into.

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“I don’t know if it was because it was a Challenge Cup match, not the Champions Cup, but as a management team we got a lot wrong that week. We messed up, made a lot of mistakes and I’m not surprised the players were a bit spooked.

“But I don’t think they’ll be spooked this time. That’s not to say we’ll go and beat La Rochelle but I think we’ll be much more prepared for what we’re walking into this time around.”

Former Saracens lock Will Skelton during La Rochelle's narrow last-16 win over Gloucester last week (AFP via Getty Images)

McCall expects the best of La Rochelle after Gloucester came so close to beating them in the round of 16 and has put his squad through sessions that are “very chaotic and fatiguing” to test them emotionally as well as physically.

The only change to the starting line-up comes at blindside where Nick Isiekwe comes in for Andy Christie, who broke his arm against Ospreys.

Up against him is former team mate Will Skelton in a La Rochelle side coached by Ronan O’Gara.

La Rochelle won Champions Cup last season, beating Leinster in Marseille final (Getty Images)

“Ronan’s done a wonderful job,” said McCall. “He seems to be building something very very special and it appears the sky is the limit for him.

“I’m sure he won’t be rushing away from La Rochelle, but down the line I’m sure international rugby awaits for him. Probably Ireland or any other country who wants a great coach.”

Alex Spink