Saracens must claim top-two spot, says McCall
AFTER Saracens secured their place in the Aviva Premiership play-offs on Saturday, director of rugby Mark McCall was insisting they swiftly wrap up a home semi-final too.
Sarries ensured they will remain in the top four for the rest of the regular season with a 32-20 defeat of London rivals Wasps – their 16th victory out of 18 this term.
Jamie George led the way with a double, while Jackson Wray and Alex Goode also went over with Charlie Hodgson and Owen Farrell kicking 12 points between them.
Despite a 21-point cushion over Sale in fifth, McCall will not be content to watch Sarries coast to the play-offs in the final four matches.
“It’s very pleasing because that was the first objective,” he said.
“The second objective is to get a home semi-final at Allianz Park. We’ve just got to keep on getting as many points as we can.
“I thought we were pretty formidable up front although their maul got on top towards the end and we were pretty clinical when we had to be.
“We’re just really pleased to have come to what is a difficult place to get a result and get four tries to come away with another five points. It puts us in a position we want to be in.”
Harlequins defeat London Irish 23-9 at the Stoop to keep their slim hopes of joining Saracens in the play-offs alive. Conor O’Shea’s team are six points behind fourth-placed Bath.
“You cannot be arrogant enough to take any victory in the Aviva Premiership for granted so we should be happy with the win but our standards and ambitions are higher than how we played,” said O’Shea.
“We will fight to the bitter end to get into the play-offs, but if we do not win away at Sale [on Friday] the top four will be out of the equation.”
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