Sarries 'come of age' in Racing win
Saracens have their quarterfinal qualification destiny in their own hands – and Director of Rugby Mark McCall believes his side came of age on the European stage in the way they went about securing their 37-28 victory over Racing Metro 92 at Stade de La Beaujoire.
The win took Steve Borthwick's team to 18 points with a regulation Round Six win at home against Edinburgh on Sunday good enough for a last eight place.
Racing are now out of the hunt on 12 points – Owen Farrell's final last-gasp penalty denying them even a sniff of a losing bonus point – and Munster, who play Edinburgh at Murrayfield in their Round Five game, are the only remaining threat for group honours.
"It was a fantastic performance – in the last four years we have been building in this competition and a win against a very good French side in France continues that," said McCall.
"But we still have an important job to do next week against Edinburgh to secure the Pool winners spot.
"We're very proud of the team after bouncing back from the setbacks in the first half of the early injury, the tries and a yellow card.
"We were off our game in that first half and not working hard enough. But we knew at half-time that if we rectify things then we could win the match."
The fiery contest in Nantes was settled by the immaculate goal kicking of Farrell as he punished Racing indiscipline with a tournament record 10 penalty goals – not to mention the conversion of fullback Chris Wyles' try for a 32-points haul.
