Mark McCall highlighted the need to win their next games against Doncaster and Ealing after a 54-13 win against Bedford
An emphatic Saracens victory on European quarter-finals weekend, with two pivotal matches looming on the horizon, sounds like familiar ground for Mark McCall’s side but these remain uncertain times for the London club. They were at least able to field five of their six England stars in an eight-try 54-13 Championship win against Bedford on Sunday – and McCall is hopeful that his newly appointed captain, Owen Farrell, will be fit to return next week – but their next two fixtures threaten to be among the most important in their recent history. Just as much as all those European heavyweight clashes.
For Saracens, now up to third, face Doncaster away on Sunday and Ealing Trailfinders seven days later. Both those sides have won all five of their opening Championship matches, the latter averaging more than 50 points a game. Should Saracens lose both they would be facing a potentially ruinous second season in the Championship and even if they endure defeat in one their fate will most likely be out of their hands. Farrell cannot come back soon enough then, even if Billy Vunipola and Maro Itoje made their presence felt on their first club appearances of the season with two tries apiece against Bedford.
