European Rugby Champions Cup: Saracens boss Mark McCall excited by pool draw
Last Updated: 11/06/14 12:21pm
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall is already looking forward to the pool stage of next season’s inaugural European Rugby Champions Cup.
Sarries, who lost to Toulon in the final of last season’s Heineken Cup, were handed a tough draw on Tuesday alongside Munster, Clermont Auvergne and Sale Sharks in Pool 1.
"Playing in Europe you expect to come up against the best teams and I feel that we've got that," said McCall.
"Three of the teams in the group have been in the semi-finals for the last two seasons, so it's a group that is going to be ridiculously tough but incredibly exciting.”
McCall’s men beat Clermont Auvergne in last season’s semi-final and they faced Munster in the 2012/13 season, but the 46-year-old believes they will be different sides next term.
Legendary
"Things can move quite quickly in rugby," he said.
"In Munster's case they have changed their coaching staff for this season bringing in Anthony Foley who is a Munster man through and through, and has been part of some of their legendary exploits in Europe.
“Clermont have also changed personnel, with Vern Cotter moving on to Scotland, so they will be different.
"Next season's starting to take shape now after the draw. We'll find out our schedule in due course when the Aviva Premiership Rugby fixtures are announced, we've got all our plans in place.
“The players are on a well-earned break at the moment but all of sudden with the European draw it's starting to whet the appetite."
