Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall was happy to get his side's season "up and running" with a late win against Bath.
Sarries director of rugby happy to get off the mark
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall was happy to get his side's season "up and running" with a dramatic late win against Bath.
The reigning Aviva Premiership champions were defeated by Wasps in their first game of the season and looked to be heading to a second straight loss in the closing stages at the Rec.
But Owen Farrell converted a penalty off both posts in added time to earn Saracens the points in an incredible finish to a second half in which the lead changed hands on five occasions.
McCall was delighted with the way Sarries responded to the loss against Wasps and believes Saturday's win was the result of a hard week of training.
"We've got the season up and running, which is important," McCall said.
"It was a disappointing start last weekend against Wasps. Bath is a very difficult place to come - but everyone in the club has worked hard this week."
He added: "We won eight or nine of our Premiership away games last year, which proves that our players don't pick and choose when they get up for games," he said.
Preparation
"They just get up for it every week and they prepare well, whether it's at Twickenham or wherever."
McCall singled out skipper Steve Borthwick for special praise as he felt the lock played a key part in setting up the victory.
"Steve had a great game. He was instrumental in stopping their maul, which is one of their main weapons. He's an exceptional player for us," he said.
Bath coach Brad Davis felt that the hosts were marginally the better side and was bitterly disappointed to lose out right at the end.
"We went toe-to-toe with arguably the best team in the Premiership," Davis said.
"At the same time we have to temper that with feeling bitterly disappointed that we couldn't control the match at the end and allowed the opposition into our half and to win that penalty.
"But what was pleasing from our perspective was that we showed a level of performance and a level of intensity that is up there with the best. In fact, but for a dubious 50-50 call at the end I thought we shaded it.
"You are never going to dominate a side like Saracens for 80 minutes. We had our moments and they had their moments and that was reflected in the scoreline - just two points at the end of it."
