In the aftermath of his last ever Champions Cup match for Saracens, Mark McCall sat on a wobbly pool table in the Bath community centre and reflected on the end of an era.
The Saracens coach has watched dynasties rise and fall on rugby pitches across Europe but now the lights have gone out on his own.
There was a purpose to Saracens’ performance as they tried knowingly to extend their coach’s final European run for a few more days.
‘It’s a magic competition,’ said McCall, who is preparing to walk away after 17 years. ‘I’ve had some good times in it and some not so good times but I remember the good times.’
A few years ago, the likes of Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell and Jamie George would have been able to find an extra few per cent to turn this kind of defeat into victory. Time waits for no one.
McCall has lifted this trophy three times over the past decade but now Bath and Northampton have taken over as the English forces to be reckoned with.
McCall has lifted the Champions Cup three times over the past decade but now Bath and Northampton have taken over as the English forces to be reckoned with
Saracens led at half-time but European knockout games are so often determined in the final quarter – and Bath overpowered the visitors
McCall knows what it takes to win this competition and he showed no hesitation when asked if the team from the West Country could finally be crowned champions.
‘100 per cent,’ he said. ‘It’s not just the depth they have, it’s the quality. There’s no reason why they can’t go all the way.’
Saracens led at half-time but European knockout games are so often determined in the final quarter. During his golden era, McCall could unload the likes of Will Skelton and Schalk Brits from the bench in the second-half.
Here, Bath brought on Springboks prop Thomas du Toit and England flanker Sam Underhill, whose power steered the hosts towards a home quarter-final against Northampton on Friday night.
Bath’s squad is loaded with talent and now is their time to shine. Du Toit will leave the club at the end of the season but his scrummaging power is enough to take the best packs in the competition.
Their roster has been assembled creatively in recent seasons and you suspect this will be their best chance of winning before they are forced to rebuild.
Saracens dominated the set-piece in the first-half, allowing Charlie Bracken and Farrell to steer the visitors to a 10-0 lead. Tom Willis carried like a man indebted to his departing head coach.
But Du Toit turned the tide, providing a set-piece platform that allowed Finn Russell and his star-studded backline to cut loose. Henry Arundell and Joe Cokanasiga scored from their wings to put Bath in front.
A few years ago, the likes of Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell and Jamie George would have been able to find an extra few per cent to turn this kind of defeat into victory but time waits for no one
For McCall, his focus will now turn towards blooding youngsters to prepare the club for its next generation under Brendan Venter’s tenure
‘For us, we want to make sure that we play an 80-minute game,’ said Bath coach Johann van Graan. ‘We made some tactical changes at half-time. I thought Thomas was fantastic in that second half. If you look at his two years and nine months that he’s been at Bath, in my view, he’s currently one of the best players in the whole world of rugby and he showed it again today. Absolutely phenomenal in the scrum, his defence and his attack.
‘We as coaches have planned the big picture, all the what-ifs and obviously one of the two options after today is either the Champions Cup finish or you move on. It’s knock-out rugby again in six days’ time so we’ll go and take our time. I think it’s important for us to just breathe for 24 hours.
‘It’s the first time that we have got into this position in this competition for us as a group and then from a club point of view from a very, very long time. Northampton are a fantastic team and both teams are currently playing some fantastic rugby. I’m sure it’ll be a fantastic contest on Friday evening.’
Asked about McCall, he added: ‘What he’s achieved as a coach in the premiership in Euro is remarkable really. He’ll go down as a legend of European rugby. I can only put him in the highest regard and have a whole lot of respect for him.’
There were glazed eyes in the room as McCall praised his team’s battling display. ‘The game was close and it could have swung either way,’ added McCall. ‘Bath probably are used to closing out games like that at the moment in their favour, which is a lovely place to be. Maybe our confidence to do that isn’t quite the same.’
Andy Onyeama-Christie spilt the ball over Bath’s tryline and the hosts turned defence into attack, with Ben Spencer scoring a length-of-the-pitch try.
There were flashes of magic as the teams exchanged tries in the final quarter but Bath had too much power.
For McCall, his focus will now turn towards blooding youngsters to prepare the club for its next generation under Brendan Venter’s tenure.
For Bath, it is very much about the here and now.
