Mark McCall proudest of Saracens' response to relegation and fines

Six Premiership titles, three Champions Cup, a coaching back catalogue of big games and even bigger victories.

But Mark McCall doesn't name any of them.

Instead the Saracens boss picks the elephant in the trophy cabinet.

Back in 2020, at the height of their powers, his team were relegated from the Premiership and fined more than £5m for repeated breaches of the top-flight salary cap.

"That whole episode is weirdly the thing that makes me proudest," McCall told Rugby Union Weekly.

"You think you are part of something half decent, but you don't know until you are properly tested."

With a British and Irish Lions tour on the horizon, and Saracens bound for the Championship, it was assumed there would be an exodus. Instead Saracens' stars stayed put.

Maro Itoje, Jamie George, Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly, and Mako and Billy Vunipola dutifully served out a single-season spell in the second tier. Emerging prospects Max Malins and Ben Earl went to Bristol, but only on short-term loans.

"Everyone wanted to help us get back on our feet… and that allowed us to become stable again," said McCall.

As the 58-year-old reaches the end of his 17th and final season in charge, one of his most treasured memories comes from that turbulent time.

On 9 November 2019, four days after Premiership Rugby had docked points and levelled an enormous fine on Saracens, McCall's side ran out away at Gloucester.

Without a clutch of England stars - rested after their run to the World Cup final in Japan - Saracens' stand-in squad members were taunted by the local fans in the Shed stand.

They waved fake £50 notes at the visitors. A chant of "same old Sarries, always cheating" greeted every refereeing call against them. But, despite it all, those same old Saracens kept on winning.

"We were understrength, walking into the lions' den. It was tough and that performance and that win will be something I remember forever," McCall said.

It will be tough again on Saturday.

Exeter, arguably the side that lost out most through Saracens' cheating and among their loudest critics, will host the Londoners at Sandy Park in the final round of the Prem's regular season.

It is a straight shoot-out. Victory will take Exeter into the Prem semi-finals. A bonus-point win would guarantee Saracens that same spot at Chiefs' expense.

Whether McCall's long reign extends to another weekend will be decided by the result.

"I have massive respect for Exeter, especially for what they have done this year," said McCall.

"They came off a really tough season last season and to turn it around in the manner they have, you can only applaud them for that.

"They are a great club. There is obviously a rivalry, but we have been enjoying the last couple of months a lot and our motivation is much more internal to be honest. And I think there is another level we can go to."

Is McCall not tempted to stay on and see if more silverware and a second golden era is in the pipeline?

"No, there is a certain energy you need to do this job and, at times, I have realised that although it is OK, [mine] is not what the team need," he said.

"I think the team need the new energy they are going to get from [incoming director of rugby] Brendan [Venter]."

McCall said his goodbyes to the StoneX Stadium after last Saturday's win over Harlequins. "A lot of fuss" is how he characteristically, but fondly, describes the guard of honour and dressing room send-off.

McCall's legacy is more than trophies though. A clutch of young coaches have emerged from under his wing to take on jobs elsewhere.

Paul Gustard, currently flying high in the Top 14 with Stade Francais, Sale boss Alex Sanderson and England head coach Steve Borthwick were all proteges.

As he heads out of the hot seat, he would like to see more support for those who follow in his, and their, wake.

"It is a great job, but it is a job like no other, in that it can make you feel self-doubt, make you uncertain. The losses can be hard to bear sometimes,"

"I have learned how to deal with that, but younger coaches need more support.

"There is a toll to the job, and I can see that toll on a younger coach sometimes."

McCall is carrying that pressure, purpose and privilege for the final time. If he can carry it all the way to a seventh Premiership title it may be the sweetest victory of the lot.