Saracens need men-in-black magic to upset champions La Rochelle

Mark McCall’s side face uphill task trying to bridge gap between French and English teams in Champions Cup quarter-final

TIME TO STAND UP: Saracens Owen Farrell tackled by Ospreys Sam Parry (left) and Adam Beard (right) during the Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 match at the StoneX Stadium

Saracens have had some spectacular away days in Europe over the years. At this same quarter-final stage three years ago, before the salary cap saga interrupted them, they memorably took down Leinster in Dublin and their first Champions Cup title success was sealed in France in 2016 when seven Owen Farrell penalties in a rain-drenched contest took them past Racing 92 in Lyon.

So much for the consoling crutch of history. Life grows steadily harder for England’s representatives with every extra euro that flows into the coffers of France’s leading clubs and Sunday’s eagerly awaited meeting with the reigning European champions, La Rochelle, will demonstrate precisely where the balance of power between the Premiership and the Top 14 lies. Let’s just say a Saracens win would rank right up there alongside the greatest knockout victories in their trophy-hoisting heyday.