Mark McCall unsure if Stade Rochelais are favourites

The Northern Irishman believes the winners of the first semi-final on April 29 – four-time winners Leinster Rugby or record five-time champions Stade Toulousain – could have a significant say in the destiny of the trophy in Dublin on May 20 too.

“They brought their best game and we knew they would; after all, they are a great team and the European champions,” he said of La Rochelle. “If you want to play against them, you have to be incredibly accurate and we weren’t.

“I’m not sure if they are the best team in Europe or the favourites to win it again, though. There are a couple of other teams, like Toulouse and Leinster, who are outstanding sides. Home advantage is worth a lot, as we’ve seen in the last 16 and the quarter-finals.”

McCall bemoaned the penalty count and the French club’s defence as the main reasons that their bid for a fourth Heineken Champions Cup failed.

“The penalty count was a big issue for us, and we didn’t have the accuracy and precision you need against the very top teams,” he said. “Their defence was also incredible.

“We had a lot of ball and a lot of times down their end without looking like we were going to score. They were very good at capitalising on any bit of field position they got.”

La Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara was full of praise for Saracens’ effort at Stade Marcel Deflandre, though.

“Saracens have a great mindset founded on doggedness, respect and humility, and we knew we would be tested,” he said.

“We couldn’t put them away, but we had enough in the bank to keep them at arm’s length. The game is based on fine margins and we are aware of that. What was really pleasing was we didn’t give them any scores.

“Most of the game they were on three points and then they got a try that Andrew Brace saw, and it took confirmation from the TMO that it was a scorer.”