Bosch: Why does no-one have McCall on Lions list?
SARACENS centre Marcelo Bosch reckons double-winning boss Mark McCall would make a “fantastic” addition to next year’s British & Irish Lions coaching team.
With Lions head coach Warren Gatland set to name his assistants in December, McCall’s name has barely rated a mention despite his achievements in leading Saracens to back-to-back Premiership titles and victory in last season’s Champions Cup. However, Bosch told The
Rugby Paper: “Mark McCall, right, is an exceptional coach and if he was asked I’m sure he would do a fantastic job for the Lions. Along with Brendan Venter, what he’s done here over the last few years has been unbelievable.
“You can see how far the club has come and it’s not just winning the double – the Premiership and Championship – last season.
“He’s kept the club up there competing for these cups year after year and the work he does with players and other coaches is immense.
“He’s a very passionate rugby man who looks at every detail of the game and he’s a really good manmanager who understands players and treats us very well.
“As an Argentinian it’s difficult to say, but I think Mark would be perfect for the Lions.”
Proof of McCall’s talent is the seamless way in which Saracens have attacked the new campaign by setting the early pace in the Premiership.
Bosch reckons more trophies will come, explaining: “The main players from last season are still here and new signings like Schalk Burger have added quality.
“The hunger is still there and we are hugely motivated to be a better team than last year. “We won the double but everybody – players and coaches – wants to continue being the best and reach the final stages again. “After that, we hope to continue winning things and that’s the shared mentality that makes this club so special.” Having retired from Test rugby with his beloved Argentina, Bosch, 32, has benefitted from stepping off the international treadmill after ten years. He added: “Of course I miss it and when I see the big games Argentina are playing, I’d love to be part of it. “But this is the first summer I haven’t been back to Argentina in my ten years in Europe and, rugby-wise, it’s been great personally. “In the past I’ve arrived in October when the league had already started, but now I’ve had a full preseason and it feels like a new lease of life.”