McCall wary as champions begin their title defence in Northampton’s fortress

CHAMPIONS CUP: Mark McCall believes it would be ‘a big achievement’ if Saracens open their European Champions Cup campaign by beating Northampton today. The reigning European champions and current English Premiership leaders head to Franklin’s Gardens just six weeks after they crushed Saints 55-24 in a league game at Twickenham. Northampton recovered, though, by winning four of their next five Premiership games, and Saracens rugby director McCall expects a fierce examination in the Pool Two clash. ‘It would be a big achievement for us to win at Franklin’s Gardens,’ he said. ‘They’ve had a great start to the season in terms of their home form. They were outstanding against Leicester, Bath and Harlequins, so to go there and get a result would put us in a really good position.’