Itoje stealing line-outs and the limelight

MARK McCALL claimed England’s ‘attitude problems’ do not stem from the Saracens camp after his Red Rose youngsters booked a place in the Champions Cup final.

inspired by a man of the match performance from Maro itoje, Sarries ended Wasps’ European run and became the first team to reach next month’s final in Lyon.

Eddie Jones recently claimed that a handful of Grand Slam players are ‘ on notice’ because of a dip in performance, but McCall insisted the problem was with other clubs.

‘i’ve been very impressed with the guys, especially after winning a Grand Slam,’ said McCall. ‘At other clubs, maybe the players don’t have that hunger. But our international players, they love the club and love coming back to the club. they are all young, now we’ve got some really exciting games to look forward to.’

having finished as runners-up two years ago, the north London club now feel ready to go one better and claim their first European crown.

the return of Billy and Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Owen Farrell, George Kruis and itoje ( right) has provided a timely boost, with winger Chris Ashton claiming there are no bounds to the club’s production of internationals.

‘Jamie, George, Owen and all those lads have already progressed as first-team players,’ said Ashton. ‘Now it is the next batch coming through. it is down to the club, how we do that and making sure it carries on. Who knows where it will stop? ‘Maro has been outstanding all year. he has got the longest arms i have ever seen! i don’t know how he does it. i was standing on the wing watching these arms go up, just stealing line- out after line- out. he and George have had amazing seasons. Players like that stick out like sore thumbs. You can tell from a mile off.’ hooker George suffered a torn biceps during the Six Nations and was expected to miss the remainder of the season. But in a boost to the silverware charge, the 25- year- old could now return against Newcastle on Sunday. in previous seasons, McCall claimed it has been ‘men against boys’ in a series of near misses, but Ashton hopes the club can finally lose their reputation as Europe’s nearly men. ‘ Finals are fine margins,’ said Ashton, one of Saracens senior players at 29. ‘You have to lose games like this one and finals to finally win one. i just hope we’ve lost enough now.’