Quins rub salt in Sarries’ wounds

THE toughest week in Saracens’ history ended with their worst league defeat for four years as they were roundly thrashed in the first of their games that do not matter. With Sarries set to break the salary cap for a fourth consecutive year, their relegation was confirmed last weekend. Here they were booed on and made to trudge off, with all colour and fight drained out of them. Quins delighted in rubbing red and black noses in it. Marcus Smith dazzled, Alex Dombrandt made a mockery of his England Six Nations snub and both propelled their side to a bonus-point win. ‘Without question this has been the most difficult week,’ said Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall. ‘When the original decision was made there was a strong feeling we wouldn’t get relegated. But now there is a lot of anxiety about personal situations, so it was difficult to focus on a game.’ Quins hammered Saracens as Cadan Murley scored twice, with Danny Care, Gabriel Ibitoye, Paul Lasike and Martin Landajo adding the rest. Saracens managed one try each from Alex Lozowski and Dom Morris but by the end delighted Harlequin fans were laughing at Saracens’ mistakes. McCall said that despite having nothing to play for they would improve. ‘This game will be the worst you see of us,’ he added. Many of this team do not know where they will be playing next season. ‘They are conflicted and getting a lot of advice from different people,’ said McCall. ‘These are not decisions to rush, but hopefully we will sort things over the next month.’