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'Punched in the face' Saracens suffer double back-row injury blow

BATH, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: Saracens' Director of Rugby Mark McCall during the Gallagher PREM match between Bath Rugby and Saracens at The Recreation Ground on March 20, 2026 in Bath, England. (Photo by Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Saracens boss Mark McCall has challenged his players to make him proud when they face Northampton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following the shock of a “punch in the face” from Bath, who inflicted an embarrassing 62-15 loss on the North London side last Friday night.

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McCall also wants the fact this will be Elliot Daly’s 100th game for the club to add extra motivation to a team that will see the return of England captain Maro Itoje, veteran hooker Jamie George and Welsh hero Rhys Carre. However, England flanker Ben Earl is ruled out by concussion suffered at Bath while Juan Martin Gonzalez has a concerning foot injury.

The Saracens players have been shown the second half horror show at Bath and McCall is confident the expected 47,000 crowd and the stadium will provide the backdrop for a much improved performance.

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He said: “I want to see a team that fights which we didn’t quite see on Friday night if we are honest. I want to be proud of them when they walk off the pitch and that is the bottom line.

“The Bath scoreline was difficult to accept and it’s the first time that has happened this season. How we reacted to the pressure of the scoreboard was massively disappointing and the important thing is how we respond. We have to make it happen.

“We have been punched in the face and have to accept it and deal with it. Frustration and disappointment would be the emotions I witnessed, not anger, and let’s get stuck in on Saturday. It is Elliot’s 100th game for the club in a remarkable career with just south of 400 games at the top level for Wasps, England and the Lions and we want to make it a special day for him.

“Northampton rested their international players last weekend and you want to play the best teams. They are a very settled group and we have to show the best of ourselves.”

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McCall insisted that Itoje is not tired and is being managed well by club and country. “People can draw the wrong conclusion and chatting to Maro he feels great; “added McCall.

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EvilMockingJay 13 minutes ago
Antoine Dupont missing for now as Galthie names 33-man France squad

Well, he’s returning from an heavy injury, and still fresh compared to all the other 9 of top14. I know he made a super perf against Racing92 but, on the season ? Lucu, Le Garrec, Serin, Jauneau, Couilloud, and of course Graou did more for their teams. It’s “easier” for him to do ONE big perf, while all the other 9 were the best players of their team during the whole season, and he did that with a forward pack being a lot stronger and less tired than the Racing one.

Now had he played for all the season without a bulldozer pack like Toulouse one… maybe he would have being far less interesting against Racing92. I'm not saying is not a good player. Not at all. But, in my opinion, this season is really not the season to call him “best 9 in the world”. Not even best 9 in France… which, again, is normal because he was heavly injured, it’s even awesome is still capable of playing. And for these reasons, i'm thinking that Galthié should do without him with France group. A place in the squad is not a given, even for the former best player in the world. If another player with his number is generally better and in better form, he is the one who should be given the jersey. Dupont should take the time to really get back to full fitness (50’ by match with his club is not enough for international standards) before giving him back the blue jersey. + We need to stop that “Dupont dependence” or during the next big competition, *someone* is gonna destroy him. Again.



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