Saracens coach Mark McCall conceded that his team came up against a better side as they were beaten 22-3 by Clermont Auvergne in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup.
Brock James kicked 17 points for the French Club at Vicarage Road to make sure that no English side would be in the last four of the competition for the first time in its history.
"Today we came up against an outstanding team who played a great game," said McCall. "This stage of the competition is a step up to what we are used to.
"Their team is star-studded and the internationals they brought off the bench, they were just too good for us today.
"They will be a very difficult team to beat. Their semi-final against Leinster will be tremendous."
Ulster will host Edinburgh at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin in the other semi-final.
