Mark McCall hails "phenomenal" Saracens effort

Saracens head coach Mark McCall has heaped praise on his players following this afternoon's 35-18 victory over Exeter Chiefs in the LV= Cup.

Three second-half tries helped turn the tide for Sarries, who prevailed 35-18 at Allianz Park to set up a home semi-final tie against Northampton Saints for the first time in the club's history.

"It's been a phenomenal effort," McCall told Saracens' official website. "Not just from the coaching staff actually, but from all the staff that have been involved in the team. They are made up from the people who work within our Academy and Joe Shaw has headed that up.

"He's done incredible job to build this team within a team. There's a great energy and a great buzz amongst this side, and it is brilliant news that their season has been extended – it's a very exciting time.

"You enter four competitions at the start of the year, we have done really well in the A-League, we're in the quarter-finals of the European Rugby Champions Cup, we are there or thereabouts in the Premiership and now we're in the final four of the LV= Cup. It shows that the foundations of the club are decent and healthy, and this group deserve a huge amount of credit."

Saracens return to league action next weekend when they take on Bath.