Saracens’ Prem hopes appear over after Northampton defeat – and they only have themselves to blame

The usual occupiers of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium have spent this season bemoaning the under-performance of a highly-talented, highly-paid squad , and there will have been plenty of occasions where the Saracens faithful would have joined in that Spurs refrain. The north London rugby club are not nearly as lowly as their Premier League counterparts – and there is no longer the threat of relegation for any team in the Gallagher Prem – but with their play-off hopes in real peril, a narrow defeat to Northampton Saints in their annual visit to this glimmering sporting cathedral was most unwelcome. The 21-17 defeat here, sealed three minutes from time by Archie McParland’s second score, leaves Saracens 12 points off Exeter Chiefs in fourth, a gaping chasm to make up with just six Prem games to come.

And so, too, were a few of the league’s fears creeping nearer: Bristol’s shock defeat to Harlequins in Cardiff has opened a gap between the four best and the rest. While the Bears will surely still have a significant say, a petering towards the play-offs is, at the very least, a possibility for a league that has of late been proud of its competitive balance. Northampton snatched a late win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Getty) The truth, though, is that too many sides have not been consistently at the level required, with Saracens very much among them.

The stakes, the stage, and the circumstances of it being director of rugby Mark McCall ’s last season provided plenty of reason for a strong showing; they were much, much better here than they had been in a drubbing at Bath last week, but a few key errors and a sluggish start cost them. “It is absolutely gutting to lose, but I’m not gutted with the way we lost,” said McCall. “To go 14-0 down so early after losing by 60 points last week, the way we fought our way back into the game was magnificent, really, and I am actually really proud of the performance given what happened last week.

It’s gutting to lose it at the end, but we can work with that. “Although we lost tonight, we were two minutes away from having a really happy changing room. I know there is something good to build on.