Saracens 27 Racing 24: Sarries scrap like champions just hours after they were dumped down to the Championship
SARACENS scrapped like champions - just hours after they were dumped down to the Championship as their historic era ended in horror.
The rock-bottom club rose from the ashes to bag a European knock-out spot and bring some light to the darkest week in their 144-year history.
Slipping in through the back door, Mark McCall's men continue the defence of their Champions Cup crown with a quarter final against Leinster in April - before kissing goodbye to the tournament for at least two seasons.
And they did it the most Saracens way possible - with 14 men and by coming from behind to win it in a dramatic final five minutes against French giants Racing 92.
In an emotionally draining week for the crisis club, McCall then admitted that the dynasty he had built is over as he begins a rebuilding job in the second tier of English rugby.
Star man Owen Farrell has vowed to stay with the club.
And to mix it up as they look to bounce straight back they are considering taking their stars around the globe to play friendlies against Super Rugby sides in the southern hemisphere.
Before kick-off the club made a grovelling apology and vowed to change after they were caught for their financial doping.
END OF AN ERA
And Sarries boss McCall said: “In many ways this is the end of that era, from the start of 2009.
"We know have got some time to plan for a new era, a new journey and that is the optimistic way of looking at it.
“There have been a few ideas knocking around and the possibility of playing a Super Rugby team from time to time during the year if we are in the Championship and not in Europe, those are things that would excite the players.
“I think it is important that we make decisions with the players, not for them. Keeping players against their will is never going to work.
"We need to see how the meetings go next week and see where some players’ thoughts are.
"There are going to be changes. There is no doubt the bunch of players that we got in our squad now aren’t going to be the same that we have in the Championship next year."
SARRIES CLING ON
The home support turned up for a relegation party at Allianz Park and it was far from the wake that many predicted.
England second-row Maro Itoje bagged a brace with Mako Vunipola opening the scoring before Teddy Iribaren and Virimi Vakatawa hit back.
Will Skelton's red card for a high tackle on the stroke of halftime made things even tougher as they came in three points down after an Iribaren penalty at 21-17.
But Sarries hung on like only they can.
Itoje scored his second before Bernard Le Roux saw yellow for a late shot on Farrell and the England captain converted for a nail-biting victory.
With things sorted on the pitch, it is off it where there will be endless discussions this week over players' futures as none of them have a relegation release clause in their contract.
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McCall, who also confirmed he is staying, added: "The only thing we have clarity about is that we are going to get relegated and at least, with that, we can start to make a plan for the future.
"That was a possibility anyway, with the 35-point deduction, but we are going to have to talk to every player now. Everyone has got a slightly different situation.
"We’ll also have to talk to Eddie Jones and see what he thinks, in terms of his established players from Saracens and what he thinks about the young players at Saracens.
"There's a Lions tour at the end of next season so we have to talk to Warren Gatland about what he would like from the Saracens players who are in contention."