Saracens may pay the price of their own revival when England come calling

Saracens’ first-class demolition of Bristol Bears, combined with Leicester Tigers’ failure to convert their healthy lead against Exeter into any points, helped Mark McCall’s side take one giant step closer towards Premiership survival – but there is trouble on the horizon.

It could have been significantly worse. At one stage Saracens were trailing Bristol 13-7 while Leicester were threatening a major upset at Welford Road in leading the Chiefs 22-10. Had results finished up that way, Saracens would have found themselves 25 points behind Leicester and facing a fierce battle against relegation this season. Instead, they secured a 12-point swing in their favour, and the reality of the reigning champions dragging themselves off the foot of the table now seems to be a case of when rather than if.

But Saracens must make hay while the winter sun is shining. Come the Six Nations, Saracens could once again be without the nine England internationals that featured in Eddie Jones’s World Cup squad as international rugby returns.

Yet that number could increase. As part of their preparations for the tournament, Jones will take 36 players to Portugal for a week-long training camp at the end of January, meaning that anyone selected will miss round nine of the Premiership. For Saracens, that means a trip to fierce London rivals Harlequins, where a ferocious battle can be expected at the Stoop given how the south-west Londoners have reacted to their neighbour’s salary cap breach this season.

In addition to Farrell, Itoje and the Vunipola brothers, Saracens could realistically find themselves without the services of one or two others, too. With five more places in his training squad than he was afforded in Japan this autumn, Jones may well take a few players who he wants to get a closer look at. Ben Earl and Max Malins would fall into that category.

The pair have been instrumental in getting Saracens back on track following their 35-point deduction, with Earl starring in the Premiership and Malins looking at home at full-back in the European double header against Munster this month. Both were at it again in Saturday’s rout over what remains an impressive Bristol outfit, with Earl unstoppable with ball in hand and Malins showing a maturity that belies his nearly 23 years to score twice.

Earl has already had a taste of the international scene, having toured South Africa in 2018 without making an appearance, and he fits the same mould of player as Tom Curry and Sam Underhill, who excelled together in Japan to help England to the World Cup final. If anything, Earl represents a much better option as No 8 cover for Billy Vunipola thanks to his powerful ball carrying.

“At the moment I am just trying to get picked for next week,” said Earl when asked whether Jones has come calling again. “It is competitive in the back row, we have got Maro and Nick (Isiekwe) who can play there as well so I am just trying to play well to put my own name in the conversation.

“I think you have to [block England out]. Until you get to a point where your name is a shoo-in for the 15 which mine certainly isn’t, I have been thankful for the opportunities I have had so far.”

Earl is only 21 years old and has plenty of time on his side, though an advantage he has is his past experience of the 2018 tour. “What a learning curve it was. On and off the pitch, rooming with certain people, the way that they train, the intensity of the way they train, how the match day works, all little things that you learn and learning from experience. It is something I have got under wing and I try to tap into it.

“I was with Chris Robshaw for the majority of the trip which was interesting. He was very insightful in terms of how he prepares for games and his mentality. And also how he switches off which is as important as playing itself. Stuff like that you are always trying to tap into.”

Malins would represent a much bigger gamble than Earl, but then Jones has shown many times before that he is not afraid of putting his faith in youth. And if he lives up to his word post-World Cup final, the Australian will be selecting a squad next month for the 2023 World Cup and not just the 2019 Six Nations – regardless of if he is still in charge in four years’ time.

It’s no secret that Saracens love developing England players. It is listed in their team announcement each week how many players have emerged from their academy, while McCall was quick to hail the 13 English-qualified players who helped secure victory over a Bristol side that featured just one Red Rose international in Nathan Hughes. It is the main reason why the club are so incensed with their salary cap punishment, with a feeling that they have been hurt by the ones they have helped the most.

But this success comes at a price, and that will come in late January, February and March when five successive rounds of the Premiership will be affected by international call-ups. If Earl and Malins continue at the rate they’re developing this season, they may well come to hurt the club who made them. But that's unlikely to stop Saracens from sticking to what they do best.