Saracens director of rugby, Mark McCall, has expressed his disappointment following the team's recent defeat to Harlequins. The match, which saw Saracens relinquish a 12-0 halftime lead to lose 23-12, has left the team 'hurting' but determined to recover in their upcoming game against Leicester Tigers.

Performance Analysis

McCall described the second-half performance against Harlequins as 'strangely subdued' and 'disappointing.' Despite fielding key players like Maro Itoje, Jamie George, Tom Willis, and Elliot Daly, Saracens failed to maintain their momentum. 'For some reason, the team lacked their normal energy, and that affected everything we did in a negative way,' McCall told BBC Radio London.

Upcoming Challenge

Saracens are currently seventh in the Premiership table with six matches remaining. A victory against Leicester could propel them to fourth place, depending on other results. McCall acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating, 'Welford Road is a great place to play, and Leicester is a very impressive side.'

Player Focus

Maro Itoje, who has played every minute of 30 consecutive Six Nations matches, is set to start again for Saracens. McCall praised Itoje's commitment, noting, 'It's super-impressive that he's keen to help out his club as well.' However, plans are in place to give Itoje a 10-day break after the Leicester match.

Looking Ahead

After facing Leicester, Saracens will travel to Toulon for a European Champions Cup fixture on April 5. Their next Premiership game is against Gloucester on April 19. The team is focused on turning their season around and securing a top-four finish.

Full Teams

Leicester Tigers: Steward; Radwan, Kata, Woodward, Hassell-Collins; Pollard, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Montoya, Heyes, Henderson, Chessum, Liebenberg, Reffell, Cracknell. Replacements: Clare, Whitcombe, Cole, Wells, Ilione, Youngs, Shillcock, Perese.

Saracens: Daly; Elliott, Lozowski, Tompkins, Hall; Burke, Van Zyl; Mawi, George, Balmain, Itoje, Tizard, McFarland, Gonzalez, Willis. Replacements: Dan, Carre, Riccioni, Isiekwe, Onyeama-Christie, Earl, Simpson, Goode.

Referee: Luke Pearce.