Grand Slam heroes star for Saracens

Saracens boss Mark McCall praised his returning England stars after they showed no signs of a Grand Slam hangover in a commanding 36-18 win over Exeter on Saturday.

The victory moves the London club above their visitors to the top of the Premiership table.

Among the defending champions' try scorers were Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola, who were back in club action just a week after playing key roles in helping England complete a Six Nations clean sweep with victory over France in Paris.

Farrell's performance was especially impressive as he was playing at fly-half, having spent the past couple of months on England duty at inside centre.

"It says a bit about Owen, having not played at 10 for eight or nine weeks, to produce that kind of performance, and that goes for all of our international players," said McCall.

"To win a Grand Slam and the high of that, and then to turn in the performance that they all did today says something about them," the Saracens coach added.

Eddie Jones, the England coach, was among the crowd at Allianz Park and the Australian saw a third of his Slam-winning team -- Farrell, Billy Vunipola, brother Mako Vunipola, and locks Maro Itoje and George Kruis -- start for Saracens.

Full-back Alex Goode, another member of the England squad, flanker Jackson Wray and United States international Chris Wyles alo scored tries for Saracens, with Goode converting Wyles's effort five minutes before full-time.

Exeter, who saw former England No 8 Thomas Waldrom score two tries, with Gareth Steenson landing two penalties and Will Hooley kicking a late conversion, were outplayed in just about every facet of the game.

McCall added: "I thought we were really good today. Playing into that strong wind in the first half, it was kind of as good as it gets."

- Fixture concerns -

Saracens chairman Nigel Wray used his programme notes to argue against Premiership matches being scheduled on international weekends, as happened during the Six Nations and the World Cup in England, which took place in the early part of the domestic season.

McCall, asked about Wray's remarks, replied: "That was Billy Vunipola's fifth game in the Premiership this season.

"It doesn't make a lot of sense to not have those players for almost two-thirds of the season, but it is what it is.

"Maybe a summer off at some point in time for these people might be the sensible thing to do, but I am sure that is not going to happen.

"Billy had an outstanding tournament, and he was magnificent out there today, not just with the ball.

"Billy has always been consistent for us. I think the England management did a good job with him. They gave him responsibility and told him he was going to be the main man, and Billy has responded to that."

Exeter head coach Rob Baxter had no complaints about the result, saying: "I thought Saracens were good. On the day, we have been outplayed.

"I can run around and try to find all kinds of reasons and excuses, but our big issue in the first half was getting beaten on the gain-line in attack and defence."

Elsewhere on Saturday, Bath enjoyed a 17-12 west country derby win away to Gloucester, with ex-England wing Semesa Rokoduguni scoring two tries.

Meanwhile Worcester all but ensured their Premiership survival with a 12-6 victory in a try-less encounter at home to bottom-of-the-table London Irish.