Goode and Farrell: Celebrating at Twickenham

The Watford-based club claimed their first English league title with a 22-18 victory over defending champions Leicester at Twickenham on Saturday.

Last year they were edged by the Tigers at the same stage and McCall is convinced Saracens have now signalled their arrival as a major force.

"Two years ago we said it was going to be about bringing a group of people together, creating friendships and creating memories," he said.

"You have to like each other and back each other up. You have to fight and fight.

"We have a brilliant squad of players and a brilliant guiding system above them.

"Had we lost today, it would have been hard to take but we would have coped with it.

"We hope today is the start of something, not the end of something.

"We've been here twice in a row and we want to be there at the business end of every season.

"We're a club that's growing and had we conceded a try in the last minute we would still have been going places."

Saracens, who have now amassed 13 consecutive victories, were forced to weather a ferocious injury-time assault consisting of 32 phases as Leicester sought to complete a spirited comeback.

"In a sick sort of way it was a fitting ending because it tells you a lot about Leicester as a club the fact they were 19-9 down but refused to give up," said McCall.

"But hopefully it tells you something about our team as well. We refused to be beaten and at the end we fought and we fought."

South African Schalk Brits emerged as the star of the afternoon with a man-of-the-match performance that was close to perfection.

Brits, the hooker who runs like a threequarter, set up the ultimately decisive 29th-minute try for James Short, threatened in attack throughout and even found time to execute a critical late tackle on Alesana Tuilagi.

"That was one of the best individual performances I've seen," said McCall.

"He was like superman. He was remarkable and hookers aren't meant to play that way.

"It's not just the runs, he throws the ball beautifully, he scrummages well and he defends so hard.

"It's not just the flashy things that make him so special."

Not far behind Brits in the performance stakes was teenager Owen Farrell, who finished with 17 points following a flawless kicking display.

Farrell has been tipped as a future England fly-half and his authority in today's final will only have enhanced his reputation.

"Every time that a new challenge has been presented to Owen he's risen to it," said McCall.

"For a guy one year out of school to play with that kind of composure and control against opposition as good as that is remarkable.

"Possibly they tried to rattle him, but he's a good defender and he doesn't mind mixing it up.

"Like everyone else he makes mistakes, but for a 19-year-old he has an unbelievable ability to put those mistakes to one side and do the next job.

"When you have that ability you are going to go places."

Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill was philosophical after watching his side fail to win their third successive Premiership title.

"We're disappointed to lose but we have to congratulate Saracens, they played well. On the day maybe they deserved to win," said Cockerill.

"Sometimes you lose, that's sport. It's not an exact science. We've been a few seasons with nothing in the cabinet before.

"We don't have a divine right to win things. We came up short today but it hasn't been a disastrous season."

Cockerill repeated his complaint that the strike of fly-half Toby Flood has suffered since working with England kicking coach Dave Alred last autumn.

Flood missed two penalties in the second half at a crucial point in Leicester's fightback.

"Floody went to England with a certain percentage and came back with a different one," said Cockerill.

"Floody's not responsible for the result today but that whole issue with his kicking has been an issue since the autumn.

"We'll see how it pans out after the World Cup."

Brits hailed the contribution from teenage fly-half Farrell as a "phenomenal feat".

The South Africa international said: "Owen Farrell is a kid who played like a man today. He will just get better with age and will, as he gets older, dominate more in attack and organising the backline even more.

"For a kid of 19 to play rugby like that is a phenomenal feat. He'll get better and better and is a great player.

"If I can think back to when I was 19, I was a kid. I could never have played like that.

"He'll definitely play international rugby, it is just a question of when, without a doubt.

"After last year's final there were a few things we wanted to change. We are one of the best defensive sides in the Premiership.

"I had no doubt the boys would keep them out. We have been in the same position a number of times this season. I just know the guy next to me wants to put his body on the line as much as me. We have worked very hard for two years to reach this title.

"We have created a bond in this team. Some people see it as work but we see it as creating new memories."

Brits won three Springbok caps in 2008 but fell out of favour in South Africa and moved to Saracens the following year, having been tempted by the vision for the club outlined to him by then director of rugby Brendan Venter.

"I still want to play for South Africa again. It is always a dream. I don't want to end up only playing three Tests, but I can only do my best. Selection is not in my hands," he said.

"When I came here two years ago Saracens promised me that it would be the time of my life and they have kept their promise. I want to learn from different cultures, and create new memories."