Friday 11 December 2015 00:15, UK
Stuart Barnes believes Saracens can go all the way in Europe this season and win their first Champions Cup.
The Aviva Premiership champions have made an excellent start to the season and sit top of the table after winning all of their opening six fixtures.
Mark McCall's men are also impressing in Europe, backing up an opening round win over Stade Francais with a bonus-point victory against Ulster in Belfast.
Sarries face Top 14 strugglers Oyonnax in back-to-back Champions Cup games, with both games live on Sky Sports, and if they can maintain their winning run they will have one foot in the quarter-finals.
"Saracens right now are the most impressive team in Europe," Barnes told Rugby Club Agenda.
"It's early days but they've built on what they achieved last year in winning the Premiership. I think they've got a team that can go all the way in Europe.
This is a very impressive Saracens team that knows how to turn pressure into points.
"Sarries' kick-chase game has always been brilliant but what they've added to it is an accuracy when the pressure comes. Their counter-attacking is very good.
"It's a little bit like New Zealand at club level. You play territory, you put the pressure on and when you get that ball back it is to deadly effect.
"This is a very impressive Saracens team that knows how to turn pressure into points."
Another English team that has caught the eye is Exeter Chiefs. They sit three points behind Saracens in the Premiership table and face a must-win match with Clermont Auvergne on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
"Despite the fact that the injuries to Dave Ewers and Henry Slade are big blows, this team is about the collective not the individual," said Barnes.
"They're in a good position to win this game against Clermont. Having lost to Ospreys, which was their one real blip this season, I think they have to win or they're out.
"This Exeter team are ready to be very competitive. When they came into the Premiership they played this lovely, fluid rugby which the Premiership wasn't used to. They then developed a forward game and as they showed against Wasps, their 'A' game can often be that forward game.
"The way they've done it is quite brilliant. Rob Baxter signed Geoff Parling, Julian Salvi and Thomas Waldrom; it's almost as if he has hacked into the essence of Leicester's forward power.
"Clermont will have seen that game against Wasps and know what's coming at the lineout, but if they get too narrow, expect people like Jack Nowell to be in space."
