Saracens’ Alex Goode hailed a strong final 20 minutes after his side sealed a bonus point win away at Newcastle Falcons on Saturday, 36-21.

There was only one point in it at the break and Goode admitted that Sarries didn’t perform as they’d have liked for three-quarters of the game but praised their response at the end.

“We weren’t at our best in the first 60 and just didn’t have that bite about us,” said Goode. 

“It took a big hit from Billy (Vunipola) to get us going and then off the back of that I thought we rolled our sleeves up at the end, worked unbelievably hard and got the result we wanted.” 

An early try from George McGuigan and the boot of Will Haydon-Wood kept the Falcons in touch, but late tries from Rotimi Segun and Goode sealed the victory and bonus point for Saracens. 

“I think we knew if we worked hard and we kept hold of the ball opportunities would come,” added Goode.

“We saw that in the first half but were just a bit lazy, weren’t resourcing the breakdowns, and giving them a chance really.  

“We were just a bit passive, allowing them to run at us, get momentum and then it was much harder.

“But then the second part of the second half, we just had that bite, we were whacking them on the gain line, making it really hard for them.

“It just took hard work really and some physicality. We punched holes and tries came off the back of it.”

The result leaves Saracens second in the Gallagher Premiership Rugby table with eight games of the regular season to go, and Goode believes there is more to come from his side as they chase a top four berth.

“Overall, (I’m) really happy to get the five points but there still a lot more in us and another level to go to for the rest of the season, but it is pleasing to get five points away from home,” added Goode.