However, the ball emerged on the Saracens side (illegally it would appear) and Kameli Ratuvou pounced for the game winning score.

"We created a winning position for ourselves but then didn't execute things correctly and didn't take the right options to close out the game."

"So, we ended up with that scrum and that was a bit of gamesmanship by them - the ball was knocked out of Graame Beveridge's hand before it went in the scrum and that was it."

Q. What did you think of the way the boys reacted? They looked incredibly disappointed.

"Well, they were. They did absolutely everything to put themselves in a winning position. We had a game plan and they executed the game plan very well."

"But, once we got that five point advantage, there were times when we needed to get the ball off the field and didn't do so. There were times when we needed to hang on to the ball in contact and we didn't."

"So, that meant that we were unable to sustain any pressure on them when we had that five point advantage and then all the pressure started to come back onto us and, in the end, it told."

"As I say, it was a bit of gamesmanship that won them the game. They took the try well but we've got a changing room full of bitterly disappointed players."

"If I could see it from where I was, I'm not sure why no-one else could. But that's by the by. These things happen in rugby."

"But we lost that game. Saracens didn't win it."

Q. It must be disappointing to finish with six defeats on the trot?

"Well. I think all you can say today is that all the guys performed. They put in a performance for themselves and for all the supporters that were here."

"Some will say that we were unlucky but I don't buy that. We had the game under control and we had to do the right things to win it and we didn't execute properly to close it out."

"The fact is, that for a large proportion of that game, we played very well. We defended well and we attacked with conviction. We controlled the advantage line for a lot of the game. Once Darren Crompton came on, our scrum was good."

"So, it was a pretty positive performance to finish but it's incredibly disappointing. We're all in the game to win and we came up short."

Q. The youngsters looked very good out there?

"I think the future's bright really. Luke Eves played very, very well. He's a really exciting prospect for next season."

"Iain Grieve has now backed up impressive performance after impressive performance. He looks to me to be a very good rugby player."

"And Redford Pennycook lost nothing in comparison to Richard Hill so there were some huge positives there."

"Virtually all the guys on the pitch contributed to what was a very positive performance."

"But, ultimately, as a team, you've got to know how to close down a game and how you apply pressure to the opposition when you're five points in front instead of taking pressure yourself."

"And that was the difference really. When we had that winning margin, we did or didn't do things which meant that we couldn't apply pressure on them."

"In the end, the pressure started to build on us and it told."

Q. Have you seen enough of the three you named to say they'll be regulars next season?

"Well, you can't really say that. All I can say is that I believe that those three are all Premiership calibre rugby players."

Q. Ed Barnes showed that he's not going to roll over and give Adrian Jarvis his place?

"No, he was very good. I think he tired a bit towards the end. They were very exacting conditions out there."

"But Ed's got an awful lot to offer. He threatened the advantage line and was a constant threat to their defence."

"He kicked well out of hand and I think that he's growing tactically and improving with every game. He was a huge positive for us."

"He's had a good first season for us. He was one of those boys who probably thought that he'd missed the boat Premiership wise and I think that's made him even more determined to come up with the goods."

"He'll continue to improve and learn. He's been a very good signing for Bristol."