Sarries hope to end run of seven games without a win in all competitions by winning on Christmas Eve

Ham & High: George Kruis collects a lineout for Saracens earlier in the season (pic: Nigel French/PA)George Kruis collects a lineout for Saracens earlier in the season (pic: Nigel French/PA) (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

George Kruis hopes Saracens can take the positives from their European Champions Cup defeat at Clermont Auvergne into their return to Aviva Premiership action at Leicester Tigers on Sunday.

Sarries saw their winless run in all competitions reach seven games with a 24-21 defeat in France, though it was a much improved display from their drubbing at home to Clermont a week prior.

Despite the result, the north Londoners impressed early on and showed signs of improvement in defence, but lock Kruis knows it will count for little if they let standards slip on their trip to Welford Road on Christmas Eve.

“(The display at Clermont) is a turning point if we keep our heads and back up what we have talked about,” the 27-year-old told the club website.

“For us, it is a positive that we showed each other how much it means to us. The other positive is that we have so much more to give.”

On their trip to Clermont, Saracens were looking for a response after suffering their heaviest European defeat at home to the French outfit the week prior.

While the away day ended in defeat, Sarries certainly gave an improved display, with Ben Spencer and Alex Lozowski scoring tries.

The north Londoners can certainly be happy with the display despite the loss, and Kruis was content with the display after a difficult week for the Allianz Park outfit.

“We’ve had an interesting period over the past four to five weeks, a period that has cut us quite deep,” added the England international.

“It’s been about character and ahead of the Clermont game, we had some big, open conversations, some honest conversations.

“We’re lucky enough as a club to be able to be that honest with each other. Off the back of it, we showed how much we mean to each other.

“We didn’t win, but we put in a performance we’re proud of against a team who are playing very well at the moment.”

The recent run of defeats have hit Saracens’ hopes of winning silverware this season hard, but there is still plenty of time for them to turn things around.

And a taming of the Tigers this weekend would be a good way for the north Londoners to start, while also gifting their supporters an early Christmas present.