"We definitely targeted this as a competition that we should win but all credit to Northampton.”

Farrell, who appeared off the bench for the final 25 minutes before heading into retirement, continued: “We did play well in the second half and we deserved something out of it but all credit to Myler, it was a great drop goal in the end.

"They're a great side, Jim Mallinder and Dorian West have done a fantastic job this year and they will be hard to beat in the final."

Rugby director Mallinder said: "In the first half we were excellent, we played some really good rugby and thoroughly deserved our half-time lead.

“Saracens came back at us well in the second half but we defended well, got the drop goal and kept control."

Saracens hit back to level the scores after being 13-3 down and head coach Richard Graham, in charge for the last time before returning home to Australia as skills coach to the national side, said: "I thought we'd put ourselves back in a position to win it.

"The players are obviously gutted, it was our opportunity for Europe gone and it's the fifth semi-final in three years we have failed to progress past."