Saracens claim win over Toulouse in Champions Cup at Allianz Park
Last Updated: 14/11/15 9:27pm
Saracens opened their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign with a 32-7 victory over Toulouse at Allianz Park on Saturday.
First-half tries from Billy Vunipola and Chris Wyles set up a 27-0 lead at half-time, and Owen Farrell gave his side their third try within the first two minutes of the second half, but Saracens were unable to capitalise and score the all-important fourth try that would have handed them a bonus point.
The home side started with the wind at their backs and were clinical in the way they used it to their advantage, but if the Saracens' coaching staff had any concerns it would be that their side failed to grab the extra point despite being 32-0 up with 38 minutes remaining.
From the moment the game started Saracens went to work to build pressure on the scoreboard. With ball in hand they were difficult to contain and before long the pressure had led to a pair of penalties from Owen Farrell.
The first try came when Mako Vunipola delivered a superb inside ball before supporting and claiming a try on the back of the ruck for a 13-0 lead following the conversion.
Farrell added another two penalties before the comeback was made even more unlikely with the visitors reduced to 14 men.
Saracens continued to run at their guests and Toulouse continued to infringe, with Census Johnston shown a yellow card in the 27th minute after the referee lost his patience with the French side's ill-discipline.
Farrell slotted his fifth penalty and Saracens had opened up a 22-0 lead within 34 minutes.
Toulouse would have hoped to go into the half and regroup, but Wyles was on the end of an overlap to make it a 27-point lead at the break after Farrell missed his first kick of the night.
Saracens were immediately off the mark in the second half when Chris Wyles and Owen Farrell muscled over together from close range, with Farrell given the credit for the score.
The fly-half missed the conversion once again, but at 32-0 the home side looked in pure control as they sought the fourth try for the bonus point.
However, changes made to the front row at half-time handed Toulouse the advantage in the scrum, and that momentum filtered into the rest of the game as Mark McCall's men struggled to find the fifth competition point despite setting up numerous scrums and lineouts in opposition territory.
It was Toulouse who scored the final try of the game after a lengthy possession led to replacement hooker Christoper Tolofua scoring from the base of a ruck.
Despite the fact that there were still 29 minutes remaining in the game when the conversion was kicked by Sebastien Bezy, neither side was able to add to the scoreboard.
