Saracens produced a victory to rescue their season as they overcame Toulouse 20-14 in a heavyweight Champions Cup clash at StoneX Stadium.
Two tries from Rotimi Segun and a third by Tom Willis placed Maro Itoje’s team in command after they were in danger of being swept away by a full-blooded start from the six-time champions.
Toulouse fought back in swirling winds and driving rain and while they threatened to reel in the deficit, the arrival of Owen Farrell and Ben Earl off the bench provided Saracens with the extra class they needed to get over the line.
But the dominant figure on a famous night in north London was Willis, the England number eight who was a force of nature despite needing treatment for an early injury.
It was the response demanded by Mark McCall following Saracens’ recent slide down the Prem, but it was another shaky night from Antoine Dupont’s Toulouse who were humbled 28-21 by Glasgow in their last Champions Cup outing.
Toulouse lead the Top 14 while Saracens are sixth in the Prem and the performances in the opening half hour reflected their league form. Jack Willis’ big hit on older brother Tom was an early statement and the French visitors – who were playing into the wind – went close with forward pick and goes almost edging them over.
Saracens were being rescued through their lineout defence, a hustling mentality and determination in the tackle as typified by a strip by Itoje, but there was no stopping Blair Kinghorn’s 18th-minute try as they finally ran out of numbers.
But it only took their first assault on the visiting whitewash to register their first score with Theo McFarland’s charge down of a lazy Dupont box kick launching a counterattack that was finished by Segun in the left corner.
Saracens almost struck with another counterattack soon after but an unkind bounce meant Alex Lozowski was unable to ground Fergus Burke’s astute kick, which was produced after a burst of speed from the Scotland fly-half.
Quick GuideChampions Cup roundup: Northampton thrashed by Bordeaux
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Northampton were brought back down to earth after they suffered a 50-28 loss away to Champions Cup holders, Bordeaux, in a repeat of last season’s final. Saints had already secured a place in the round of 16 after two wins from two in the competition and despite a double by Henry Pollock, they lost for the first time in Europe this season.
An irresistible Bordeaux side crossed over eight times in a scintillating display, but Northampton were able to leave with a bonus point after Danilo Fischetti touched down with two minutes left.
A ding-dong battle in a repeat of the 2025 showpiece appeared on the cards when Pollock (pictured) instantly replied in the 10th minute to the first try by Bordeaux wing Salesi Rayasi.
Ill-discipline proved costly for Saints as a raft of first-half sin-bins meant it was 24-7 to Bordeaux at the interval and Rayasi completed his treble two minutes after the restart.
Cameron Woki joined Rayasi in scoring a hat-trick after he bundled over in the 50th minute, but the visitors showed character with England star Pollock able to add to a Tommy Freeman score late on before Fischetti clinched a losing bonus point to leave Northampton third in Pool 4.
Munster slipped to a second Champions Cup defeat after going down 27-25 at Toulon in Pool 2.
Jack Crowley put Munster in front with two penalties, but they were reduced to 14 men in the 36th minute when Tadhg Beirne was sent to the sin-bin. Toulon responded just before the break as Marius Domon crossed before converting his own effort to give them a one-point advantage at half-time.
Toulon were straight out of the blocks in the second half when Ben White touched down in the 43rd minute and Domon converted, but Munster responded three minutes later when a quick switch towards the right allowed Calvin Nash to ground in the corner and Crowley added the extras.
A chaotic start to the half continued as Gaël Dréan scored for Toulon in the 49th minute with a try under the posts and Domon converted, while Munster were frustrated further six minutes later when Alex Nankivell was shown a yellow card.
Esteban Abadie was then sent to the sin-bin for Toulon, but they extended their lead with a Domon penalty. Jack O’Donoghue touched down for Munster after edging over the line, but Crowley missed the resulting conversion attempt.
Charles Ollivon saw yellow for the French side, allowing the visitors to capitalise as Tom Farrell went over and Crowley’s conversion sent them ahead, but Domon’s penalty with five minutes to play proved enough for Toulon. PA Media
Lozowski made up for the lost opportunity by setting Segun up for his second try, a show and go sweeping him through the midfield before releasing his wing, who used his footwork to score.
The revival was in full swing as the excellent Willis muscled over in the right corner after a lineout drive, building a 17-7 interval lead. Toulouse’s fightback began in the 47th minute when Matthis Lebel touched down in the left corner with Kinghorn, playing off a strong forward drive, releasing the wing with a long pass.
Willis stopped a certain try with a turnover and Farrell, who was back from a hamstring injury, landed a penalty as Saracens went 20-14 ahead. Worryingly for Toulouse, they were unable to mount a meaningful late attack with the closing stages of the game being ground out in their half.
