Saracens run riot in European Cup
Defending champions Saracens romped to a six-try, 50-3 win over English rivals Sale on Saturday to take a huge step closer to the European Cup quarter-finals.
Boosted by the return from international duty of England stars Jamie George, Owen Farrell, Mako Vunipola, George Kruis and powerful lock Maro Itoje, Saracens claimed their third win in three games.
The bonus point triumph allowed them to open a 10-point lead in Pool 3 although three-time champions Toulon can close the gap when they face Scarlets on Sunday.
George, Marcelo Bosch, Sean Maitland (two), Chris Wyles and Richard Barrington all scored tries for while Farrell added 13 points with the boot before Alex Lozowski took over kicking duties.
A sole Alan MacGinty penalty accounted for all of Sale’s points. Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall later backed Farrell to skipper England in the Six Nations should Northampton’s Dylan Hartley be banned following his red card in Friday’s defeat to Leinster.
“Owen is ready. He’s one of those players who leads in every way because he leads from the front,” McCall said. “Some of his defending in the second quarter was out of this world. He leads through his actions, but also through his messages and communication with the team.”
Ulster edged Clermont 39-32 in a ninetry thriller as Munster and Glasgow also sent out markers. The result saw Ulster go second in Pool 5 on nine points, three behind leaders Clermont, who picked up two bonus points despite the defeat.
There was more French heartbreak when last season’s losing finalists Racing 92 went down to a 23-14 defeat by Glasgow.
Racing, featuring a glut of internationals including ex-All Black playmaker Dan Carter, currently sit last in Pool 1 with no points Munster are atop the pool after handing Leicester a record European loss, running out 38-0 victors at their near-impregnable Thomond Park ground.
Racing took the lead against Glasgow through Juan Imhoff, but the Scottish side then took over through two tries from Alex Dunbar and Ali Price, with Finn Russell kicking 13 points before Carter pulled back a converted try near the death.
Munster’s demolition of Leicester was thanks to tries from Simon Zebo, Jaco Taute (2) and a penalty try, New Zealander Tyler Bleyendaal hitting four penalties and three conversions.
A see-saw first-half in Ulster’s home of Belfast was witness to two ambitious teams willing to run everything saw the lead change hands seven times.
Clermont’s Fijian No 8 Peceli Yato opened the scoring, Ulster’s Luke Marshall splitting the defence for a straight run-in and then Ian Henderson crossing after a Ruan Pienaar cross-kick as Ulster roared back. But slick hands saw South Africanborn France full-back Scott Spedding go over before Paddy Jackson gathered his own grubber to hand the advantage back to the Irish province at the end of an enthralling first 40 minutes, 22-18.—AFP