Seven-try Connacht defeat Saracens in Champions Cup opener

Connacht delivered a dazzling attacking display to overcome Saracens in their first Champions Cup pool match. Captain Cian Prendergast and fly‑half Ciaran Frawley each crossed the try line twice as the Irish side, sitting third from bottom in the United Rugby Championship after three games, racked up seven tries against the three‑time European champions at a noisy Dexcom Stadium.

Saracens briefly held a 12‑0 lead thanks to early scores from Sione Vaenuku and Noah Caluori, but Connacht responded with 19 unanswered points. Tries from Prendergast, Cathal Forde and Shamus Hurley‑Langton put the hosts ahead. Hurley‑Langton received a sin‑bin just before halftime, and Saracens capitalised when Nick Tompkins dummied his way over the line with the clock still showing red, leaving the first half tied at 19‑19.

Playing with 14 men, Connacht opened the second half when Bundee Aki supplied the ball for Prendergast’s second try. Saracens answered quickly as Owen Farrell and Elliot Daly set up Rotimi Segun for an easy score. Frawley then added a brace, and replacement Caolin Blade contributed another try, extending Connacht’s lead to 14 points. Vaenuku managed a second try for the visitors, but it was not enough to change the outcome.

The match ended 45‑36 in favour of Connacht. A bonus point slipped away because the competition rules require a team to score at least three more tries than its opponent to claim the extra point, a margin Connacht did not achieve.

In the other Pool Two fixture on Saturday, La Rochelle beat South Africa’s Lions 31‑14. The Lions played the game in memory of teammate Hyron Andrews, who died at the team hotel on Friday at the age of 31; tributes to the former Sale Sharks player were offered before kick‑off.

**Line‑ups**

Connacht: Gilbert; Treacy, Forde, Aki, Jennings; Frawley, Reilly; Van Wyk, Victory, Illo, D Murray, Murphy, Prendergast (c), Hurley‑Langton, Jansen. Replacements: De Buitlear, Bohan, Connolly, N Murray, O’Brien, Blade, Ioane, Ryan.

Saracens: Daly; Caluori, Tompkins, Vaenuku, Segun; Farrell, Williams; Mawi, George, Street, Sodeke, Tizard, Itoje (c), Knight, Earl. Replacements: Clarke, Brantingham, Weilbach, Isiekwe, Michelow, Barbeary, James, Burke.

Referee: Pierre Brousset (France) with assistants Luc Ramos and Julien Caulier (both France) and TMO Tual Trainini (France).