Leicester full-back Tim Stimpson converted a late try from substitute Will Skinner to clinch a dramatic last-gasp draw from a dull match which failed to ignite until the final three minutes.

Despite the talent paraded by both teams - there were three former All Blacks on display in Taine Randell, Josh Kronfeld and Daryl Gibson - entertainment was in short supply during a largely tedious 80 minutes.

Neither side convinced but Leicester will be particularly disappointed that a backline including England centre Ollie Smith, who narrowly missed out on selection for Clive Woodward's World Cup squad, and Gibson misfired miserably.

There was no place in the Tigers' squad for Smith's fellow England discard Austin Healey and his invention was sorely missed as a fixture which has been keenly contested in recent years started poorly and and continued to bore a crowd until the final whistle.

A catalogue of errors from both teams meant there was little quality rugby on show as both fly-halves embarked on a penalty shoot-out which proved indecisive, and it took Morgan Williams' try in the 78th minute to finally breath some life into proceedings.

But just as it looked like Saracens had secured victory - Andy Goode had converted Williams' effort - the Tigers replied through Skinner a minute later who had just arrived onto the pitch to give the game the result it deserved.

Saracens threatened in the sixth minute when winger Smith fed Thomas Castaignede who hit the line at pace and burst through, chipping over Stimpson but then losing the ensuing race as Leicester scrambled to safety.

Full-back Stimpson nudged the Tigers ahead shortly after with a long-range penalty but they were on the receiving end of some fearsome tackling from Saracens, who have been working hard to improve their defensive game under new coach Rod Kafer.

Leicester were also looking solid though and this made for a forgettable opening 20 minutes, with Goode's missed penalty the only further action worthy of note as both teams failed to make any real headway.

The Tigers then began to gain the upper hand in the possession stakes and they used it to good effect with fly-half Sam Vesty pushing Saracens back with a series of angle kicks deep into the home 22.

One Leicester attack nearly ended in disaster however when Vesty was hurled backwards after receiving the ball from a scrum, spilling the ball to quicksilver winger Richard Haughton who was brought down just as he looked in the clear.

Fijian lock Simon Raiwalui, who has been handed the Saracens captaincy, traded punches with Will Johnson at the ensuing breakdown but referee Roy Maybank declined to take any action.

Instead he sin-binned home hooker Joe Ross in the 32nd minute after the touch judge spotted an infringement, while moments later Goode missed another shot at goal but then atoned with two quickfire penalties.

Stimpson levelled the score seven minutes into first-half injury time and then added his third three-pointer of the afternoon shortly after the restart following some strong running from Gibson.

Saracens let a superb chance go begging in the 49th minute, stretching the Tigers' backline to breaking point only for centre Ben Johnston to put his pass behind Castaignede with an unguarded line beckoning.

Goode landed another six points as the match continued to disappoint with neither team able to build any momentum, and then he gave his side a 12-9 lead with a 70th-minute goal.

The penalty shoot-out showed no sign of abating as Stimpson slotted one more and just as the game looked set to fade out, proceedings were suddenly brought to life in the final three minutes of normal time.

A piece of individual brilliance from Haughton saw the speedy back race 50 yards, beating several players, before feeding Emiliano Bergamascgi who found Ryan Peacey and his inside pass found scrum-half Morgan Williams who scampered over.

Goode converted but Leicester were not done yet - they launched an attack in the 80th minute which was concluded by substitute Will Skinner who scored with his first touch of the game, Stimpson improving to complete the draw.