European Champions Cup review: Saracens win despite scare
A review of Saturday's action in the European Champions Cup, where Exeter suffered a shock defeat and Glasgow won in France.
Sunday
Saracens 51-25 Cardiff
Ben Earl came off the bench to inspire a second-half turnaround as Saracens survived a scare from Cardiff Blues to record an emphatic 51-25 bonus-point victory in the Heineken Champions Cup.
The home side's 20-game unbeaten run was under threat at half-time after Blaine Scully and Matthew Morgan had crossed to hand the visitors a surprise 18-13 lead at Allianz Park.
However, Sarries, who scored through Richard Wigglesworth and two Owen Farrell penalties before the break, produced an outstanding second-half display to blitz their opponents, running in six tries.
Replacement Earl and wing Sean Maitland crossed for two each while Christian Judge and Ben Spencer also scored, taking Mark McCall's men back above Glasgow Warriors in Pool 3 after their win over Lyon.
Munster 30-5 Castres
JJ Hanrahan's 20-point haul steered Munster to a well-earned 30-5 Heineken Champions Cup victory over Castres Olympique at Thomond Park, though they left it too late to push for a bonus point.
Second-half tries from Rory Scannell, CJ Stander and man-of-the-match Hanrahan moved the Irish province back to the top of Pool 2, although with a degree of niggle in this game, next Saturday evening's return fixture in Castres is sure to be a feisty affair.
Two penalties from Hanrahan - a late inclusion at fly-half for the injured Joey Carbery - gave Munster a 6-0 half-time lead and the hosts were frustrated not to be further in front but Castres' well-organised defence and a tricky wind limited their try-scoring opportunities.
Racing 36-26 Leicester
Leicester kept their slim Heineken Champions Cup hopes alive by securing a four-try bonus point in a thrilling 36-26 defeat to Racing 92 in Paris.
Racing secured a bonus point of their own before the break through tries from Virimi Vakatawa, Juan Imhoff, Simon Zebo and Baptiste Chouzenoux.
Olivier Klemenczak added a fifth after the break, but Leicester refused to buckle and ensured they left the French capital with something to show for their efforts.
Jonah Holmes, Sione Kalamafoni, Manu Tuilagi and Adam Thompstone were their scorers.
Saturday
Exeter 19-27 Gloucester
Exeter's hopes of European glory were almost extinguished as they crashed to a surprise 27-19 defeat at the hands of Gloucester at Sandy Park.
The defeat left Exeter without a win in their first three European matches and leaves them rooted to the bottom of Pool 2 with only three points and with difficult away trips to Munster and Gloucester still to come.
Gloucester were deserved winners with tries from Willi Heinz, Jaco Visagie and Ben Morgan. Danny Cipriani kicked two penalties and two conversions with Billy Twelvetrees adding a conversion.
Exeter's tries came from Nic White, Tom Lawday and Don Armand, with Gareth Steenson adding two conversions.
Wasps 16-24 Toulouse
Wasps' hopes of European Champions Cup progression were all but ended after suffering a 24-16 loss to Toulouse at the Ricoh Arena.
The under-pressure Coventry-based side needed to beat an in-form Toulouse, having lost to Leinster and drawn to Bath in their opening two fixtures in Pool 1.
But they fell to their sixth defeat in seven games after tries from Cheslin Kolbe and Sofiane Guitoune, plus 14 points from the boot of Thomas Ramos, ensured four-time champions Toulouse maintained their perfect record in the competition.
Bath 10-17 Leinster
Holders Leinster gained a priceless away victory and severely dented Bath's Heineken Champions Cup hopes by claiming an intense 17-10 victory at the Recreation Ground.
Wing Jordan Larmour's interception try early in the second half meant Leinster shaded a tight Pool One encounter.
Bath delivered arguably their most impressive display of a disappointing season so far, but they were undone after taking the lead through prop Henry Thomas' 22nd-minute try that James Wilson converted, with Wilson adding a late penalty to secure a losing bonus point.
Hooker Sean Cronin hauled Leinster level just before the interval, and with world player of the year Johnny Sexton converting both tries and Ross Byrne kicking a late penalty, Leinster went top of their group.
Lyon 22-42 Glasgow
Glasgow kept their hopes of Heineken Champions Cup progression alive with a crucial 42-22 bonus-point victory over Lyon.
Dave Rennie's men were impressive and deserved winners as George Horne and Adam Hastings ran the show from half-back in a five-try display.
Adam Ashe (2), Horne, Stuart Hogg and Huw Jones were the scorers as Hastings ended the game with 17 points. Lyon's tries came from wings Toby Arnold, Noa Nakaitaci and Charl McLeod.
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