This will go down as one of those beloved of champions, the kind won when not playing well. Saracens never quite found their rhythm, but a seven-try win over anyone must be accounted a decent result. All the more so, given their captain, Owen Farrell, left 13 points out there, landing just the two kicks from the tee – two out of eight.
That will not happen often – Farrell had never previously missed six shots at goal in a match at any level – so Bristol may feel they missed a chance here. The days of their superstar line-ups seem passed for now, with Charles Piutau and Semi Radradra moved on, but they boast two England props who proved the foundation of their best bits, most based around the set piece. Calum Sheedy did not miss from the tee, five from five, and his conversions were the difference at half-time, when Bristol were 21-15 ahead.
