Following a 45-36 win for Connacht over Saracens at the Dexcom Stadium, here’s our five takeaways from the Investec Champions Cup clash.
The top line
What a match. 13 tries and 81 points on the board as Connacht ran out impressive winners to kick start their European pool campaign in real style.
Cian Prendergast (2), Cathal Forde, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Ciaran Frawley (2) and Caolin Blade crossed for the Irish side in a stunning victory.
In reply for Saracens, Sione Vaeneku (2), Noah Caluori, Nick Tompkins, Rotimi Segun and Elliot Daly went over as they fly home empty handed.
It was an epic 80 minutes though as both sides impressed with ball in hand, but Connacht were worthy winners in what felt like a statement win.
Connacht clinic
Aside from a sluggish start that had them 12-0 down after as many minutes, thereafter it was an attacking rugby clinic from the Irish province.
A perfect blend of power and finesse slingshotted Connacht into the lead for most of a Champions Cup pool classic. There’s definitely green shoots for a promising season ahead for Stuart Lancaster’s men if they can replicate this type of showing. At times they were simply unplayable.
The hands, pace and running lines were consistently superb as Saracens had no answer to the hosts’ attack as Connacht ran in seven tries tonight.
Rude awakening
Indeed, this was a wake-up call for the English outfit that they have a serious amount of work to do to get back to their glory days of years gone by.
Some of their golden generation are well into the autumn of their careers while the new blood and depth is unfortunately not top drawer right now.
If this loss and performance was a one-off it might not be as alarming, but on the back of a recent home PREM defeat to Sale Sharks it’s a concern.
Frawley flourishing
It felt like a bit of a shoot-out between Frawley and Prendergast for the Player of the Match award and ultimately it went to the form number 10.
The pair were excellent but with Ireland head coach Andy Farrell watching on in the stands, this was a perfect time for both players to stand up. Stand up they did as the flanker was a monster up front, scoring a brace, while Frawley led from fly-half and also got two tries on the board.
Farrell must be delighted to see Frawley flourishing in his new surroundings and with Jack Crowley currently sidelined it is timely with a Nations Championship block fast approaching. It would be surprising not to see both of these Connacht stars named in Ireland’s 23 in November.
New kid on the block
As if the evening couldn’t have got any better for Connacht, they appear to have unearthed a star of the future in 19-year-old wing Daniel Ryan.
What a prospect this young back is. Thrust onto the field after just 10 minutes after an injury to Shane Jennings, Ryan was a real treat to watch.
He regularly sliced through the Saracens defence in the wide channels and his calmness in frantic situations was a feature of this fine showing.
The Academy product made his Connacht debut last term with a lone performance but has just officially announced himself to the rugby world.
READ MORE: Connacht v Saracens: Result, scorers, match stats, line-ups