Toulon 72 Saracens 42
Eight seasons after a fully loaded Saracens team triumphed at Stade Mayol, a rotated version succumbed to a devastating second-half surge from Toulon – but not before rattling their opponents by bolting out to a 35-13 lead.
There were 16 tries in all, six to the impressively defiant Saracens and 10 more to their hosts. An intoxicating first half comprised 62 points in all, with the second period yielding 52 more; utter carnage on Côte d’Azur.
Ultimately, Toulon set up their convincing comeback, which demonstrated their formidable depth and dynamism, with two retaliatory scores at the end of the opening stanza. Amid the phalanx of powerful and pacey runners that ultimately overwhelmed Mark McCall’s men, with Facundo Isa immense, supreme scrum-half Baptiste Serin arrived from a potent bench to secure victory.
Saracens inevitably felt the absence of their England regulars, but were led by other heroes in Juan Martin González, Theo Dan and Olly Hartley. Even with the disappointment of conceding more than 70 points, which would usually spell humiliation, they will bow out of the Investec Champions Cup and return to domestic matters with a remarkable occasion to look back on.
These illustrious clubs are tied on three Champions Cup titles each. Saracens’ latest success, in 2019, is more recent. However, despite not having won it since 2015, Toulon appear more likely to add a fourth. Captained by the mighty David Ribbans, who has bulked up since arriving here from Northampton Saints after the last World Cup, they are third in the Top 14 and boast a vastly impressive, cosmopolitan squad. Kyle Sinckler and Lewis Ludlam were in the starting pack here and Ben White, the Scotland scrum-half, was keeping the exceptional Serin on the bench.
Saracens’ victory at this ground in 2016 seems like eons ago. Because of injuries, rest protocols and rotation, Alex Goode was the sole survivor from that day. According to statistician Russ Petty, the full-back was appearing in his 54th knock-out game in all competitions.
Putting out bonfires is in Saracens’ DNA and they hit the front first. Angus Hall rose to gather Fergus Burke’s high ball but was immediately turned over by Gabin Villière. Toulon promptly coughed up a try, though. Melvyn Jaminet hurled a wild pass across his own goal-line and Hartley whacked Isa, allowing González to dot down.
Jaminet made amends rapidly by breaking to set up the electric Jiuta Wainiqolo, yet Saracens replied. Theo Dan did a marvellous impression of Schalk Brits with a burst from the back-field, González loped to within a couple of metres and Nick Tompkins burrowed over. A pair of Jaminet penalties, the second from the halfway line, quickly whisked the hosts back to within a point. Saracens would only land a third try.
Gonzalez spoiled a breakdown to earn a scrum put-in and Toulon were trucked backwards. Saracens had a penalty advantage and went route one to carve through the defence, with Hartley slipping off two passive tackles and tearing under the posts from 45 metres.
Another dreadful mix-up between Isa and Jaminet presented González, putting on an extraordinary display, with his second try and Toulon had conceded a fifth by the half-hour mark. The pressure did not relent either, Saracens were held up over the line before Dan scooted up the middle and flung an offload to the supporting Ivan van Zyl.
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