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Saracens record comfortable 32-7 victory against Toulouse in European Championship Cup opener.
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Chris Wyles bags a brace while Mako Vunipola also crossed for Saracens
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England number 10 Farrell kicked 17 points for Saracens
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Home side failed to secure bonus point in second-half at Allianz Park
Saracens thrashed four-time Champions’ Cup champions Toulouse at Allianz Park in their first European Champions’ Cup game of the year.
England’s Owen Farrell starred for the reigning Premiership champions, landing six goals in a dominant first half for the home side.
Mako Vunipola crossed for the first try of the game before USA international Chris Wyles added two more for Sarries, while Toulouse earned a second-half consolation through Christopher Tolofua.
France captain Thierry Dusautoir led out Toulouse at Allianz Park, and his players were clearly moved by the minute’s silence and rendition of the French national anthem before the game, in the wake of the suspected terrorism tragedy in Paris on Friday night.
Farrell, who has racked up an impressive 35 points in three league games this season, quickly kicked two penalties to give the hosts a 6-0 lead.
Sarries, semi-finalists last year, led by 13 points after Vunipola muscled his way over and the TMO awarded the try, which Farrell converted.
The fly-half added three more penalties, while Toulouse prop Census Johnston was yellow carded with the visitors floundering.
Wyles then crossed in the corner after some precise build-up play from English trio Alex Goode, Man of the Match Farrell and Brad Barritt.
Saracens were stood 27-0 up at the break, an unassailable lead, and they pounced yet again after the restart as Wyles stretched backwards to touch down under a heap of bodies.
Toulouse, who sit fourth in the French Top 14, finally scored after 49 minutes through hooker Tolofua, Sebastien Bezy converted.
But that proved to be the final score of the game, leaving the hosts without a bonus point, as the last half-hour wound down on a night that was tinged with an ominous feeling just 24 hours on from the attacks in the French capital.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Saracens: Owen Farrell
The England man successfully transferred his domestic form onto the European stage, guiding his side around the pitch and putting the Frenchmen to the sword with a masterful performance, finishing an impressive hour’s work with 17 points after being withdrawn for a well-earned rest on 60 minutes.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt (c), 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Will Fraser, 6 Michael Rhodes, 5 Maro Itoje, 4 George Kruis, 3 Petrus du Plessis, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Alistair Hargreaves, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Marcelo Bosch.
Toulouse: 15 Maxime Médard, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Toby Flood, 11 Timoci Matanavou, 10 Luke McAlister, 9 Sébastien Bézy, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 6 Yacouba Camara, 5 Joe Tekori, 4 Yoann Maestri, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Vasil Kakovin, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Millo-Chluski, 20 Imanol Harinordoquy, 21 Talalelei Gray, 22 Jean-Marc Doussain, 23 Yann David.
Date: Saturday, November 14
Venue: Allianz Park
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Mark Patton (Ireland), Kieran Barry (Ireland)
TMO: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)