Report: Saracens beat Edinburgh in return to Champions Cup

Saracens kicked off their Champions Cup campaign with a 30-26 win against Edinburgh in a frozen Stonex Stadium on their return to Rugby Union’s premier European competition.

Tries from Elliot Daly, Ben Earl, Alex Lewington and Tom Woolstencroft gave Saracens a slender win against an Edinburgh who can be more than proud of their performance away from home against the three-time European Champions.

In a game littered with penalties, there were questions about the refereeing decisions. However, ultimately, it was the Scottish side’s inaccuracy at the set piece that cost them a famous win.

The game started quickly as a line break from Sean Maitland meant Sarries went 90 metres right from kick-off, only to be stopped short on the 5-metre line by Edinburgh.

However, the Scottish side scored first through Luan de Bruin as a rolling maul rumbled over the whitewash. Unsurprisingly Emiliano Boffelli, arguably the best goalkicker in the world right now, knocked over the conversion.

Boffelli’s kicking was a recurring theme throughout the match with the Argentine scoring 16 points. After all, when you’ve got a weapon like a world-class kicker, why not use it?

Saracens scored soon after as Daly got on the end of a magical Owen Farrell crossfield kick. Daly stepped past Duhan van de Merwe who will be less than pleased with his defensive effort on the play.

The North Londoners then took the lead for the first time in the game as they gave up a very kickable penalty favouring a line out instead. A wise decision, it seems, as a perfectly executed lineout and some innovation from Maro Itoje set up Earl’s try.

Boffeli’s 3rd penalty goal of the half made it 16-12 to Edinburgh as the Scottish side looked composed, taking the opportunities that Saracens’ ill-discipline was giving them.

The second half, however, was a different story. After a rusty first-half performance, Saracens showed why they now have ten wins from ten games in all competitions this season.

Stuart McInally’s lineout throw was not straight, giving the ball back to Saracens in the Edinburgh 22, and a Daly grubber through was picked up by Lewington, who went over in the corner to score.

An uncharacteristic intercept thrown by Farrell gave Damien Hoyland a 50-metre footrace with Daly to score, however, the England international was quicker, meaning Hoyland had to cut back inside.

Edinburgh looked rushed, and although Saracens defenders were scattered everywhere, they couldn’t covert the opportunity with Farrell and Nick Tompkins holding James Lang up over the line.

Another unbelievable mishap at the Edinburgh lineout gave the ball to Eroni Mawi, and after a few tight pick-and-goes, substitute hooker Woolstencroft went over for Saracen’s 3rd try.

It got worse for Edinburgh as McInally was yellow-carded in the same play for his team’s repeated offences.
However, the player deficit did not seem to affect the men in orange. Blair Kinghorn produced an audacious step to break through Saracen’s defensive line, offloading to Wes Goosen, who went on to score.

With the score 30-26 in favour of Saracens in the last 10 minutes, Edinburgh needed cool heads under pressure, however, this message clearly didn’t reach the pitch. Instead, WP Nel saw yellow for a tip tackle on Callum Hunter-Hill, killing the game.

A final score of 30-26 means Edinburgh gained a point from an away game at the Stonex, which would have pleased them before the game, but it could have been so much more.

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