No Owen Farrell, no problem. Saracens will face considerably sterner tests than this as the season goes on but life without the former England captain got off to just about the ideal start for Mark McCall’s side.

After 16 years as a key cog in the team, it is inevitable Farrell’s influence is going to be missed – they could have done with his trusty right boot here, maybe his ruthless professionalism towards the end too – but five tries and an impressive performance from Elliot Daly will help McCall usher in the new era he is determined to build.

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