Saracens finish pool stage with 100% record after win over Toulouse

Despite a second-half howler from England international Owen Farrell, Saracens maintained their 100 per cent record in this season's Champions Cup with a convincing 28-17 victory over Toulouse.

Farrell dropped the ball over the line in the process of touch down for a second Saracens' score and his disastorous gaff almost came back to haunt the visitors when Toulouse scored two late tries.

However two late penalties from a much more composed Farrell helped Saracens end Toulouse's unbeaten record at home this season and confirm the Aviva Premiership side as the favourites to win this year's competition having finished atop their pool with a perfect 100% record.

Former England international Charlie Hodgson controlled the game's early flow with some measured kicking from hand before putting Saracens in front after just seven minutes with a penalty following some good work by his forwards that was then followed by a drop goal four minutes later.

The battle up front dominated the contest early with both sides finding it difficult to make serious inroads into the opposition's 22.

Saracens were well on top for much of the opening half an hour however and a second penalty from Hodgson gave them a healthy lead heading towards the half-time break.

But with three minutes left of the opening half Toulouse stung the visitors with a try after Saracens wing Duncan Taylor struggled to field Luke McAlister's kick over the top and the former New Zealand international was able to capitalise on his Scottish counterparts' mistake and crash over from close range.

It was the first time Toulouse had been in the Saracen 22 but Toby Flood added the conversion to ensure the home side went into the interval just two points behind.

Farrell replaced Hodgson at half-time and was immediately on the score sheet with a penalty.

Saracens then scored a superb try when Alex Goode launched a counter-attack from his own half and found Ben Spencer, who chipped over the top with the outside of his boot before collecting his own kick to score.

The visitors should have got a second try when Jamie George's burst downfield took them into the Toulouse 22 and after several phases Farrell went through a gap only to spill the ball forward before he could touch down.

Farrell made up for the error shortly afterwards when he produced a try-saving tackle to stop Yacouba Camara going over but it was not long before McAlister got his second score of the game to bring Toulouse back into the contest.

Spencer then spilled another good chance for Saracens close to the Toulouse line after a break from Duncan Taylor.

With 10 minutes to go Toulouse got their third try of the afternoon when Paul Perez broke wide and found Maxine Medard on his inside with the French winger doing a superb job to control the ball with his feet and go over.

However it was to be in vain as two Farrell penalties in the final seven minutes secured the win and a perfect pool record for Saracens.