Racing 92 begin Champions Cup with 30-10 win over defending champions Saracens

Racing 92 30-10 Saracens, Paris La Defense Arena
Scorecard

Racing 92 kick-started their European Champions Cup campaign with a 30-10 bonus point win over defending champions Saracens at Paris La Defense Arena on Sunday.

In what was a blistering start for Racing 92, Maxime Machenaud kick-started the proceedings with a sixth minute penalty goal and minutes later Virimi Vakatawa powered past Saracens' defence to crossover. Machenaud also followed it with a conversion and a penalty goal as Racing 92 started with 13 unanswered points.

Even though Saracens got off the mark with a penalty kick from Ben Spencer in the 25th minute, Teddy Thomas' try ensured the teams went into the break with a 18-3 scoreline.

The French side started the second half strong but a poor pass from Machenaud to Donnacha Ryan who knocked on allowed Sarries a breakthrough as Alex Lozowski touched down and Spencer improved it making the scoreline 18-10.

A combination of Finn Russell and Thomas exerted pressure back on the visitors with a try from the fly-half that was followed by a conversion from Machenaud making it 25-10. There was no respite whatsoever for Mark McCall's men as Wenceslas Lauret crossed the whitewash in the 75th minute that ensured a bonus point win for the home side.

The second round of the tournament will see Saracens hosting Racing 92 at Allianz Park on 23rd November while Racing 92 will head to Thomond Park to take on Munster Rugby.