Battling Toulouse show all their experience to pip Saracens at Wembley

Saracens 16 Toulouse 17

Toulouse fought back to edge a heavyweight showdown at Wembley. Saracens, the Premiership pacesetters led 16-7 heading into the final quarter through Chris Wyles' ninth-minute try and the accurate kicking of Owen Farrell.

But they buckled as four-time European champions Toulouse launched a fightback founded on brute strength with Louis Picamoles driving over for the crucial try.

With three minutes remaining Farrell attempted an enormous penalty from inside his own half, only for the kick to fall just short. Deep into injury time, the England outhalf failed with a drop goal bid. The result puts the French club in the driving seat in Pool Three

Wing Chris Ashton was involved in Wyles’ try as he swapped passes with the outside centre to creating the gap for his team-mate to dart over.

When David Strettle was sinbinned the French club took their chance. A lineout drive pierced the heart of Saracens’ pack with giant prop Census Johnson providing the power and Tolofua touching down. Scrum-half Jean-Marc Doussain landed the conversion.

Farrell landed two quick penalties to make it 13-7 at the interval before extending the lead with his third penalty. Doussain kicked a penalty before Picamoles finally stuck for the vital try which Doussain converted.

SARACENS: Goode, Ashton, Wyles, Taylor, Strettle, Farrell, Wigglesworth, M. Vunipola, Brits, Stevens, Borthwick, Hargreaves, B. Vunipola, Burger, Joubert. Replacements: Brown for Taylor (48), Tomkins for Wigglesworth (48), Gill for M. Vunipola (62), George for Brits (62), Johnston for Stevens (62), Kruis for Hargreaves (70), de Kock for Joubert (48).
TOULOUSE: Medard, Huget, Fritz, Poitrenaud, Gear, McAlister, Doussain, Ferreira, Tolofua, Johnston, Maestri, Tekori, Nyanga, Dustautoir, Galan. Replacements: Fickou for Poitrenaud (72), Vermaak for McAlister (35), Steenkamp for Ferreira (41), Picamoles for Tolofua (48), Lamboley for Johnston (60), Millo-Chluski for Maestri (41), Montes for Nyanga (60), Ralepelle for Galan (48).
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales).