Saracens put their Premiership relegation to one side and qualified for the European Champions Cup quarter-finals with a narrow win over Racing 92. Owen Farrell landed a late penalty to clinch a 27-24 victory at Allianz Park, and Gloucester’s loss at Toulouse went they qualified as one of the three best runners-up in the pool stage.
Farrell was on target in the 76th minute as 14-man Saracens reacted to their automatic relegation from the Premiership for breaching salary cap regulations by keeping their Champions Cup defence alive. They will travel to Leinster in the quarter-finals.
Clermont v Racing 92
Toulouse v Ulster
Exeter v Northampton
Leinster v Saracens
Games to be played 3-5 May, home teams first
The double winners did it the hard way against Racing after suffering the early setback of losing Billy Vunipola to a suspected broken arm incurred as the England No 8 carried the ball into contact.
Eddie Jones names his Six Nations squad on Monday and will be monitoring the situation carefully knowing it would be the fourth time Vunipola has fractured one of his arms.
Saracens’ next wound was self-inflicted, however, as the Australia lock Will Skelton was sent off for a high tackle on Brice Dulin moments before half-time. Extraordinary defence from Racing kept the black shirts at bay in the closing minutes as 14 battled 14 due to Bernard Le Roux being sin-binned, but Farrell intervened successfully when given his chance.
Robert Kitson’s match report will follow soon