Ciaran Frawley stars as swashbuckling Connacht shock Saracens in Galway

Competition returnees Connacht overturned an early 12-point deficit to claim a thrilling 45-36 Investec Champions Cup victory over Saracens in Galway, scoring seven tries in a breathless Pool 2 opener.

The Westerners are back at European rugby’s top table for first time since the 2023/24 season but it took the Stuart Lancaster’s outfit a minute to shake off their Champions Cup ringrust.

Indeed it was the visitors that looked set for a comfortable evening when Sione Vaenuku and Noah Caluori crossed inside the opening 11 minutes, with England veteran Owen Farrell converting the former. However, Connacht responded impressively through the outstanding Cian Prendergast, Cathal Forde and Shamus Hurley-Langton to establish a 19-12 lead.

Even a yellow card for Hurley-Langton on the stroke of half-time could not halt their momentum, although Nick Tompkins’ try and Farrell’s conversion ensured the sides headed into the sheds locked at 19-19.

Connacht struck immediately after the restart when Prendergast grabbed his second try, but Saracens refused to go away. Rotimi Segun finished well out wide before Vaenuku’s second try, converted by Farrell, cut the deficit to just two points at 33-31.

Fixture

Investec Champions Cup

Connacht

45 - 36

Full-time

Saracens

All Stats and Data

That proved as close as Saracens would get.

A superb spell from Connacht between the 51st and 64th minutes ultimately settled the contest. Super-sub Ciaran Frawley crossed twice on his home debut at the Dexcom, either side of a Caolin Blade score, while Sam Gilbert added the extras to open up a 14-point cushion.

Prendergast’s late yellow card briefly handed Saracens hope, and Elliot Daly touched down in the final minute, but Farrell’s missed conversion summed up the visitors’ evening as Connacht closed out a fully deserved bonus-point win.

Connacht: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Finn Treacy, 13 Cathal Forde, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Shane Jennings, 10 Ciaran Frawley, 9 Colm Reilly, 1 Francois van Wyk, 2 Matthew Victory, 3 Sam Illo, 4 Darragh Murray, 5 Josh Murphy, 6 Cian Prendergast, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 8 Sean Jansen.

Replacements: 16 Eoin de Buitlear, 17 Billy Bohan, 18 Thomas Connolly, 19 Niall Murray, 20 Sean O’Brien, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Daniel Ryan.

Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Noah Caluori, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Sione Vaenuku, 11 Rotimi Segun, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Tomos Williams, 1 Eroni Mawi, 2 Jamie George, 3 Marcus Street, 4 Olamide Sodeke, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Maro Itoje, 7 Toby Knight, 8 Ben Earl.

Replacements: 16 Eoghan Clarke, 17 Phil Brantingham, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Nathan Michelow, 21 Alfie Barbeary, 22 Tom James, 23 Fergus Burke.