Saracens player ratings vs Connacht | 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup

Saracens player ratings: After the first 10 minutes, it looked like being a cake walk for Saracens. Two tries to the good, Connacht reeling and Owen Farrell pulling the strings.

Then the hosts finally woke up. From that point on, Connacht’s back-row and replacement game caused Saracens all manner of problems, and while the sides continued exchanging tries in a breathless, saw-saw second half, the visitors could never quite regain control.

There were some strong individual displays but also enough defensive brainrot to leave Brendan Venter wringing his hands after this 45-36 defeat in Galway.

15. Elliot Daly – 6.5
A middling outing from Daly. His kicking out of hand was excellent and repeatedly relieved pressure when Connacht threatened to build momentum. That said, he was also guilty of coughing up possession on more than one occasion and never quite imposed himself the way a player of his quality can. Grabbed a late try on 79 minutes that briefly offered Saracens a lifeline.

14. Noah Caluori – 7
Looked brilliant whenever Saracens got onto the front foot. Took his early try well and seemed capable of creating something every time he got space. The downside was his defence, which looked a little sixes and sevens as Connacht poured forward. One of Saracens’ best performers but that side of his game still needs plenty of work.

Fixture

Investec Champions Cup

Connacht

45 - 36

Full-time

Saracens

All Stats and Data

13. Nick Tompkins – 6
Couldn’t fault the effort. Tompkins fought for everything and deserved his try on the stroke of half-time after dragging Saracens level at 19-19. The problem was the midfield around him looked porous throughout, especially once Connacht’s replacements arrived and started asking different questions.

12. Sione Vaenuku – 8.5
Hard to criticise much here despite ending up on the losing side. A menacing ball carrier from first whistle to last, he opened Saracens’ account after only five minutes and added another after the break. Connacht struggled to contain the former Sydney Roosters prospect once he built momentum and he consistently got Saracens over the gainline.

11. Rotimi Segun – 7
One of those strange evenings where at times the ball must have felt like a bar of soap. When he wasn’t dropping it, he was a genuine threat. Finished his try brilliantly shortly after half-time and always looked dangerous in broken-field situations.

10. Owen Farrell – 7
Full of piss and vinegar throughout. It is difficult to overstate his influence, both on and off the ball. Saracens looked at their most dangerous when Farrell was dictating territory and tempo. The problem was his old foe, discipline, surfaced again. Missed a couple of conversions and gave away penalties that hurt Saracens at key moments. Connacht replacement Ciaran Frawley’s all-court game also left the veteran operating slightly in the shadows during the final quarter.

9. Tomos Williams – 7
Offered typically peerless service and gave Saracens good tempo from the base. There wasn’t a great deal wrong with his performance individually, but like Farrell he struggled once Connacht’s pack began winning collisions and generating quick ball of their own.

1. Eroni Mawi – 7
Carried strongly and gave as good as he got at scrum time against Finlay Bealham and company. Never looked overawed physically and remained one of Saracens’ more dependable forwards before making way after 50 minutes.

2. Jamie George – 6
His lineout work was largely excellent and he brought his usual accuracy to the set-piece. Struggled to live with the pace of the contest at times, though, particularly once Connacht’s all-action forwards began running riot in the wider channels.

3. Marcus Street – 6
A solid enough outing without ever really dominating. Competed well in the tight exchanges and got through his work before departing just before the hour mark.

4. Olamide Sodeke – N/A
Excellent during the 18 minutes he was on the pitch. Looked physical, aggressive and hungry for work before injury cut his evening short. Replaced too early to warrant a rating.

5. Hugh Tizard – 7
Tackled everything that moved. Perhaps lacked a little mobility once Connacht really started shifting the ball around, but there is no questioning the engine. Kept battling all night despite the scoreboard increasingly moving against Saracens.

6. Maro Itoje – 8
An ever-present thorn in Connacht’s side. The bandage wrapped around his head told its own story after a brutally physical display. Won countless balls, disrupted rucks and generally caused headaches wherever he went. Saracens may have lost but it certainly wasn’t through any lack of effort from their captain.

7. Toby Knight – 5.5
Missed too many tackles and ultimately came out second best in a fierce back-row battle. Connacht’s loose forwards, particularly Cian Prendergast and Sean Jansen, edged this contest and Knight never quite found a way back into it.

8. Ben Earl – 8.5
Everywhere. Went toe to toe with the formidable Sean Jansen and produced arguably Saracens’ best individual performance. By full-time he had beaten five defenders and carried relentlessly. Even in defeat, Earl looked every inch the international-class operator.

Replacements – 7
Nick Isiekwe delivered good value after replacing the unfortunate Sodeke and brought plenty of physicality to proceedings. Alfie Barbeary added huge punch off the bench and repeatedly dented the Connacht defensive line.