In a stunning display of attacking rugby, Connacht defeated Saracens 45-36 in their opening match of the Investec Champions Cup at a vibrant Dexcom Stadium.

Connacht showcased their offensive prowess by scoring seven tries, with standout performances from captain Cian Prendergast and fly-half Ciaran Frawley, who each crossed the line twice. The scoring breakdown was:

• Connacht: Prendergast (2), Cathal Forde, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Frawley (2), Caolin Blade
• Saracens: Sione Vaenuku (2), Noah Caluori, Nick Tompkins, Rotimi Segun, Elliot Daly

The match began with Saracens taking an early lead at 12-0 thanks to tries from Vaenuku and Caluori. However, Connacht responded with 19 unanswered points, with contributions from Prendergast, Forde, and Hurley-Langton.

The first half ended dramatically at 19-19 after Hurley-Langton was sin-binned, allowing Tompkins to score just before the break. Despite starting the second half a man down, Connacht quickly regained the lead with a try from Prendergast, set up by Bundee Aki.

Saracens fought back with a try from Segun, but Frawley's two tries and another from Blade solidified Connacht's control, creating a 14-point gap. Although Vaenuku scored again for Saracens, it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.

Connacht missed out on a bonus point, which requires a team to score three more tries than their opponent in this season's pool stage. In other Pool Two action, La Rochelle defeated the Lions 31-14.