Fraternity has been the hallmark of Saracens for some time and was again the basis of their historic away win in Toulon. This was a match that was of international intensity, with international standard core skills evident in Saracens first-half blitz of the French Euro-colossus in their French coliseum.

Even being hyper-critical it would be difficult to fault the way Sarries played in the first half. Toulon were subjugated up front and the Vunipola brothers carried with devastating effect. Not only did they do the hard yards, they also turned up in several flowing moves in which the presence of a No 8 and a prop is usually unwelcome – not here. Had they and other of their forwards been wearing all black we would have labelled their dexterity world-class. As we are not allowed to do that, let us settle for saying the deftness of pass and the running lines were exemplary. If anyone harbours the out-dated view that Saracens are boring, they did not see the three tries they racked up in the first half. That they were the aggregate of good ball retention, quick re-cycling, straight running lines and properly timed passes made them no less admirable than solo flights of derring-do. There are several Saracens players who do not get the pulse racing like Toulon’s mercurial Josua Tuisova, but they produce time and again. Without their unspectacular work Saracens would be nothing like the team they are now.