The iconic English stadium became the 91st venue to stage a Heineken Cup game and a crowd of 45,892 a record for a Pool match in the UK and Ireland – turned up to see if the Sarries to could back on track after their opening round defeat against French champions ASM Clermont Auvergne.

Leinster, the 2009 Heineken Cup champions, opened their account with a bonus point win in Dublin over Racing Metro 92 and now sit proudly on top of the Pool after two rounds with nine points – four points clear of ASM.

After a bright opening, in which they took the lead with a seventh minute penalty from Jonathan Sexton, who scored all his side's points, Leinster were rocked by a try from Alex Goode for the home side in the first of four changes of lead before the break.

Although the full back's try wide out on the right wasn't converted, outside half Derick Hougaard made amends a few minutes later by landing a penalty that extended the English side's lead.

Two more Sexton penalties put Leinster back in front before Hougaard regained the lead on 34 minutes, a minute before Sexton's fourth penalty of the half sent his side into the break with a slender advantage.

Saracens gifted Sexton three more points at the start of the second half when his opposite number Hougaard was caught trying to run out of defence. Sexton then sparked the one moment of magic in the game after 51 minutes to take his match tally to 22 points as he started and finished a sweeping 60 metre move.

Having seen his forwards win the ball on his 10 metre line he swept the ball out to his back division before staying in support of the move to receive an inside pass from Fergus McFadden in the home 22 before racing to the left corner for a great try.

Isa Nacewa's strong run, brushing off Dave Strettle in the process, paved the way for the score and Sexton added the icing on the cake with his touchline conversion. That gave Leinster an 11 point cushion and a commanding position.

But Saracens clawed their way back into the game thanks to the boot of Goode, who took over the goalkicking duties from the injured Hougaard in the second half, and by the end it was much closer than many thought.

Four Goode penalties to one more from Sexton, giving him all 25 of Leinster’s points, set up a thrilling finish with the home side back to within winning distance at 25-23.

Leinster's defence stood firm against wave after wave of attacks before a knock-on gave the Irishmen the victory.