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Saracens celebrate Alex Lozowski's try
2019 Heineken Champions Cup winners Saracens will aim to put their Round 1 defeat to Racing 92 behind them when they hosts Ospreys on Saturday at Allianz Park, with kick-off at 13:00 GMT live on Channel 4, BT Sport and beIN SPORTS.
Saracens were beaten 30-10 by 2018 runners-up Racing 92 in Paris last weekend while Ospreys were defeated 32-13 by Munster Rugby in Swansea.
Key quotes
Mark McCall (Saracens): “Ospreys have got a lot of returning Welsh internationals and lots of top-quality players. Ospreys were in our group two years ago and we had two really tough games against them: just about won the home game and drew away from home. So yeah, two games to really look forward to.”
Allen Clarke (Ospreys): “They’re reigning champions, we had them in the group stages a couple of years ago, so we know the manner of the challenge. That’s the ultimate really, isn’t it? In their own backyard. [Under the] current circumstances, it’s going to be a big test.”
Both looking for a turnaround in performance, @Saracens host @ospreys at Allianz Park in #HeinekenChampionsCup Round 2 ↪️
Can the Welsh region test the reigning champions in their own back yard?? pic.twitter.com/Tj76Zg30UB
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) November 21, 2019
Key facts
- This will be the sixth meeting in the Heineken Champions Cup between the two sides, with Saracens remaining unbeaten in the last five.
- Saracens will play their 100th tournament match this weekend and have a win rate of 70%, the best of any team in the history of the competition.
- Ospreys have won only one of their last 23 Heineken Champions Cup games away from home. Their only success in that period came against Northampton Saints during the 2017/18 pool stage.
- Saracens spent the least time in possession of any side in Round 1 (12 minutes, 30 seconds) and made the fewest carries as a result.
- Ospreys’ Dan Lydiate made 26 tackles against Munster in Round 1 , the most of any player last weekend.
Rotimi Segun of Saracens dives over
Saracens picked up all five points as they cruised to a 44-3 win over Ospreys in Heineken Champions Cup Pool 4 on Saturday.
The victory has given the defending champions a much-needed spark in Europe after being beaten by Racing 92 in their season opener.
Two early penalty kicks from Elliot Daly and Manu Vunipola pushed Saracens ahead early before they added a try through Jack Singleton – who with the help of his fellow forwards – powered over the try line in the corner after a well-worked line-out.
James Hook responded with a penalty kick for Ospreys but that was as good as it got for the Welsh region who were largely dominated by the defending champions.
Rotimi Segun can run 100m in 11.03 seconds… The Ospreys defenders can't.
How about that offload assist from Elliot Daly on his @Saracens debut?!#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/HFN9jzjioo
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) November 23, 2019
Some stunning work through the hands from Saracens followed as play reached Daly who made the final pass to Rotimi Segun to dive over for his first Heineken Champions Cup try.
Rotimi then turned provider just before the interval as his pass to Alex Lewington on the other flank was perfect to give Saracens a third try on half-time.
The English side added three further tries in the second half from Segun, Richard Barrington and a penalty try rounded off what was a comprehensive success for the hosts.
In Round 3, Saracens go on the road to face Munster Rugby while Ospreys will host Racing 92 next month.
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