Saracens 30-26 Edinburgh: Owen Farrell and Elliot Daly star in Champions Cup victory

Owen Farrell’s Saracens survived a scare to return to the Champions Cup with a bonus-point win and restore some normality after a chaotic week in English rugby.

Saracens were back in Europe’s top tier after two years out following the salary-cap fallout. They arrived as favourites, but were made to work by Edinburgh.

Farrell had a mixed day with the boot, kicking four out of seven, after a week which saw his England boss Eddie Jones out of the Twickenham door and uncertainty engulfing the national team.

Owen Farrell endured a mixed day of kicking as Saracens claimed a European win over Edinburgh

Farrell (right) admitted it was disappointing to see Eddie Jones (left) sacked as England coach

Farrell said: ‘It’s obviously disappointing. For someone to get (sacked), it’s everybody that’s got him that. Eddie’s been a big part of our career and a big part of my career and I’m disappointed it’s finished like it has. He’s always been a brilliant coach for me. For that, I’m massively thankful.’

Elliot Daly, out in the cold for England since 2021 under Jones, provided the spark from the back and wouldn’t look out of place if he was recalled to Test rugby by whoever is in charge for the Six Nations.

From full back he scored Sarries’ first try from Farrell’s cross-kick, standing up Duhan van der Merwe to score and his deft grubber kick made a second-half try for Alex Lewington.

Farrell (right) impressed with the ball in hand as Saracens marked their Champions Cup return

Saracens back Elliot Daly starred as he clinched a try to help the English outfit claim victory

But Saracens looked rusty, having not played in the league since November 13 and having had several players on international duty.

They trailed 16-12 at the break and could have been turned over on another day. If they had forgotten why this is called the Champions Cup, they got a reminder here.

‘It would be easy for us to say we have not been together for six weeks, which we haven’t, and a few of our team have not played for a few weeks,’ said director of rugby Mark McCall.

‘In the first half we lacked a bit of intent which you need in the European Cup. We were better in the second half but still made mistakes. We are grateful to win with a bonus point because this competition is uncompromising and you can’t afford to lose your first game and thankfully we didn’t.

‘We probably had to rely on a couple of bits of magic to get over the line. His grubber, the way he took his try — Elliot is in great form.’

Saracens Hea Coach Mark McCall admitted his side had to rely ‘on a couple of bits of magic’

Edinburgh came close to causing an upset as they went to within four points of the Saracens

Argentina’s Emiliano Boffelli, playing at full back for Edinburgh on Sunday, threatened to repeat his Twickenham heroics of a month ago by kicking 16 points — he bagged 25 in seeing off England — but the visitors fell short.

They could have gone ahead on 64 minutes when Damien Hoyland intercepted Farrell’s pass and went on a mazy run to the line.

But he was held up and when the ball was spun out, centre James Lang was snuffed out by a retreating Farrell and Nick Tompkins.

‘It says something, he starts the problem then solves it. It was a big moment,’ added McCall.

Damien Hoyland of Edinburgh (right) spurned the chance to put his side in front late-on

Edinburgh head coach Stuart McInally believes his side should be ‘challenging’ Saracens

Hooker Tom Woolstencroft wrapped up the bonus point on 67 minutes and Saracens held out.

Edinburgh were made to pay for a misfiring lineout, yellow cards for prop WP Nel and hooker Stuart McInally and getting on the wrong side of referee Nika Amashukeli. But they did not look out of place in this tournament.

Head coach Mike Blair said: ‘The team we are able to put out should be competing with these teams — we should be challenging Saracens. I am frustrated we didn’t get it over the line.

‘Despite the issues we had with a couple of lineouts, and despite the two yellow cards, we were right in that game against a team that is going to go well in this tournament. There is that little itch in me as well that is saying we could have done a little bit more, probably from a smarts point of view.’