As Saracens were painfully reminded nothing can be taken for granted in the biggest European contests. For long periods the English Premiership leaders looked on course for a second successive victory in Pool Three, only for a heavyweight Toulouse side to rise from the canvas and deliver a knock-out punch courtesy of a 72nd-minute converted close-range try by Louis Picamoles.
It was a cruel denouement for Saracens, who had spent much of the game ahead on the scoreboard and stood up splendidly for 70 minutes against a colossal French pack. Even after Picamoles, by the narrowest of video referee margins, had been awarded his try following a five-metre scrum the home side had chances to win, a last-gasp drop-goal by Owen Farrell being charged down after 22 desperate phases.
Up to that point it had felt like an encouraging night for the England management, who saw several Test contenders bolster their claims ahead of the autumn internationals. Farrell also saw a late long-range penalty fall short but was otherwise excellent, the Vunipola brothers withstood a formidable physical examination and Chris Ashton's renewed hunger helped create a good early try for Chris Wyles. Alex Goode was also influential at full-back as Saracens did their utmost to give a performance worthy of their grandiose Wembley surroundings. It all made for a compelling encounter, particularly in a first half which suggested the leading English clubs are closing the gap in physicality which has previously cost them against some of the better-funded French club giants.
Toulouse did not look like a side who had arrived in London having won just one of their last five away games in Europe. Their team-sheet featured some absolutely huge units and there was almost as much percussive talent on the bill as at the nearby Wembley Arena, where Alter Bridge, Shinedown and Halestorm were all cranking it up to 11.
On a calm, mild night the French team were keen to move the ball too, but Saracens struck first eight minutes in when they launched a sharp attack down the right-hand side and Ashton exchanged passes with Wyles to send the American international over for a morale-boosting early try.
Wyles, picked to start ahead of England's newest squad member Joel Tomkins, is not the biggest of centres but, in the absence of Brad Barritt, he has been as consistent as anyone in the team this season. Jacques Burger, the inspirational Namibian flanker, also made a reliable nuisance of himself at the breakdown but Toulouse did not make the most of an early flurry of penalties, with Luke McAlister missing a hat-trick of kickable attempts. Saracens' luck, however, was not destined to last all night.
David Strettle was sin-binned for taking out Yannick Nyanga without the ball and a rumbling driven maul produced an equalising 20th-minute score for the beefy Christopher Tolofua. The size of the hits on both sides were similarly striking, with an Alistair Hargreaves tackle on Nyanga the most thunderous of the lot. The South African lock also soared unfeasibly high for a restart take which, shortly afterwards, led to three points for the home side when Florian Fritz was penalised at the next breakdown. Farrell extended the lead to 13-7 four minutes before the interval, with the visitors' mood scarcely improved by a painful-looking arm injury to McAlister.
Saracens deserved their advantage, their lineout having performed well and their backs having given the opposition's heftier forwards plenty of covering to do. The straight running of Duncan Taylor at inside-centre was once again conspicuous and Farrell's composure, not least off the kicking tee, has gone up another level since the Lions tour.
The second half proved a tighter affair in front of a record crowd of over 61,000, the highest for a pool game played in the UK and Ireland. The Saracens defence rebuffed some prolonged spells of Toulouse pressure, only for the powerful Picamoles to pierce their armour in the final quarter. "We should have seen it through," sighed Mark McCall, Saracens' director of rugby. "It puts Toulouse in control of the pool but there's still a lot to play for."
Saracens Goode; Ashton, Wyles, Taylor (Brown, 48), Strettle; Farrell, Wigglesworth (Tomkins, 48); M Vunipola (Gill, 62), Brits (George, 62), Stevens (Johnston, 62), Borthwick (capt), Hargreaves (Kruis, 70), B Vunipola, Burger, Joubert (De Kock, 48).
Try Wyles Con Farrell Pens Farrell 3.
Sin-bin Strettle 19.
Toulouse Médard; Huget, Fritz (capt), Poitrenaud (Fickou, 72), Gear; McAlister (Vermaak, 35), Doussain; Ferreira (Steenkamp, 41); Tolofua (Picamoles, 48), Johnston (Lamboley, 60), Maestri (Millo-Chluski, 41), Tekori, Nyanga (Montes, 60), Dusautoir, Galan (Ralepelle, 48).
Tries Tolofua, Picamoles Cons Doussain 2 Pen Doussain.
Referee N Owens (Wal) Attendance 61,428.
