Saracens vs Northampton Saints

That's Saints' first win at Allianz Park since 2016!! What a season opener!

Saints secure the restart...

30 seconds left here at Allianz Park...

Penalty Saints at the breakdown! Grayson points to the posts...

Furbank and Collins race forwards down the right before the ball comes back left quickly. Saints are up to the Saracens 22 now.

Skelton knocks on and Saints breathe a sigh of relief. Four minutes left and Saints need to find some match-winning points.

Saracens put the ball through the hands at speed after a scrum, but as Segun bears down on the try line he drops it forward and the chance is gone. Saints deep in their own territory however and Taylor clears to the 22. It's all hands to the pumps in defence for Saints.

Scrum penalty for Saints! Crucial moment for the visitors but Grayson misses touch and back come the hosts again.

Tompkins bustles his way through a tackle and Saracens have good field position, looking to turn up the heat, but they make a handling error and Saints have the scrum on their own 22. We stop for a quick breather after a frenetic ten minutes and Mitch Eadie comes on for Premiership debutant JJ Tonks.

Good kick chase from Segun and Earl gets back over the ball to win another penalty. Technically very strong from the flanker, who earns his side another shot at three points but Spencer finally misses and the hosts' advantage stays at just a point.

Furbank is driven into touch by Earl who has been relentless today. Sarries now with the lineout inside the 22 and try to get a shove on, but a penalty comes their way with Wood singled out by the referee.

Momentum now back with the hosts as they build the phases with big carries. Sarries get some gainline and are deep into Saints' territory...

Chaos here at Allianz Park! Frantic stuff as both sides look to counter-attack after knock ons. Taylor's quick tap penalty started it all off but now Saracens get back some control and clear again. The game is opening up.

Good shove from Saracens and when the ball squirms loose they are able to clear. Let off for the hosts but they knock the ball forwards from the line-out and Saints get back possession.

Naiyaravoro again causing carnage down the left wing and his offload inside finds Furbank who has a clear run in to score! But...we're brought back as that was forward and the try is chalked off. Referee Ian Tempest brings play back for a high tackle on Naiyaravoro and Grayson kicks to the corner. Saints smell blood...

Good scrum from Saints and Goode boots the ball into touch. Saints with the lineout about 30 metres out, and get quick ball again, looking to work Saracens from side to side.

Two phases off the lineout and Saints have Saracens at sixes and sevens in defence! A chip over the top just doesn't sit up for Furbank and he can't quite gather with the try line at his mercy. Saints looking the business at the moment, but Saracens have the ball back.

Big hit from JJ Tonks! The Academy flanker makes his presence felt before an uncharacteristic loose pass from Saracens sees the ball go into touch.

Great start to the second half for Saints as Furbank breaks through and then finds Taylor who again carries well! Fish spills it however and Saracens get the scrum inside their own half.

Segun grabs hold of the restart and Saracens now have a great opportunity. Some heavy runners coming at Saints now inside the 22...

Saracens brought back for a forward pass as they break away following a Grayson cross-field kick. Saints with a scrum just inside their own half, looking for some points before the interval.

Penalty is awarded to Saracens as Hill is trapped in a ruck...

Another excellent scrum effort from Saints' pack puts Saracens under some pressure, but they secure possession and clear as far as Naiyaravoro. Northampton now in possession and Furbank breaks through! 

Saints get through the phases and are up to five metres out, but the Saracens defence holds firm! Loads of pressure and patience coming from the visitors but Fish cannot gather a Hutchinson pass and possession goes back to the hosts again.

...but Saracens get a good shove on and Tonks is penalised. Coles gets up superbly in the lineout to win back the ball and Saints play out from the back superbly through Naiyaravoro and are up past halfway!

Spencer's clearance swirls around in the wind and under pressure Furbank cannot gather the ball cleanly and Saracens get the put in at the scrum. Northampton pack hold really firm and Earl knocks on to give Saints back possession, just inside the Londoners' half.

Skelton throws an excellent offload before Tompkins threads a grubber-kick through and Taylor is forced into touch. Sarries now with good field position and working through the phases.

Dingwall and Wood truck it up before Grayson's cross-field kick finds Hutchinson, but Saints are penalised for holding on and the hosts win back the ball.

Saracens get some territory and this time it's Taylor's turn to clear – it's a good kick and the hosts knock on in the midfield for a Saints scrum. Northampton looking for a little more consistency with the ball in hand here.

Wood knocks on in the face of strong Sarries defence and we come back for a scrum. The hosts clear their lines.

Earl is pinged at the at the breakdown and Grayson sends the resulting penalty towards the corner. Tonks wins the lineout and Saints are on the front foot!

Saints secure the ball at the scrum and Saracens knock on at the ruck just after. Scrum Saints again.

Furbank knocks on and Saracens have a scrum just inside their own half. Lewington darts through but Collins hauls him down! Naiyaravoro pulls off an interception but back we come for a penalty as Saints are caught offside.

Alex Waller leads the boys out this afternoon, with Saints wearing their grey and green away strip here at Allianz Park.

Here's how Saints line-up this afternoon:

15 Furbank, 14 Collins, 13 Dingwall, 12 Hutchinson, 11 Naiyaravoro, 10 Grayson, 9 Taylor; 1 Waller, 2 Fish, 3 Hill, 4 Ribbans, 5 Moon, 6 Coles, 7 Tonks, 8 Wood

Replacements: 16 van Vuuren, 17 van Wyk, 18 Painter, 19 Bean, 20 Eadie, 21 Tupai, 22 Symons, 23 Sleightholme

Good afternoon and welcome to Allianz Park for Saracens vs Northampton Saints – the first clash of the new Gallagher Premiership season for the men in Black, Green and Gold. Can Chris Boyd's side open up with a win against the defending champions?