Champions Cup: Saracens steamroller their way into the semi-final over hapless Glasgow

Referee Nigel Owens signals a Saracens try in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

That stop will be the Ricoh Arena in Coventry for a semi-final with Munster after the seven-try success at a pleasantly-warm Allianz Park.

Billy Vunipola of Saracens in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

Liam Williams and David Strettle got two each while Brad Barritt, Jamie George and Nick Tompkins got the others. Alex Lozowski converted six of them and kicked three penalties.

Saracens celebrate David Strettle's try in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

It was a typical performance from the Men in Black, displaying all the usual hallmarks that you have come to expect from the two-times winners of the trophy.

David Strettle of Saracens races through to score in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

They even did it without England captain Owen Farrell who dropped out of the squad when his wife went into labour.

Nick Isiekwe of Saracens in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

It meant a reshuffle in the backs with Alex Goode going to fly-half and Liam Williams in at 15.

David Strettle of Saracens races through to score in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

That meant a place on the bench for former Old Albanian Max Malins, joining St Albans’ Nick Isiekwe.

Liam Williams of Saracens scores again for Saracens in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

The late change could not even be blamed for the opening score, which arrived after just 68 seconds, as Saracens had barely touched it by that point.

Will Skelton of Saracens looks to break through in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

It was a move full of strong and fast running that was finished off by Matt Fagerson and converted by Adam Hastings.

Ben Spencer of Saracens is tackled high in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

It had the huge numbers of the boisterous Glasgow fans off their feet and cheering like mad.

Maro Itoje of Saracens in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

But that was as good as it got for the next 30 minutes as Saracens did what they do every week, simply grind teams down.

Saracens celebrate Brad Barritt's try in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

They were level on five minutes thanks to chip forward by Goode and Williams finished it off with a trademark leap and catch.

Saracens celebrate Brad Barritt's try in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

Alex Lozowski slotted the conversion and then a penalty and after the Glasgow defence were required to put in strength-sapping tackle after strength-sapping tackle, Strettle went over in the far corner.

Brad Barritt (c) of Saracens goes over to score in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

As if to prove that the Warriors were floundering at this point the kick-off went straight into touch and after a scrum on halfway the ball was move forward with Barritt finishing things off and Lozowski moving the lead to 15.

Liam Williams of Saracens looks to pass in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

But the hordes of Scottish fans were given something else to cheer about in the closing stages of the half at least as Hastings landed two penalties and frantic, last-ditch tackling kept Glasgow out as the clock ticked down.

Maro Itoje of Saracens takes a hit in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

They should have really scored from that move and that will hurt, especially as they barely got a look-in after the break.

Jamie George of Saracens looks for a pass in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

Lozowski kicked a penalty, Glasgow again being caught offside, and then came the fourth try, made by man-of-the-match George.

George Kruis of Saracens looks to slip a tackle in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

The Welwyn Garden City-born hooker may well be auditioning for a role in the backs as he certainly wasn’t loitering out on the right wing, hitting the line with pace Strettle and Sean Maitland would have been proud of.

Liam Williams of Saracens goes down in a tackle in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

He was only stopped at the second attempt but it didn’t matter as Williams was in support to shrug off the tackle and grab his second.

Maro Itoje of Saracens carries the ball in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

All that was inside the opening 10 minutes of the second period but if Glasgow thought that was it, they were hugely mistaken as another 10 points were added in the next 10 minutes too.

Liam Williams of Saracens scores in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

Lozowski kicked three and then a conversion after Strettle gleefully accepted Stafford McDowell’s gift on halfway.

Liam Williams of Saracens scores in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

A Scottish wag in the crowd shouted “remember Twickenham” but there was never going to be a comeback of that magnitude and as if to underline that Saracens scored another try five minutes later.

Liam Williams of Saracens scores in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

It went to George, this time doing more-typical Jamie George-like things.

Referee Nigel Owens in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

He came round from a five-metre line-out and got the final touch as the black wave simply swept over the Warriors.

Sean Maitland of Saracens tackles Kyle Steyn of Glasgow Warriors in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

George Horne did raise a smile among the visiting support with a good score, made by Samuel Johnson’s positive charge into Saracens’ territory

Maro Itoje of Saracens loses the ball in a tackle in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

They would also get the final try on the last play but by that point the hosts had got their final try, Tompkins taking a short ball and scoring under the posts.

Fans welcome the teams in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

George left the field with nine minutes to go to a standing ovation while the good news continued for Saracens as Maro Itoje completed a full 80 minutes despite a late scare.

Fireworks go off before the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

And on this performance Munster will have to be at the belligerent best to derail the seemingly unstoppable Saracens charge.

Schalk Burger and Maro Itoje of Saracens hold up Siosiua Halanukonuka of Glasgow Warriors in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

Saracens fans celebrate the win in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

Saracens celebrate Nick Tompkins' try in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

Nick Tompkins of Saracens scores between the posts in the Heineken Champions Cup game between Saracens v Glasgow Warriors at the Allianz Park, Hendon, London. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

Saracens: Barrington, George, Judge, Skelton, Kruis, Itoje, Wray, Vunipola, Specer, Goode, Strettle, Barritt, Lozowski, Maitland, Williams.

Replacements: Woolstencroft, Lamositele, Koch, Isiekwe, Burger, Whiteley, Malins, Tompkins.

Tries: Williams 5, 49, Strettle 26, 57, Barritt 30, George 63, Tompkins 71

Conversions: Lozowski 5, 30, 49, 57, 63, 71

Penalties: Lozowski 15, 43, 55

Glasgow Warriors: Kebble, Brown, Z.Fagerson, Swinson, Cummings, Harley, Gibbins, M.Fagerson, Price, Hastings, Hughes, Johnson, McDowall.Steyn, Hogg.

Replacements: Bryce, Bhatti, Halanukonuka, Gray, Fusaro, G.Horne, P.Horne, Matawalu.

Tries: M.Fagerson 2, 80 G.Horne 67

Conversions: Hastings 2, 80

Penalties: Hastings 33, 38

HT: Saracens 22 Glasgow Warriors 13

Attendance: 10,997

Referee: Nigel Owens