'Fergus had an impressive debut. He is a different personality to Owen'

Gloucester head coach George Skivington admitted “losing the opening game is tough to take” after clinical Saracens came away from Kingsholm with a 35-26 victory.

Saracens were good value for their win, with the final scoreline flattering their opponents as Gloucester scored 14 points in the closing stages to earn a bonus point.

The impressive Andy Onyeama-Christie scored two tries for Saracens, with Ivan van Zyl and Tobias Elliott also going over as Fergus Burke kicked two conversions and two penalties.

Freddie Thomas, Freddie Clarke, Jack Clement and Seb Blake scored tries for Gloucester, with George Barton adding three conversions.

Skivington said: “I’m disappointed to lose as we knew what Sarries would bring as they are a clinical side.

“Every ball we dropped they capitalised on and our inability to get on the front foot cost us.

“The positive is that we played with endeavour for the whole 80 minutes and to get a bonus point at the end was pleasing, but we know the Premiership is a relentless league.

“We dropped a lot of balls in the first half as their line-speed shot us down and their work at the breakdown was outstanding.

“We secured a lot of good positions but gave away some soft penalties to let them off the hook, so losing the opening game is tough to take.”

Saracens’ director of rugby Mark McCall was delighted with the opening-day performance after seeing club stalwarts Owen Farrell, Mako and Billy Vunipola and Sean Maitland all depart during the summer.

He said: “We approached pre-season differently as we’ve got a younger squad with a pack which is more athletic and faster so we were able to work them harder. Remarkably Maro Itoje at 29 is the oldest by some distance.

“Fergus (Burke) had an impressive debut. He is a different personality to Owen (Farrell) but he has the same skill-set to him by being able to pass and kick excellently.

“Obviously the victory is pleasing but today was about how we approached the game in terms of effort and competition.

“Parts of our rugby can improve but I’m more than happy with the the energy and the buzz factor we showed towards the game, with our new skipper Maro (Itoje) looking as if he means business.”