Premiership: London Irish 20-42 Saracens By Nabil Hassan BBC Sport at Twickenham Saracens began the new season with a bonus-point win over London Irish.
Two tries from Jamie George, one for Billy Vunipola and 22 points from Owen Farrell sealed victory at Twickenham.
Sarries led 21-10 at the interval, with tries at the start and end of the half by George, while Irish's points came through a Kieran Low try and Ian Humphreys' boot.
Billy Vunipola's touchdown and 11 further points from Farrell extended their lead after the break.
Marland Yarde's try and five points from Humphreys ensured a vast improvement on last season's encounter between the teams, but Chris Ashton sealed maximum points for Saracens in stoppage time.
Analysis 
Conor McNamara BBC Radio 5 Live match commentator Saracens have started the new season looking like they mean business. Having finished top of the table last year - but then beaten in the play-offs - Sarries have a hunger for silverware.
Hooker Jamie George's two tries in the first half exemplified Saracens' superior power. Chris Ashton stretched his arm out like 'Inspector Gadget' at the very end to secure a bonus point.
Both teams struggled with the new scrum laws, resulting in numerous resets, but on this showing Saracens look very much the team to beat this season.
Director of rugby Brian Smith's side were defeated 40-3 by Sarries in last year's opener and having lost key players in the summer, such as Alex Corbisiero and Jonathan Joseph, their fans could be forgiven for fearing the worst.
But this was an encouraging performance from Irish against a star-studded Saracens side who will be among the favourites for this season's Premiership crown.
Saracens opened the scoring at Twickenham through the boot of Farrell, with the Exiles' pack feeling the pressure of their opponents early on, and soon after last season's Premiership leaders were 10-0 ahead.
Vunipola did the damage up front creating space for George to bundle over from close range, with Farrell adding the extras.
Irish responded well to the early setback, as Humphreys sent over a penalty, but by and large they struggled to break the gain line and really threaten.
Sarries lost their captain Steve Borthwick temporarily due to a blood injury and then survived Irish's first foray into their 22, with poor handling costing the Berkshire side.
Farrell added another penalty with Irish's forward pack again creaking under pressure - Ashton only just held up on the half hour after neat handling from the Saracens backs set him free on the right wing.
George got his second of the game, showing an extraordinary burst of pace to charge over from 15 yards following an intelligent inside pass from Richard Wigglesworth that exposed the Irish defence.
Low looked to have given the Exiles a lifeline with his try straight from the restart and following Humphreys' conversion the Exiles were only eight behind.
But Farrell ensured an 11-point lead going into the break with his third penalty, after Alistair Hargreaves' huge hit on Jon Fisher led the Irish number eight to not releasing in the resulting ruck.
Farrell began the second half as he ended the first, sending over a penalty and soon extended their lead to 17 and, most significantly, to more than two scores.
Humphreys reduced that deficit with his second penalty but Vunipola earned a well-deserved try for Saracens, bundling over from close range, after their pack powered through the Irish defence.
Saracens prop Matt Stevens was sent to the bin for a shoulder charge and Irish took advantage, with winger Yarde finishing off a flowing three-quarter move which started in their own half.
But Farrell's penalty and Ashton's try in the corner at the death sealed Saracens' bonus point and ensured they would end the game in style.
LINE-UPS
London Irish: Ojo; Yarde, Armitage, Sheridan, Tagicakibau; Humphreys, O'Leary (capt); Parr, Paice, Aulika, Rouse, Evans, Low, Treviranus, Fisher. Replacements: Stevens, Yapp, Halavatau, Danaher, Hala'ufia, Fenby, Geraghty, Allinson. Saracens: Wyles; Ashton, Tomkins, Barritt, Strettle; Farrell, Wigglesworth; Gill, George, Stevens, Borthwick (capt), Hargreaves, Vunipola, Burger, Joubert. Replacements: Spurling, Vunipola, du Plessis, Kruis, Wray, Spencer, Mordt, Ransom.
Analysis Conor McNamara BBC Radio 5 Live match commentator Saracens have started the new season looking like they mean business. Having finished top of the table last year - but then beaten in the play-offs - Sarries have a hunger for silverware.
Hooker Jamie George's two tries in the first half exemplified Saracens' superior power. Chris Ashton stretched his arm out like 'Inspector Gadget' at the very end to secure a bonus point.
Both teams struggled with the new scrum laws, resulting in numerous resets, but on this showing Saracens look very much the team to beat this season.
Director of rugby Brian Smith's side were defeated 40-3 by Sarries in last year's opener and having lost key players in the summer, such as Alex Corbisiero and Jonathan Joseph, their fans could be forgiven for fearing the worst.
But this was an encouraging performance from Irish against a star-studded Saracens side who will be among the favourites for this season's Premiership crown.
Saracens opened the scoring at Twickenham through the boot of Farrell, with the Exiles' pack feeling the pressure of their opponents early on, and soon after last season's Premiership leaders were 10-0 ahead.
Vunipola did the damage up front creating space for George to bundle over from close range, with Farrell adding the extras.
Irish responded well to the early setback, as Humphreys sent over a penalty, but by and large they struggled to break the gain line and really threaten.
Sarries lost their captain Steve Borthwick temporarily due to a blood injury and then survived Irish's first foray into their 22, with poor handling costing the Berkshire side.
Farrell added another penalty with Irish's forward pack again creaking under pressure - Ashton only just held up on the half hour after neat handling from the Saracens backs set him free on the right wing.
George got his second of the game, showing an extraordinary burst of pace to charge over from 15 yards following an intelligent inside pass from Richard Wigglesworth that exposed the Irish defence.
Low looked to have given the Exiles a lifeline with his try straight from the restart and following Humphreys' conversion the Exiles were only eight behind.
But Farrell ensured an 11-point lead going into the break with his third penalty, after Alistair Hargreaves' huge hit on Jon Fisher led the Irish number eight to not releasing in the resulting ruck.
Farrell began the second half as he ended the first, sending over a penalty and soon extended their lead to 17 and, most significantly, to more than two scores.
Humphreys reduced that deficit with his second penalty but Vunipola earned a well-deserved try for Saracens, bundling over from close range, after their pack powered through the Irish defence.
Saracens prop Matt Stevens was sent to the bin for a shoulder charge and Irish took advantage, with winger Yarde finishing off a flowing three-quarter move which started in their own half.
But Farrell's penalty and Ashton's try in the corner at the death sealed Saracens' bonus point and ensured they would end the game in style.
LINE-UPS
London Irish: Ojo; Yarde, Armitage, Sheridan, Tagicakibau; Humphreys, O'Leary (capt); Parr, Paice, Aulika, Rouse, Evans, Low, Treviranus, Fisher. Replacements: Stevens, Yapp, Halavatau, Danaher, Hala'ufia, Fenby, Geraghty, Allinson. Saracens: Wyles; Ashton, Tomkins, Barritt, Strettle; Farrell, Wigglesworth; Gill, George, Stevens, Borthwick (capt), Hargreaves, Vunipola, Burger, Joubert. Replacements: Spurling, Vunipola, du Plessis, Kruis, Wray, Spencer, Mordt, Ransom.
Conor McNamara BBC Radio 5 Live match commentator Saracens have started the new season looking like they mean business. Having finished top of the table last year - but then beaten in the play-offs - Sarries have a hunger for silverware.
Hooker Jamie George's two tries in the first half exemplified Saracens' superior power. Chris Ashton stretched his arm out like 'Inspector Gadget' at the very end to secure a bonus point.
Both teams struggled with the new scrum laws, resulting in numerous resets, but on this showing Saracens look very much the team to beat this season.
Director of rugby Brian Smith's side were defeated 40-3 by Sarries in last year's opener and having lost key players in the summer, such as Alex Corbisiero and Jonathan Joseph, their fans could be forgiven for fearing the worst.
But this was an encouraging performance from Irish against a star-studded Saracens side who will be among the favourites for this season's Premiership crown.
Saracens opened the scoring at Twickenham through the boot of Farrell, with the Exiles' pack feeling the pressure of their opponents early on, and soon after last season's Premiership leaders were 10-0 ahead.
Vunipola did the damage up front creating space for George to bundle over from close range, with Farrell adding the extras.
Irish responded well to the early setback, as Humphreys sent over a penalty, but by and large they struggled to break the gain line and really threaten.
Sarries lost their captain Steve Borthwick temporarily due to a blood injury and then survived Irish's first foray into their 22, with poor handling costing the Berkshire side.
Farrell added another penalty with Irish's forward pack again creaking under pressure - Ashton only just held up on the half hour after neat handling from the Saracens backs set him free on the right wing.
George got his second of the game, showing an extraordinary burst of pace to charge over from 15 yards following an intelligent inside pass from Richard Wigglesworth that exposed the Irish defence.
Low looked to have given the Exiles a lifeline with his try straight from the restart and following Humphreys' conversion the Exiles were only eight behind.
But Farrell ensured an 11-point lead going into the break with his third penalty, after Alistair Hargreaves' huge hit on Jon Fisher led the Irish number eight to not releasing in the resulting ruck.
Farrell began the second half as he ended the first, sending over a penalty and soon extended their lead to 17 and, most significantly, to more than two scores.
Humphreys reduced that deficit with his second penalty but Vunipola earned a well-deserved try for Saracens, bundling over from close range, after their pack powered through the Irish defence.
Saracens prop Matt Stevens was sent to the bin for a shoulder charge and Irish took advantage, with winger Yarde finishing off a flowing three-quarter move which started in their own half.
But Farrell's penalty and Ashton's try in the corner at the death sealed Saracens' bonus point and ensured they would end the game in style.
LINE-UPS
London Irish: Ojo; Yarde, Armitage, Sheridan, Tagicakibau; Humphreys, O'Leary (capt); Parr, Paice, Aulika, Rouse, Evans, Low, Treviranus, Fisher. Replacements: Stevens, Yapp, Halavatau, Danaher, Hala'ufia, Fenby, Geraghty, Allinson. Saracens: Wyles; Ashton, Tomkins, Barritt, Strettle; Farrell, Wigglesworth; Gill, George, Stevens, Borthwick (capt), Hargreaves, Vunipola, Burger, Joubert. Replacements: Spurling, Vunipola, du Plessis, Kruis, Wray, Spencer, Mordt, Ransom.