Champions Cup rugby round-up: Saracens win again, Munster triumph in emotional victory, Northampton thrashed
Saracens 44-26 Scarlets
Saracens' impressive start to the defence of their European title continued with a 44-26 victory over the Scarlets, but there were potentially alarming repercussions for England and Wales.
Maro Itoje was replaced in the 46th minute of a one-sided Champions Cup clash at Allianz Park after rolling awkwardly on to his arm while making a tackle, leaving the 21-year-old lock in discomfort.
In a pitchside interview, Saracens assistant coach Alex Sanderson revealed Itoje had taken a knock to his arm and would need to see a specialist to discover the extent of the damage.
It is a disturbing development for England, who are in the midst of an injury crisis ahead of their autumn campaign that is launched against South Africa at Twickenham on November 12.
Fortune has been at its most cruel in the second and backs rows as only 24 hours earlier Saracens lock George Kruis became the latest victim of the curse sweeping through the Grand Slam champions' ranks when an ankle injury effectively ended his involvement in all four Tests.
The night was every bit as worrying for Wales after full-back Liam Williams limped off early in the first half before being joined in the treatment room by international team-mate Jake Ball, who was grimacing as he clutched his ribs.
Williams has been earmarked for the number 15 jersey against Australia on November 5, while the in-form Ball has been pushing hard for a place in the starting XV.
To add to Welsh woes, Scarlets centre Scott Williams had been ruled out of the trip to London during the build-up because of an ankle problem.
Both clubs' medical teams were kept busy as injured players littered Allianz Park, particularly in the second half, and perhaps an omen of the carnage to come came in the warm-up when Saracens lost skipper Brad Barritt to a stiff neck.
But Barritt's ailment did not prevent the double winners from completing a bonus-point victory that left the outclassed Scarlets in their slipstream throughout.
Munster 38-17 Glasgow Warriors
Fourteen-man Munster honoured their late captain and head coach Anthony Foley with a barnstorming 38-17 bonus-point Champions Cup win over Glasgow at Thomond Park.
Despite Keith Earls' red card for a tip tackle midway through a frenzied first half, Munster were 24-3 clear by the interval after tries from European debutants Tyler Bleyendaal and Jaco Taute along with a fortuitous effort from Simon Zebo.
Munster's dominance up front yielded a penalty try, early in the second period, and although Pat MacArthur and Mark Bennett both touched down in the final quarter, a closing seven-pointer from Rory Scannell was a fitting end to a highly emotional day in Limerick.
A sell-out 26,500 crowd watched Munster open their European campaign in tearful circumstances, just a day after Foley was laid to rest in his home town of Killaloe, County Clare.
Castres 41-7 Northampton
Castres ran in five tries in a 41-7 demolition of old European rivals Northampton courtesy of a dominant forward performance that saw the visitors' pack shoved all over the park.
Winger David Smith was the main beneficiary of the hosts' total control up front in the ninth European meeting between the two sides.
He touched down twice - the first a saunter under the posts after captain Alex Tulou's powerful run punched a hole in the Saints' defence after 31 minutes, while his second came four minutes into the second period when he danced past two defenders to score in the corner following a smart offload from Thomas Combezou.
Smith's brace sandwiched a try for loosehead prop Antoine Tichit, who was shoved over the line by his forward colleagues. Benjamin Urdapilleta converted both - the last with a little help from the upright.
Clermont Auvergne 49-33 Bordeaux-Begles
Clermont defeated French rivals Bordeaux 49-33 in a hugely entertaining Champions Cup clash at Stade Marcel Michelin on Saturday.
Bordeaux made a strong start as Jean-Marcel Buttin and Jayden Spence crossed for tries, with Ian Madigan kicking the extra points on each occasion. However, the boot of Morgan Parra limited the damage for the Top 14 leaders as he was successful with three penalties.
Clermont then flexed their muscles with Noa Nakaitaci scoring before half-time, and Parra again adding the extras, to give the hosts the lead before Alexander Lapandry and Wesley Fofana ran in tries and Sebastien Vahaamahina bagged the bonus point.
But Bordeaux claimed a bonus of their own as Buttin posted his second try of the match before setting up Met Talebula, while Gauthier Doubrere scored a late consolation.
Clermont remained top of Pool Five with 10 points after round two and Bordeaux stayed behind them in second spot, for now, with Ulster and Exeter still to play.
Ulster 19-18 Exeter
Ulster scored a dramatic late drop goal through Paddy Jackson to seal a one-point Champions Cup win over Exeter at the Kingspan Stadium.
Charles Piutau produced a man-of-the-match performance and set up Sean Reidy for the solitary try of the game with a piece of brilliance to help Ulster to a 10-6 lead at half time.
The Chiefs trailed 16-15 when Gareth Steenson kicked a drop goal in the 77th minute to nudge his side into the lead.
But Jackson replied a minute later and Steenson missed with another attempt.