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Rotimi Segun helped Saracens get back to winning ways [Getty Images]
Investec Champions Cup Pool 1
Saracens (17) 20
Tries: Segun 2, T Willis Con: Burke Pen: Farrell
Toulouse (7) 14
Tries: Kinghorn, Lebel Cons: Ramos 2
Saracens produced an oustanding performance in testing conditions to beat Toulouse 20-14 and all but secure their place in the last 16 of the Champions Cup.
Saracens held a blunt review of their stuttering season after a poor defeat at Leicester last weekend, saying they had "confronted what was wrong" and were ready to "do the talking on the field" against the six-time European champions.
Mark McCall's side did just that at a wet and windy StoneX, fronting up to the star-studded Toulouse side with their best display of the season.
Number eight Tom Willis, whose elder brother Jack was in Toulouse's back row, gave another stellar performance to underline how much he will be missed when he moves to Bordeaux at the end of the season.
Things looked ominous when Toulouse fly-half Blair Kinghorn scored the opening try following sustained pressure, but Saracens responded in style with three tries in 10 minutes.
The first came from a moment of Theo McFarland brilliance. The Samoan flanker charged down Antoine Dupont's kick and raced forward to gather the ball. Jamie George and Willis took over the charge before the ball was moved left to Rotini Segun to finish.
Saracens almost doubled their lead immediately. Fly-half Fergus Burke broke through the defensive line with a brilliant burst of speed and sent a perfect kick through only for Alex Lozowski to fumble the bouncing ball as he dived over the line.
Lozowski, making his comeback from an Achilles tendon injury, made up for his mistake with an outrageous dummy pass that released Segun, who raced past his marker to score his second.
Saracens forwards struggled early on against the huge Toulouse pack, but with the wind at their backs they surged towards the line again. Willis stretched over the line, letting out a massive roar as he rose to his feet to salute his team-mates, as Saracens went into the break with a healthy 17-7 lead.
Toulouse scored early in the second half through wing Matthis Lebel but with conditions deteriorating rapidly, and their captain Dupont strangely quiet, that was their last score of the game.
Willis made one crucial turnover to prevent a try but the French league leaders lacked any sort of fluency in attack.
Facing a strong wind and playing into driving rain, Owen Farrell came on to lend his experience and the former England captain stretched the lead to six points with a penalty.
Toulouse tried one last time to rally but Saracens held on without any major scares to secure a famous win.
Sarries will bid for the top spot in Pool 1 when they face group leaders Glasgow Warriors away next Sunday.
A bonus point would guarantee Saracens' place in the knockout stage, but South African side Durban could knock out Toulouse if they beat Clermont Auvergne and Toulouse lose to Sale.
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Line-ups
Saracens: Daly; Caluori, Lozowski, Hartley, Segun; Burke,Van Zyl; Mawi, George, Street, Itoje (capt), Tizard, McFarland, Gonzalez, Willis.
Replacements: Hadfield, Carre, Riccioni, Onyeama-Christie,Earl, Bracken, Farrell, Malins.
Toulouse: Ramos; Delibes, Costes, Chocobares, Lebel; Kinghorn, Dupont (capt); Ainu'u, Marchand, Aldegheri, Flament, Meafou, Willis, Jelonch, Roumat.
Replacements: Mauvaka, Bertrand, Mallez, Brennan, Elias, Banos, Graou, Vigneres.
Match officials
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
Assistant referees: Ru Campbell (Sco), Federico Vedovelli (Ita)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
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