Bulls 27-16 Saracens: Owen Farrell booed in Bulls charge in balmy Pretoria… with Billy Vunipola seeing red

• Farrell has been booed by fans for a number of month including at World Cup
• He has recently taken a break from international rugby to prioritise well-being
• England’s Billy Vunipola was sent off in the second half for a reckless high tackle 

Owen Farrell met a hostile reception as the crowd booed his every kick. 

Farrell, who returned to Saracens after his decision to take a break from international rugby, was one of his side’s better players, despite being booed when he kicked and cheered when he missed both conversions. 

But against a Bulls side who revelled in the conditions — a balmy 24 degrees after a thunderstorm cooled the air before kick-off — the London side struggled in their opening Champions Cup game, losing both Maro Itoje and Alex Goode to yellow cards in the first half. 

Ironically it was the loss of Billy Vunipola to a red card in the second half that seemed to galvanise them, after the England No8 was given his marching orders for a reckless high tackle that seemed to make marginal contact with Cameron Hanekom. 

By that time Saracens should have been on the rack, but the Bulls had three tries disallowed by the TMO and led 20-6 at the break. 

The key try came when Kurt – Lee Arendse tore open the defence after a poor clearance from Farrell to put his World Cup team-mate Canan Moodie away for a try. Bulls coach Jake White apologised for the consistent booing.

Owen Farrell was booed by Bulls fans with his misses cheered during Saracens’s 27-16 defeat

Billy Vunipola was sent off for a reckless high tackle on Camerom Hanekom but the dismissal seemed to galvanise his side

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