Connacht going through the phases now and working their way up the pitch but the momentum is killed as Saracens force a penalty at the breakdown for holding on.

Owen Farrell hits a clever probing kick and there's a chance...

Connacht knock on in midfield. Bit of a scrappy start.

Saracens have a scrum and they switch play but Sean Maitland is pushed into touch and Connacht clear their lines after a successful lineout.

Referee Luc Ramos blows his whistle and we're off!

Jack Carty's kick is knocked on by Theo McFarland and Connacht get an early scrum.

Jack Carty runs out first onto the pitch to mark his 200th cap for Connacht.

As always, he will be instrumental in Connacht's hopes of competing with Saracens today.

A moment of reflection for former Ulster, Ireland and British Lions player Syd Millar who passed away this week.

Image source, Inpho

As kick-off approaches, the stadium is filling up and teams are ready to take to the pitch.

A cold but dry day at the StoneX Stadium - perfect conditions for rugby.

Kick-off in two minutes...

Alastair Telfer
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Jean-Luc and Dan had been capped under the previous head coach Allister Coetzee but Rob's first involvement came under Erasmus and Nienaber after impressing for Sale. Erasmus named 17 uncapped players in his first squad, which included all three Du Preez brothers.

"They are both open and honest. The whole environment is like that, they will often say if you want to sit in on a coaches meeting you can - I don't think anyone has ever done that - but the door is always open," said fly-half Rob, who won his one and only cap against Wales in 2018.

"Jacques is very meticulous and very detailed. You have seen what he has done with the Boks defensively, they are one of the toughest defences around the world."

"Rassie is quite direct which is good so players can understand where they are with him and he can really get a team up for it which is really inspiring," Jean-Luc added.

The by-product of success with Sale could result in more international honours for the Du Preez brothers.

Dan added that he would have both of his brothers in the Springbok squad instead of himself and there would be "no hard feelings".

"We are all rooting for each other. If one is in, or two, and one misses out, we don't feel envious about it," Jean-Luc, who played under Nienaber during the 2023 Rugby Championship, added.

"It would be great for us three to be involved together again and we just need to do our best for Sale and hopefully reap the rewards."

Alastair Telfer
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

In 2018, the Du Preez brothers became the first set of three siblings to be named in a South Africa squad together.

Sale Sharks' Robert, Jean-Luc and Dan du Preez all played under the successful reign of Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus.

Born in Durban, their professional rugby rise has been in Manchester.

"It was special for all three of us to be involved in the Springbok set-up but we sometimes take that for granted and hopefully there will be another time when all three of us are involved," Dan, who has been capped six times, told BBC Sport.

"It is a great honour to have been able to play for the Springboks in the best team in the world. To have done it once was a dream come true," Rob added.

"For us as a family to have all played for them is massive."

Their father Robert also played for the Springboks from 1992-93 as a scrum-half, making seven appearances.

"I certainly wanted to play rugby because my dad played, I think a lot of sons would be like that," Dan said.

Connacht head-coach Pete Wilkins :

"We didn't give the best account of ourselves in round one. Today there are access points to this game, but we've got to bring physicality and intensity to match Saracens.

"If we do that, then it will be a really interesting game, but we've got to first earn the right."

Saracens head-coach Mark McCall on his side's recent form:

"We had five performances in a row that we were consistent and got good results from those games.

"The last two weeks we have been a bit off colour - not quite ourselves - so hopefully we can get back on track.

"It’s a big game for both teams today and hopefully we can be significantly better than we have been in the past two weeks."

Thank you for joining us as Connacht face Saracens at the StoneX Stadium this afternoon.

Both sides go into this one looking to bounce back after losses last weekend. Saracens fell to the Bulls 27-16 while Connacht suffered a heavy 41-5 loss at home to Bordeaux-Begles.

Saracens will be determined to make home advantage count and the three-times European Cup winners go in as favourites against the Irish side.

It should be an exciting one with a lot at stake for both sides.

Mark McCall has made four changes to his Saracens team to face Connacht in the Investec Champions Cup on Saturday.

Lock Theo McFarland comes into the starting XV for Hugh Tizard and scrum-half Aled Davies replaces Ivan van Zyl.

Centre Olly Hartley comes into the midfield for Elliot Daly, with Argentina's Lucio Cinti on the wing.

Number eight Billy Vunipola also starts after his red card for a clear-out was overturned following the opening defeat in South Africa by Bulls.

Vunipola was sent off in the 52nd minute after making direct head contact with Cameron Hanekom. A disciplinary panel ruled the act was foul play but that there was insufficient force to justify a red card.

Fly-half Owen Farrell will captain Saracens for the second time since announcing he will be unavailable for the 2024 Six Nations to prioritise his family and mental wellbeing.

The three-time champions were the only English side of eight not to win in the opening round of Champions Cup matches.

Connacht suffered a 41-5 defeat tby Bordeaux-Begles in their opening game and make nine changes to their starting team for the trip to Saracens.

Ireland wing Mack Hansen, who started against Bordeaux at full-back, was injured in the defeat and is replaced by John Porch.

Winger Shayne Bolton makes his first appearance of the campaign and lock Gavin Thornbury also comes into the starting XV for his first game in a year after a serious knee injury.

Fly-half Jack Carty will make his 200th appearance for the Irish province.

Saracens: Goode; Cinti, Tompkins, Hartley, Maitland; Farrell, Davies; M Vunipola, George, Clarey, Itoje, McFarland, Gonzalez, Christie, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Dan, West, Mulipola, Tizard, Knight, Van Zyl, Parton, Lewington.

Connacht: Porch; Ralston, Farrell, Aki, Bolton; Carty, Blade; Duggan, Heffernan, Aungier, Murray, Thornbury, Prendergast, Oliver, Boyle.

Replacements: Tierney-Martin, Buckley, Bealham, Joyce, Butler, McDonald, Hanrahan, Kilgallen.

Referee: Luc Ramos