Owen Farrell ensures Saracens make it a flat start to Newcastle's new Red Bull era

• Newcastle 17-39 Saracens

• Farrell kicks 12 points on his second Saracens debut

The Red Bull era is up and running but Saracens have come to relish the role of party-poopers over the years and duly proceeded to burst Newcastle's bubble. Owen Farrell was rarely far from the action on his second Saracens debut – 17 years after his first – and though visiting flanker Nathan Michelow was shown the Prem's first 20-minute red card, this was an illustration of the length of the road ahead for Newcastle.

Farrell, starting at inside centre for Saracens for the first time in a decade, was a commanding presence for the visitors. He looks a touch bulkier, so perhaps No 12 is his future position for club, and maybe even country. He kicked 12 points, with Brandon Jackson, Andy Onyeama-Christie, the excellent Nick Tompkins, twice, and Noah Caluori all crossing for tries on an evening that began with sparkle for the Red Bulls but finished decidedly flat. It was 20-year-old Caluori who provided the champagne moment on debut, dexterously judging the bouncing ball and racing away to the line.