Owen Farrell shows what fans will miss after completely overshadowing Marcus Smith

With that emphatic victory, Saracens have moved up to second on 41 points, just three points behind leaders Northampton who lost at Bristol last night. With their win against Newcastle, Exeter have moved up to third on 40 points. Harlequins have dropped to fifth on 37 points.

It has also finished at Sandy Park where Exeter have beaten Newcastle 25-16.

Northmore is bundled into touch and that is it at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. An absolute mauling. Saracens have destroyed Harlequins 52-7.

Harlequins knock on but they win a penalty still inside the Saracens 22.

Lewington is rightly sent to the bin for a high shot on Green so in the final minute Harlequins will have a line-out inside Saracens’ 22.

There is a check for high tackle from Lewington on Green...

Farrell is penalised for not releasing and Harlequins go quickly. They go towards the Saracens 22 but they lose possession, which just about sums up their day.

Harlequins get to within a few metres of the Saracens line but at the crucial moment they knock on and the chance is gone.

Harlequins win a penalty inside the Saracens half so they will kick towards the corner. This has been a humiliating afternoon for Harlequins.

Yet another try for Saracens. This is a mauling as they take advantage of a man-advantage. They break down the left and Gonzalez finds Goode inside him as Saracens hit 50. Farrell nails the conversion. Saracens lead 52-7.

Saracens win a penalty just outside the Harlequins 22 and they go quickly. They have a penalty advantage and shift the ball wide to the right. Maitland comes close to getting his hat-trick but he flicks it back in-field before he goes into touch. Gonzalez picks it up and goes over for the try. To make things worse Care has been sent to the bin in the build-up to the try. Farrell lands a superb kick from the touchline.

David has only just come on for Harlequins but he is heading off within a few minutes as he looks in a fair bit of pain with what looks like a shoulder injury. Max Green, who is a scrum-half, is coming on for the winger/ fullback David.

Saracens have their sixth try of the afternoon. Tompkins makes the break through the Harlequins defensive line and offloads to his outside to Daly. He has a simple pass on offer inside to Cinti which he executes and the Argentine Cinti goes over. Farrell lands the easy conversion.

When the ball goes loose, George hacks forward which puts Smith under pressure from his opposite number Farrell. Harlequins manage to clear their lines just outside their own 22.

Both sides have changed their entire front-rows, which includes current England captain George coming on to replace Dan, who scored two tries this afternoon.

The game is most likely beyond them but finally Harlequins get on the scoreboard. They set the maul and Dombrandt goes down the short-side and reaches for the line. Smith’s touchline conversion is successful.

Tompkins takes Care out at the ruck so Harlequins will have the penalty. Smit is kicking to the corner as three points are no use to Harlequins when they are 31 points down. Harlequins will have the line-out around five metres out.

A little bit of respite for Harlequins as Launchbury wins a penalty on the edge of his own 22 at the breakdown.

B Vunipola is the man who they are looking at in the maul but referee Christophe Ridley deems that he was pushed during the maul so there was no infringement in his eyes. Farrell lands the conversion and Saracens’ lead goes beyond 30 points.

The TMO has stepped in to stop Farrell taking the conversion.

This is too easy for Saracens. They set a maul and Dan goes over in a carbon-copy of his try in the first half. Harlequins are a little lucky not to see a player sin-binned.

Maitland makes a good break off a Saracens line-out into the Harlequins 22. Evans wants a penalty at the breakdown but he is penalised for putting his hands on the ground before going onto the ball. That was a good call from Christophe Ridley. Farrell kicks to five metres out.

Harlequins’ indiscretions continue at the start of the second half as Marler is penalised at the breakdown. Saracens kick to the edge of the Harlequins 22.

Dan’s throw is overthrown.

We are back under way at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Will Harlequins stage a dramatic comeback or will Saracens’ dominance in that first half continue into the second?

If you are a Saracens fan, this picture probably sums up your mood pretty well at this moment in time:

There is one other Gallagher Premiership game ongoing at the moment. It is also half time at Sandy Park, where the Exeter Chiefs lead Newcastle Falcons 22-13.

It is safe to say Harlequins have not been in this game so far. 40 minutes still to go and we know how dangerous Harlequins can be. But is this too far for Harlequins? It feels like this game is probably beyond them, especially against a side of Saracens’ calibre.

Harlequins end up back in their own 22 and Care decides to kick the ball out for half time. That is what you would call a one-sided half of rugby.

Good work from Harlequins in defence and they win an important penalty in front of their own sticks as Saracens are penalised for playing the ball on the floor.

The clock is in the red as Harlequins have a line-out near halfway.

Harlequins throw a forward pass deep inside their own 22 with just under two minutes left in this first half. Looking back at the replays it may have seemed a little harsh that call but Saracens will have the scrum.

Harlequins win the line-out but have been pushed back 10 metres. Eventually they lose the ball into touch and Saracens have the line-out. Saracens’ defence dominated Harlequins’ attack there.

Harlequins dominate at the scrum inside Saracens half and they have the penalty advantage. Referee Christophe Ridley brings play back for the penalty at the scrum. Harlequins, 24 points down, will go to the corner, not go for three.

Not even 30 minutes have passed and Saracens have their bonus point try. After a strong carry from Dan into the Harlequins 22, Saracens shift out to the right. Daly sends a pass through his legs to Lewington. He passes to Maitland outside him, who cuts inside Green to go over in the corner. Farrell’s touchline conversion misses. Saracens in complete and utter control of this game. Is there any way back for Saracens?

Harlequins captain Lewies has returned to the pitch from his sin-bin.

Dombrandt holds on to the ball and referee Christophe Ridley pings him for it. Saracens will be able to clear their lines. Harlequins really needed something from that entry into the Saracens 22.

Farrell is penalised for stripping the ball on the ground when tackling Smith and for the first time today Harlequins will have the chance to make an entry into Saracens’ 22. Smith’s kick is not great and Harlequins line-out will be from around 15 metres out instead of perhaps five.

Saracens are running riot in the opening 20 minutes as they have their third try. McFarland makes the break into Harlequins’ half, offloads to Daly who finds Cinti inside him. Saracens then shift it the other side and Farrell finds Maitland on the right-hand wing with a long, floated pass and Maitland has the easiest of finishes. Farrell misses the conversion.

Saracens set the maul and hooker Dan makes his way over the line at the back of the rolling maul. There has only been one side in this game so far and that is Saracens. Two tries in the bag already and Harlequins down a man in the sin-bin. Farrell lands another quality conversion from near the touchline.

Harlequins infringe again and it is their captain Lewies who is sent to the bin. Another five-metre line-out for Saracens.

Another penalty for Saracens at the maul. Marler the culprit for his entry at the maul. Harlequins close to a yellow card here. Farrell kicks to the corner...

Saracens are awarded another penalty at the maul. Harlequins are under huge pressure already in this game as unsurprisingly Saracens go to the corner once again.

Both sides lose possession and then gain it back but Saracens have it in Harlequins’ 22. Harlequins think they are about to win the turnover but Marler is penalised for not rolling away. Farrell goes to the corner...

Farrell attempts a crossfield kick towards Gonzalez on the wing inside the Harlequins 22 but Green makes a great grab and calls the mark.

Lewies is penalised for not keeping his feet in the ruck so Saracens have a penalty near halfway. Farrell kicks into the Harlequins 22.

It has been all Saracens so far and inside three minutes they have the first try of the afternoon. They had a penalty advantage near the Harlequins line and they shift the ball out to the left wing, where Daly offloads to Lewington, who pushes through the tackle of Smith and goes over in the corner. Farrell’s conversion from near the touchline is successful.

Dan makes a break through the middle into the Harlequins 22. Farrell dinks a kick in behind and a couple of Saracens are bearing down on it, but it is knocked on so Harlequins will have a goal-line drop out.

We are under way at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Showdown 4 begins.

Both sides have emerged from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Saracens captain Owen Farrell walks out with his children ahead of his teammates on his 250th appearance for the club.

There has been an injury during the warm ups for Saracens. Winger Rotimi Segun has been ruled out of the game with a tight calf so Sean Maitland has come onto the wing in the starting XV for Saracens.

Emotional moment as Owen Farrell leads out the Saracens team with his two children on his 250th appearance for the club.

Saracens: 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Theo Dan, 3 Christian Judge, 4 Theo McFarland, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Billy Vunipola; 9 Ivan van Zyl, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 11 Alex Lewington, 12 Nick Tompkins, 13 Lucio Cinti, 14 Rotimi Segun, 15 Elliot Daly

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Tom Willis, 21 Andy Christie, 22 Gareth Simpson, 23 Alex Goode

Harlequins: 1. Joe Marler 2. Jack Walker 3. Will Collier 4. Joe Launchbury 5. George Hammond 6. Stephan Lewies (Captain) 7. Will Evans 8. Alex Dombrandt 9. Danny Care 10. Marcus Smith 11. Cadan Murley 12. Andre Esterhuizen 13. Oscar Beard 14. Louis Lynagh 15. Tyrone Green

Replacements: 16. Sam Riley 17. Fin Baxter 18. Dillon Lewis 19. Irne Herbst 20. Will Trenholm 21. Max Green 22. Luke Northmore 23. Nick David    

World Down Syndrome Day was on Thursday and to mark the occasion, both sides will wear odd socks this afternoon.

They are both starting for Saracens this afternoon but are the Vunipolas coming to the end of their time at the club? Our very own Ben Coles and Charlie Morgan are reporting that Billy is poised to join Montpellier next season, joining a growing list of English players in France, and Mako is also expected to leave.

Round 13 got underway last night. At Ashton Gate, Bristol Bears convincingly beat league leaders Northampton 52-21. At Welford Road, a late try from Italy scrum-half Stephen Varney sealed Gloucester a dramatic 27-25 win away at Leicester Tigers.

Kicking off five minutes before this game at 3pm, Exeter Chiefs host bottom of the league Newcastle Falcons at Sandy Park.

Saracens welcome back some of their England internationals from Six Nations duty.  Ben Earl, Theo Dan, Jamie George and Elliot Daly are in the matchday squad but Maro Itoje is not involved. Owen Farrell starts at fly-half and captains the side on his 250th appearance.

Saracens: 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Theo Dan, 3 Christian Judge, 4 Theo McFarland, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Billy Vunipola; 9 Ivan van Zyl, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 11 Alex Lewington, 12 Nick Tompkins, 13 Lucio Cinti, 14 Rotimi Segun, 15 Elliot Daly

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Tom Willis, 21 Andy Christie, 22 Gareth Simpson, 23 Alex Goode

Harlequins include six returning internationals from the Six Nations. Joe Marler, Alex Dombrandt, Danny Care and Marcus Smith return from England duty whilst Italy’s Louis Lynagh and Wales’ Dillon Lewis are also included in the matchday 23. Andre Esterhuizen, who will join the Sharks in South Africa in the summer, starts at inside centre. Luke Northmore could make his first appearance since October from the bench.

Harlequins: 1. Joe Marler 2. Jack Walker 3. Will Collier 4. Joe Launchbury 5. George Hammond 6. Stephan Lewies (Captain) 7. Will Evans 8. Alex Dombrandt 9. Danny Care 10. Marcus Smith 11. Cadan Murley 12. Andre Esterhuizen 13. Oscar Beard 14. Louis Lynagh 15. Tyrone Green

Replacements: 16. Sam Riley 17. Fin Baxter 18. Dillon Lewis 19. Irne Herbst 20. Will Trenholm 21. Max Green 22. Luke Northmore 23. Nick David    

The Six Nations is over and now it is time to turn our attention back to the Gallagher Premiership. After a two-month break during the Six Nations, the Premiership returns with six games remaining in the regular season so it is a sprint to the finish. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is the scene this afternoon as bitter London rivals Saracens and Harlequins take each other on. 

Saracens captain Owen Farrell will run out for the 250^th time in front of 60,000 fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Farrell will end his 16-year association with Saracens at the end of the season as he will join French side Racing 92 in the summer.

Saracens chief executive Mark Thompson has admitted that Farrell’s departure will be a big loss not just for Saracens, but English rugby as a whole.

“There’s no getting away from it, he’s a huge loss for us, an enormous loss,” Thompson told the BBC.

“Both the skills he brings as a rugby player and as a leader on the pitch, but also in the day-to-day at the training ground.

“We feel confident that we have the structures in place to move forward from that but clearly you don’t replace someone of his stature on and off the pitch overnight.

“It’ll be a huge loss for the club and the English game as a whole.”

Ahead of his 250th Saracens appearance, Farrell has described his excitement at reaching the milestone on this occasion.

“To be able to play that amount of games, especially with this group, is special. I’ve been here since I was 14, I’ve grown up at this place and my best mates are from here.

“The Showdown is always a massive occasion, but to play my 250th game for the club on that occasion, with my friends and family around me watching, will be brilliant.

“I’ve played there for a few years now and the occasion is massive. It’s nice to have a big one for such a milestone. Hopefully it will be something I can look back on and feel proud of.

“Going into the back end of the season we’re looking forward to making it the best we can and there’s plenty of opportunities to do that.”

Going into this afternoon’s game, Harlequins sit second in the table, two places and one point above Saracens.