Cardiff number eight, Steve Williams, was denied after one early break from a scrum, but when he repeated it from closer range and the ball went loose in the tackle, scrum-half Howley was on hand to pick up and trot over against his former club.

BBC: Cardiff in the hunt

Abendanon then rubbed further salt into Saracens wounds when he grabbed an opportunist, if controversial, try, hacking the loose ball on to touch down after scrum-half Michael Claassens' kick deflected off referee Tim Wigglesworth.

BBC: Bath 13-17 Saracens

Cole has flourished this term in the absence of injured veteran Julian White, and cemented his reputation as a Test prop-in-waiting by demolishing Wasps loose-head Tim Payne in the scrum in a Premiership match last month.

BBC: England pick prop Dan Cole & recall centre Riki Flutey