Unless you are used to it, being champions can disorientate you somewhat. Or maybe it is just that it inspires the others when they come up against you. Saracens have discovered that this season will be harder than last, the one they finished brandishing that enviable mantle.
Despite dominating the second half, particularly at the scrum, Saracens could not break a Wasps side who defended with that added edge borne of envy. Wasps are a team used to defending a title, or at least the club is. Not so many of this particular side have won anything in Wasps colours, but there were encouraging signs that a few of their new signings fancy a bit.
Jonathan Poff was given the man-of-the-match award and was certainly a bustling presence throughout. Hugo Southwell, denied his place in Scotland's World Cup squad by injury, but fit enough to start here, was composed at full-back, Marco Wentzel, newly arrived from relegated Leeds, led the lineout immaculately, and Nicky Robinson conducted affairs well enough from fly-half. Youngsters Charlie Davies and Joe Launchbury showed particular hunger, as well, to provide a winning start for the new coaching team of Dai Young and Paul Turner.
So, out with the old and in with the new at one of north London's clubs. At the other, Charlie Hodgson, Saracens' biggest signing of the summer, made his debut off the bench and kicked his new team into the lead with his second penalty on the hour.
At that point, it looked as if Saracens might prevail, despite having bombed a chance when Ernst Joubert dropped a tricky pass with the line at his mercy. But Tim Payne and Davies reacted fastest to a spilt ball in the final quarter, and Tom Varndell beat Hodgson and David Strettle for the try that clinched it.
The other try had also come from a Wasps winger, another youngster who may yet help Wasps rediscover former glories. Christian Wade's score in the first half was beautifully constructed. Poff's drive and offload was developed skilfully by Riki Flutey, and superb hands from Southwell and Chris Bell sent Wade scampering clear on the left.
Wade is young and very, very quick, a star of the recent Under-20 World Cup. That try was not the last we were to see of him with ball in hand.
And this will surely not be the last we see of Saracens as contenders this season. They might easily have chiselled out the win here, but they reckoned without that extra edge of opponents desperate to beat the champions.
Saracens: Goode; Strettle, Powell, Barritt, Short; Farrell, de Kock; Gill, Brits, Nieto, Borthwick, Botha, Melck, Saull, Joubert. Pens: Farrell 3, Hodgson 2. Replacements: George, Carstens, Du Plessis, Kruis, Wray, Spencer, Hodgson, Taylor.
Wasps: Southwell; Varndell, Bell, Flutey, Wade; Robinson, Davies; Payne, Webber, Broster, Birkett, Wentzel, Launchbury, Poff, Hart. Tries: Wade, Varndell. Cons: Robinson 2 Pens: Robinson 2. Replacements: Morris, Castex, Baker, Cannon, Vunipola, Berry, Davis, Haughton. Referee: JP Doyle (RFU). Attenance: 55,437.
