Saracens skipper Kyran Bracken was in cautious mood tonight after seeing his team go top of the Zurich Premiership after a devastating 50-point demolition of Gloucester.

Frenchman Thomas Castaignede kicked 20 points on his Saracens debut, while England stars Bracken and Dan Luger were among six players to cross the Gloucester tryline.

To complete a miserable afternoon for the West Country club, they had substitute hooker Jawad Djoudi sent off for butting Saracens win Darragh O'Mahony, and he now faces a lengthy suspension.

Some of Saracens' rugby was scintillating stuff, especially during a four-minute purple patch just before half-time when they scored three converted tries.

``We would have been very happy to take this result before the game, but we have a lot of work to do,'' Bracken said.

``That was not a strong Gloucester team. They had a few injuries, and we went to sleep for large periods in the match when we didn't put any pressure on.

``Against teams like Leicester and Bath, you will not get away with it.''

Castaignede landed four penalties and four conversions, missing just three of his 11 shots at goal, and proved an instant hit with the Vicarage Road crowd of more than 7,000.

``Everything was new to me today, and I was a bit nervous at the start,'' he admitted.

``But this is the type of team that pleases me, and I certainly think that sides over here are fitter than they would be in France.''

Saracens became the first side to collect five points from a Premiership match - four for the win, and a bonus point after scoring four tries or more.

``That is very pleasing, but we know that Gloucester were not at full strength,'' said Saracens coaching advisor Francois Pienaar.

Irish international O'Mahony left the field shortly after being felled by
Djoudi, clutching an ice pack above his left eye, but Pienaar reported no apparent serious injury.

Pienaar also confirmed tonight that Australian World Cup winner Tim Horan will arrive at the club on September 7. He has undergone surgery to try and rectify a serious foot injury, but Saracens don't intend rushing him back too soon.

While Saracens announced their title credentials at the earliest possible
opportunity, Gloucester coach Philippe Saint-Andre was left nursing a king-sized headache.

With Djoudi facing a possible 60-day suspension, Saint-Andre has massive problems elsewhere as a crippling injury list has now reached epidemic proportions.

Saint-Andre estimates that 14 of his squad have injuries of some description, and only half-seriously rules himself out of a possible comeback when Gloucester entertain Sale next Saturday.

The latest addition to that casualty list is fly-half Simon Mannix, who lasted just five minutes of today's game before being whisked off to hospital for x-rays on a suspected broken hand.

``We are struggling for a team next Saturday,'' said Saint-Andre. ``But what can I do? I didn't have one injury in six or seven months last season but now it is a very big problem, and I must find a solution.

``This was a very bad day for Gloucester, but we must give credit to Saracens. They were much better than us - they looked very sharp, and the game was over at half-time.''

Two of his injured brigade are making good progress from injuries though - England props Phil Vickery and Trevor Woodman.

Saint-Andre experts Vickery to have recovered fully from a shoulder problem some time next month, while Woodman (neck) could return within seven weeks after initial fears that he would not play again before Christmas.