If Arsenal, a club 18 miles away, have hoovered up the best youngsters football has to offer, then to judge from yesterday's EDF Energy Cup tie at Vicarage Road, Saracens are doing the same in rugby, with a burgeoning array of promising players at their disposal, virtually all of them England qualified. It provided a sometimes intoxicating glimpse of the future.

Apart from Owen Farrell, who at 17 and 11 days, made history as the youngest player to appear in the English league or cup in the professional era when he came on in the 63rd minute, it was often difficult to know which way to turn as a succession of players held up their hands and demanded attention. Six made their debut, five from the bench. At the finish, seven of the XV were 20 or under. Throw in Alex Goode and Noah Cato, starting for the first time this season together with Andy Saull, another member of last season's grand slam-winning under-20 side, and you can see why Martin Johnson, the England team manager, may allow himself to smile.

Whatever the negatives associated with this tournament - its critics say it is driven purely by money and is made for BBC television - it does provide an opportunity for youngsters to be blooded. As Eddie Jones, the Saracens director of rugby, said, it is vital that such potential gets exposure and the youngsters will only have benefited from facing a team of 13 internationals, among them the best Wales has to offer, such as Stephen Jones, the fly half.

Cato, 20, was probably the most exciting fledgling. A sense of expectation greeted his every touch of the ball. He scored one fine try, almost created another for himself with pace and power and would have touched down but for an unkind bounce from his own chip ahead. Nathan Brew will have nightmares recalling one beautiful sidestep and shimmy. Goode, 20, is the brains, a younger version, perhaps, of Will Greenwood, with poise, vision and great distribution, to wit his pass that put Cato in for his score. Saull, 20, was perpetual motion at open-side flanker until cramp ended his second match in five days.

The result may not have gone Saracens's way, but Jones has plenty of reasons to be cheerful after an exciting, free-flowing spectacle. “There is a foundation there for Saracens going forward and that is very important for us,” he said.

Of Farrell Jr, Jones said: “He is very mature, like his father [Andy] was [at the same age]. He has a very serious attitude and is determined to make it.”

Farrell showed one or two nice touches and was always looking for the ball, but the ultimate difference between the sides was that the Scarlets had the depth of experience when it mattered. Saracens did not always control possession, were regularly penalised at the breakdown and Stephen Jones made hay with four penalties from five attempts to add to his conversions of both the Scarlets's tries.

David Lyons scored the first from a pushover in the eighth minute and Kees Meeuws the second in the 46th after a succession of pick-ups and drives wore down the home defence. After Lyons scored, Saracens answered through Francesco Leonelli, who was put away by Moses Rauluni, the veteran Fiji scrum half who was man of the match. His performance was one for the older generation.

Scorers: Saracens: Tries: Leonelli (13min), Cato (22). Conversions: Ross 2. Penalty goal: Ross (43). Scarlets: Tries: Lyons (8), Meeuws (46). Conversions: S Jones 2. Penalty goals: S Jones 4 (24, 32, 40, 62).

Scoring sequence (Saracens first): 0-7, 7-7, 14-7, 14-10, 14-13, 14-16 (half-time), 17-16, 17-23, 17-26.

Saracens: D Scarbrough (sin-bin, 62-72); E Thrower (rep: R Penney, 65), F Leonelli, A Goode (rep: O Farrell, 63), N Cato; G Ross, M Rauluni (rep: M Wilson, 78); N Lloyd (rep: T Mercey, 78), M Cairns (rep: A Walker, 78), T Mercey (rep: J Visagie, 52), K Chesney, H Spencer (rep: H Smith, 58), D Barrell, A Saull (rep: J Wray, 57), B Skirving.

Scarlets: C Thomas; M Jones, R King, G Evans, N Brew; S Jones, M Roberts (sin-bin, 65; rep: S Martens, 75); I Thomas (rep: P John, 72), M Rees (rep: K Owens, 76), K Meeuws, V Cooper (rep: S MacLeod, 66), S Maling, S Easterby, G Thomas, D Lyons.

Referee: J Jones (England). Attendance: 6,068.