Fans have reacted after a shocking error from Saracens fullback Max Malins during their London derby against Harlequins.

With Sarries trailing 21-5 at The Stoop in the 25th minute, Malins looked certain to score after some excellent work from Rotimi Segun.

The fullback found himself in acres of space and appeared to have a simple finish ahead of him.

However, Marcus Smith had other ideas.

The Harlequins fly-half produced a brilliant recovery run before tackling Malins in the in-goal area, knocking the ball backwards out of his hands before he could ground it.

Smith's moment of defensive brilliance denied Saracens a seemingly certain try and helped Harlequins maintain their advantage and momentum in a game that is still ongoing.

The incident has already sparked plenty of debate among fans, with many viewing it as one of the most costly individual errors in rugby.

It has drawn comparisons with missing an open goal in football, particularly given the importance of the London derby.

There has been little sympathy for Malins on social media, with one user on X writing: "It’s sheer arrogance from Malins, all he needed to do was dot the ball down, instead he tried to just go for a stroll and Marcus Smith makes him pay."

The commentary team also compared the moment to an infamous Freddie Burns error in 2018.

The Bath fly-half prematurely celebrated what looked like a match-winning try against Toulouse, only to be tackled and lose possession before grounding the ball.

That comparison quickly gained traction on X, with @RugbyInsideLine posting: "Max Malins has done a Freddie Burns!

"Magic Marcus Smith sneaks up behind him and stops the try whilst Malins saunters around in goal.

Embarrassing..."

Several other supporters have described Malins' actions as "arrogance", criticising the casual manner in which he approached what should have been a straightforward finish.

Malins came through England's age-grade system, representing the country at Under-18 and Under-20 level before making his senior debut against Georgia in November 2020.

He enjoyed considerable success with England's youth sides, winning the 2016 World Rugby Under-20 Championship and the 2017 Under-20 Six Nations Grand Slam.

Malins has gone on to earn 22 caps for England's senior team.

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