Leinster have the carrot of a home semi-final against the Scarlets to aim for when they host Saracens, last year’s Champions Cup winners, in what is shaping up to be another seismic European clash at the Aviva Stadium.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTER-FINAL: Sunday, April 1
LEINSTER (1st, Pool 3) v SARACENS (2nd, Pool 2), Aviva Stadium, 3.30pm (live BT Sport 2/beIN Sports/Newstalk/highlights TG4)
Team News: Over 49,000 tickets have been sold with the remaining tickets available from leinsterrugby.ie. Leinster have confirmed that the recently-retired Jamie Heaslip will be introduced to the crowd at 3.20pm and a special presentation will be made to him by the Official Leinster Supporters Club (OLSC), on behalf of all Leinster supporters, on a stellar career in blue.
Everyone is encouraged to wear their blue on Sunday and to get to their seats early to give Heaslip the send off he deserves and to cheer the team onto the field shortly afterwards.
Ss expected, Leo Cullen is able to recall a number of Ireland’s Grand Slam-winning players who missed last weekend’s GUINNESS PRO14 trip to the Ospreys. Rob Kearney returns at full-back with Fergus McFadden on the right wing and New Zealander James Lowe on the left.
Isa Nacewa is back to captain the side from inside centre, with Garry Ringrose, who is set for his first European run-out since December, outside him in the number 13 jersey.
Luke McGrath came through the Ospreys game last Saturday in Swansea with no issues on his return from a recent knee injury. He is joined at half-back by Jonathan Sexton, who scored three tries and 39 points in four pool games for Leinster this season.
In the pack, Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong come in to join fellow Ireland international Sean Cronin in a strong front row combination, while Devin Toner and the 21-year-old James Ryan start together in the second row, as they did against Montpellier in round 6.
Jordi Murphy shifts from openside flanker to replace the injured Jack Conan at number 8, while Sean O’Brien also misses out through injury. Dan Leavy will win his 50th Leinster cap in the number 7 jersey and Scott Fardy, who has made the vast majority of his starts for the province at lock, switches to blindside flanker.
In a timely boost, Rhys Ruddock is back to full fitness and is set to be introduced from the bench for his first appearance since December’s away win over Exeter Chiefs. Max Deegan (21) is in line to make his Champions Cup debut if called upon.
Meanwhile, England star Owen Farrell has been passed fit to start at out-half for title holders Saracens in Dublin. He missed last week’s Aviva Premiership win over Harlequins due to a quad injury picked on international duty.
George Kruis, who also missed the game at London Stadium with a back complaint, is fit again and partners Maro Itoje in the second row. Sarries’ other personnel change sees Mako Vunipola resume at loosehead prop, with Richard Barrington providing back-up.
The Londoners’ captain Brad Barritt continues at inside centre despite having surgery on a fractured cheekbone in midweek. It is a mostly-settled side with injured number 8 Billy Vunipola the big absentee.
Eleven members of the selected team started last April’s 26-10 semi-final victory over Munster at the Aviva Stadium, with Liam Williams, who scored three tries during this year’s pool campaign, Juan Figallo, 19-year-old lock/flanker Nick Isiekwe and Schalk Burger the new men in.
LEINSTER: Rob Kearney; Fergus McFadden, Garry Ringrose, Isa Nacewa (capt), James Lowe; Jonathan Sexton, Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner, James Ryan, Scott Fardy, Dan Leavy, Jordi Murphy.
Replacements: James Tracy, Jack McGrath, Andrew Porter, Rhys Ruddock, Max Deegan, Nick McCarthy, Joey Carbery, Rory O’Loughlin
SARACENS: Alex Goode; Liam Williams, Marcelo Bosch, Brad Barritt (capt), Sean Maitland; Owen Farrell, Richard Wigglesworth; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Juan Figallo, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Nick Isiekwe, Schalk Burger, Jackson Wray.
Replacements: Schalk Brits, Richard Barrington, Titi Lamositele, Dominic Day, Blair Cowan, Ben Spencer, Alex Lozowski, Chris Wyles.
Referee: Jérome Garcès (France)
Assistant Referees: Pascal Gauzere, Ludovic Cayre (both France)
Television Match Official: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Pre-Match Quotes: Leo Cullen (Leinster) – “We have a number of injuries at the moment and it’s something we’ve been conscious of, building depth within the squad. Some of those young guys have now stepped forward into the international arena and got some really good experience there as well.
“We’re excited by the challenge. It’s a pretty daunting challenge (against Saracens0 but guys have come back in pretty well and trained well this week. It is a challenge for sure (to integrate players back in). We got a number of guys back last week for the defeat at the Ospreys and that was definitely a shock to the system for some of those guys back at that level. It was a bit of a grounding for some guys coming back in for their first game in a while for Leinster.
“That’s the challenge, it’s unique in terms of this tournament. You play your six pool games and there’s a three-month break and then you get ready for the quarter-final in a week. It is a challenge but that’s what makes this tournament very, very special as well.
“I believe tickets are going very, very well and a crowd of what, 50,000 people, and all those little things matter for us. Support for us has been a real point of difference for us in the last couple of seasons in trying to get us back to this point.
“There’s been a huge amount of working going on here in the last couple of seasons to get us to a situation where we’re in a game against Saracens, because they’re the team we’ve all been trying to chase.”
Maro Itoje (Saracens) – “The boys are looking sharp. These are the kind of games and positions we want to be in, we want to be in knockout stages of competitions and we want to go far. This is a big game for us and everyone at the club is excited to go there and put in a big performance.
“I’m quite familiar with quite a few of Leinster’s players. They’re a very strong team with a lot of good individuals. They are a well-drilled, well-coached team so it’s going to be a big challenge for us. This is a great game to test ourselves and show what we’re really about.
“Despite his rather weird demeanour, Nick (Isiekwe) has actually got a lot about him! He has developed very nicely and has grown into a fantastic player. He’s working hard on his game and this kind of platform is great for him to show everyone what he can do.”
Current Form – Leinster – (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 39-16 v Dragons (away), Won 37-9 v Cardiff Blues (home), Won 31-10 v Southern Kings (away), Lost 38-19 v Toyota Cheetahs (away), Won 21-13 v Edinburgh (home), Won 23-17 v Munster (home); (Champions Cup): Won 24-17 v Montpellier (home), Won 34-18 v Glasgow Warriors (away); (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 25-10 v Ulster (away), Lost 31-21 v Glasgow Warriors (away), Won 54-10 v Dragons (home), Won 36-10 v Benetton Rugby; (Champions Cup): Won 18-8 v Exeter Chiefs (away), (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 34-24 v Munster (away), Won 21-18 v Connacht (home), Won 38-7 v Ulster (home); (Champions Cup): Won 55-19 v Glasgow Warriors (home), Won 23-14 v Montpellier (away); (GUINNESS PRO14): Lost 29-24 v Edinburgh (away), Won 20-13 v Scarlets (home), Won 64-7 v Southern Kings (home), Drew 10-10 v Scarlets (away), Lost 32-18 v Ospreys (away)
Saracens – (Aviva Premiership): Won 55-24 v Northampton Saints (home), Lost 31-21 v Bath (away), Won 29-7 v Newcastle Falcons (away), Won 41-13 v Sale Sharks (home), Won 25-3 v Worcester Warriors (away), Won 38-19 v Wasps (home); (Champions Cup): Won 57-13 v Northampton Saints (away), Won 36-34 v Ospreys (home); (Aviva Premiership): Won 44-13 v London Irish (home); (Anglo-Welsh Cup): Lost 30-29 v Harlequins (home), Lost 29-22 v Sale Sharks (away); (Aviva Premiership): Lost 23-17 v Gloucester (away), Lost 20-18 v Exeter Chiefs (home), Lost 20-19 v Harlequins (away); (Champions Cup): Lost 46-14 v Clermont Auvergne (home), Lost 24-21 v Clermont Auvergne (away); (Aviva Premiership): Won 29-17 v Leicester Tigers (away), Won 46-31 v Worcester Warriors (home), Won 38-15 v Wasps (away); (Champions Cup): Drew 15-15 v Ospreys (away), Won 62-14 v Northampton Saints (home); (Anglo-Welsh Cup): Won 40-21 v Dragons (home), Lost 43-20 v Exeter Chiefs (away); (Aviva Premiership): Won 25-3 v Newcastle Falcons (home), Won 13-3 v Sale Sharks (away), Lost 28-20 v Leicester Tigers (home), Lost 24-12 v Exeter Chiefs (away), Won 24-11 v Harlequins (home)
Top Scorers – 2017/18 European Champions Cup: Leinster – Points: Jonathan Sexton 39; Tries: Jonathan Sexton 3; Saracens – Points: Owen Farrell 81; Tries: Liam Williams 3
Previous European Meetings: 2
Saturday, January 15, 2011 – Pool 2 – Leinster 43 Saracens 20, the RDS
Saturday, October 16, 2010 – Pool 2 – Saracens 23 Leinster 25, Wembley Stadium
Match Facts –
– This will be the third meeting between number one-ranked Leinster and defending champions Saracens, with Leinster winning the two previous pool encounters in 2010/11
– It is also the seventh consecutive season that Saracens have reached the quarter-finals, and they have won their last five in-a-row
– This is the fourth time in the last five seasons that Leinster have progressed to the knockout stages, winning their last two quarter-finals
– Leinster have won their last eight home games in the Champions Cup, with those victories coming by an average margin of 25 points
– Saracens have won three of their last four away matches against Irish opposition
– Owen Farrell is the top points scorer (81) in the competition this season, and is third on the all-time list with 677 behind Scarlets’ Stephen Jones (869) and Ronan O’Gara of Munster (1365)
– Leinster’s Luke McGrath has six try assists to his name this season, the most of any player in the tournament
European Cup Records:
Leinster –
2016/17: Reached the semi-finals
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2014/15: Reached the semi-finals
2013/14: Reached the quarter-finals
2012/13: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2011/12: Champions
2010/11: Champions
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Champions
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Reached the semi-finals
2004/05: Reached the quarter-finals
2003/04: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2002/03: Reached the semi-finals
2001/02: Reached the quarter-finals
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1998/99: Failed to qualify from Pool A
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool A
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool B
1995/96: Reached the semi-finals
Saracens –
2016/17: Champions
2015/16: Champions
2014/15: Reached the semi-finals
2013/14: Runners-up
2012/13: Reached the semi-finals
2011/12: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2007/08: Reached the semi-finals
2005/06: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
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