Heineken Champions Cup Final Preview: Leinster v Saracens

Undoubtedly the two best teams of recent times in Europe face off in a fascinating Heineken Champions Cup final at St. James’ Park, as Leo Cullen’s Leinster strive for back-to-back titles against Saracens, the 2016 and 2017 champions.

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL: Saturday, May 11

LEINSTER (1st, Pool 1) v SARACENS (1st, Pool 3), St. James’ Park, Newcastle, 5pm (live Virgin Media One/BT Sport 2/Channel 4/beIN Sports/FR2/Newstalk/RTÉ Radio 1/highlights Virgin Media One)

Team News: In selecting an unchanged team, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has stuck with the winning formula from their 30-12 semi-final victory over Toulouse last month. Sean Cronin is fit to start at hooker, while Jack McGrath and fit-again back rower Rhys Ruddock have been added to the bench.

Wexford man Tadhg Furlong will make his 100th appearance for the province in the European title decider. He starts in an all-international set of forwards, combining again with Cronin, the tournament’s joint-top try scorer with six tries, and Cian Healy in the front row.

Second rows Devin Toner and James Ryan complete the tight five, with Sean O’Brien and Jack Conan the only changes to the Leinster pack that started last season’s 30-19 quarter-final win over Saracens. The pair are joined in the back row by Australian international Scott Fardy, a European Player of the Year nominee in 2018.

Jonathan Sexton, the man-of-the-match against Toulouse with a 12 -point haul, will captain the side from half-back alongside Luke McGrath, with Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw starting their second successive Champions Cup final in the centre.

James Lowe, who has scored six tries in eight European appearances, features on the left wing, 21-year-old flyer Jordan Larmour is stationed on the right, and rock-solid full-back Rob Kearney makes his third Champions Cup final start as Cullen’s squad chase a record-breaking fifth European crown.

Looking forward to this evening’s game, Henshaw said:

I think physicality stands out when you mention Saracens. Looking at their game against Munster, it was pretty much a dog-eat-dog competition and we need to be ready for what’s to come in the air. They’re one of the best teams in Europe from their record in the pool stages and in this competition.

“It’s definitely going to be our biggest challenge this year. Toulouse was a good performance, it was always going to be a tricky game. We needed to have a good game-plan going against them and I think, definitely, there is another gear in us.

“I’ve heard it’s an unbelievable stadium, St. James’ Park. I was watching Newcastle (Falcons) play there a few weeks back, I think it was against Sale, and even the pitch looks incredible, it looks like a carpet. It’s going to be a great occasion. Hopefully it’s a fast track and a dry ball.”

Leinster are unbeaten in three European Cup matches against Saracens, including last year’s quarter-final. They have won 16 of their last 17 tournament fixtures since the beginning of the 2017/18 campaign. The sole defeat came against Toulouse in round 2 of this season’s pool stages.

Meanwhile, Saracens head coach Mark McCall has made two changes to the team that saw off Munster 32-16 at the semi-final stage. Scotland’s Sean Maitland was a late withdrawal that day, but has recovered from his hamstring injury to start the Newcastle encounter on the left wing.

David Strettle drops to the bench and Wales star Liam Williams switches to the right wing, with the back-three completed by Alex Goode, one of Saracens’ two European Player of the Year nominees alongside Mako Vunipola. Both Vunipola and captain Brad Barritt are set to start after ankle injuries.

With Michael Rhodes sidelined due to a back injury, Australian international Will Skelton comes into the second row and Maro Itoje switches from lock to blindside flanker. Owen Farrell, Jamie George, George Kruis and Billy Vunipola ensure a strong spine to the selected Sarries side.

LEINSTER: Rob Kearney; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Jonathan Sexton (capt), Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner, James Ryan, Scott Fardy, Sean O’Brien, Jack Conan.

Replacements: James Tracy, Jack McGrath, Michael Bent, Rhys Ruddock, Max Deegan, Hugh O’Sullivan, Ross Byrne, Rory O’Loughlin.

SARACENS: Alex Goode; Liam Williams, Alex Lozowski, Brad Barritt (capt), Sean Maitland; Owen Farrell, Ben Spencer; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Titi Lamositele, Will Skelton, George Kruis, Maro Itoje, Jackson Wray, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Joe Gray, Richard Barrington, Vincent Koch, Nick Isiekwe, Schalk Burger, Richard Wigglesworth, Nick Tompkins, David Strettle.

Referee: Jérome Garcès (France)
Assistant Referees: Romain Poite, Pascal Gauzère (both France)
Television Match Official: Philippe Bonhoure (France)

Match Odds (Paddy Power): Leinster to win: 11/10; Draw: 19/1; Saracens to win: 5/6

Pre-Match Quotes: Leo Cullen (Leinster) –

Yeah, (winning a fifth title) is something that is there in the background, but it’s not something that we’ve focused that much attention on really. You’ve got to get ready for the intensity of the game, because we’re playing a game against another team that has got to this stage, have been at this stage over the course of the last few seasons, have so much threat across 1-23.

“You know, even with a couple of guys dropping out they have so much quality to bring in. So it’s trying to understand what we’re actually going to face, what it’s going to be like for us, what type of plan do we need to have to try and unlock what their strengths are. So, it’s trying to put it all together.

“Even if it’s in the back of people minds, everyone knows its a great reward but Saracens are in a very similar situation. So you try and focus more of our attention on actually the process of going about how you are going to perform well on the day. It’s going to be an amazing occasion, two very, very good teams. It’s a great stadium here as well, so it’s all set really.”

Mark McCall (Saracens) – “You want to have your best players available for these types of games. Both clubs have named strong teams. If you had told me at the start of the season that this would be the team (selection) that we would end up with in the European Cup final, I would have been very happy with that.

“There are always difficult selection decisions, especially for games like this. We’ve got some players who are playing really well who are not in the 23-man squad. Michael (Rhodes) struggled in the last 10 days so we gave him until Thursday but he hasn’t recovered unfortunately.

“But we’ve been preparing all week for him not to be ready. One of the reasons we’ve had Will (Skelton) on the bench in recent games has been his impact but he’s been playing some really good rugby when he has started as well and we’ll get 55 to 60 minutes out of him.”

Current Form – Leinster – (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 33-32 v Cardiff Blues (away), Lost 23-21 v Scarlets (away), Won 52-10 v Dragons (home), Won 31-7 v Edinburgh (home), Won 20-3 v Connacht (away), Won 30-22 v Munster (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 52-3 v Wasps (home), Lost 28-27 v Toulouse (away); (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 31-3 v Benetton Rugby (away), Won 38-31 v Isuzu Southern Kings (away), Won 52-7 v Ospreys (home), Won 59-10 v Dragons (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 17-10 v Bath (away), Won 42-15 v Bath (home); (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 33-29 v Connacht (home), Lost 26-17 v Munster (away), Won 40-7 v Ulster (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 29-13 v Toulouse (home), Won 37-19 v Wasps; (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 22-17 v Scarlets (home), Won 40-24 v Zebre (away), Won 59-19 v Isuzu Southern Kings (home), Won 19-7 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), Lost 28-11 v Edinburgh (away); (Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final): Won 21-18 v Ulster (home); (GUINNESS PRO14): Drew 27-27 v Benetton Rugby (home), Lost 39-24 v Glasgow Warriors (home); (Heineken Champions Cup semi-final): Won 30-12 v Toulouse (home); (GUINNESS PRO14): Lost 14-13 v Ulster (away)

Saracens – (Gallagher Premiership): Won 32-21 v Newcastle Falcons (away), Won 44-23 v Bristol (home), Won 38-27 v Northampton Saints (away), Won 38-15 v Gloucester (home), Won 50-27 v Bath (home), Won 25-20 v Harlequins (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 13-3 v Glasgow Warriors (away), Won 29-10 v Lyon (home); (Premiership Rugby Cup): Won 29-21 v Leicester Tigers (home), Drew 15-15 v Sale Sharks (away), Won 34-22 v Worcester Warriors (home); (Gallagher Premiership): Won 31-25 v Sale Sharks (home), Won 27-22 v Leicester Tigers (away), Won 29-6 v Wasps (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 51-25 v Cardiff Blues (home), Won 26-14 v Cardiff Blues (away); (Gallagher Premiership): Lost 31-13 v Exeter Chiefs (away), Won 25-17 v Worcester Warriors (home), Lost 24-18 v Sale Sharks (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 28-10 v Lyon (away), Won 38-19 v Glasgow Warriors (home); (Premiership Rugby Cup): Won 32-12 v Harlequins (away); (Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final): Won 38-22 v Worcester Warriors (away); (Gallagher Premiership): Won 33-10 v Leicester Tigers (home), Lost 30-24 v Gloucester (away), Won 36-17 v Northampton Saints (home), Lost 18-9 v Bath (away); (Premiership Rugby Cup final): Lost 23-9 v Northampton Saints (away); (Gallagher Premiership): Won 27-20 v Harlequins (home); (Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final): Won 56-27 v Glasgow Warriors (home); (Gallagher Premiership): Won 26-12 v Newcastle Falcons (home), Lost 23-21 v Bristol (away); (Heineken Champions Cup semi-final): Won 32-16 v Munster (home); (Gallagher Premiership): Won 31-14 v Wasps (away), Won 38-7 v Exeter Chiefs (home)

Top Scorers – 2018/19 Heineken Champions Cup: Leinster – Points: Jonathan Sexton 48; Tries: Sean Cronin 6; Saracens – Points: Owen Farrell 79; Tries: Sean Maitland 4

Previous European Meetings: 3

Sunday, April 1, 2018 – Quarter-Final – Leinster 30 Saracens 19, Aviva Stadium
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 –

– Leinster are unbeaten in three European Cup matches against Saracens, with their last victory coming in the 2017/18 quarter-finals when they beat the English side 30-19 in Dublin

– Leinster are aiming for a record-breaking fifth European Cup success, while Saracens will be looking to clinch a third European crown – more than any other Gallagher Premiership club

– Should Saracens lift the Heineken Champions Cup, it will be the ninth time an English team has lifted the European Cup. However, if Leinster are victorious, it would represent an eighth Irish victory in the tournament – level with England and France

– Leinster have won 16 of their last 17 tournament matches since the beginning of the 2017/18 campaign. The sole defeat came against Toulouse in round 2 of this season’s pool stages

– Both finalists have notched 32 tries from their eight Heineken Champions Cup matches this season

– Saracens have recorded the highest lineout success this season, winning 95% of their throws

– Leinster back Jordan Larmour and Saracens full-back Alex Goode are two of just four players to play all 640 minutes of this season’s Heineken Champions Cup

European Cup Records:

Leinster –
2017/18: Champions
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 –
2017/18: Reached the quarter-finals
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