Heineken Champions Cup Quarter-Final Preview: Leinster v Saracens

Leinster kick off a fascinating weekend of Champions Cup knockout rugby as, just a week on from retaining their Guinness PRO14 title, Leo Cullen’s men look to dethrone reigning European champions Saracens at the Aviva Stadium.

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTER-FINAL: Saturday, September 19

LEINSTER (1st, Pool 1) v SARACENS (2nd, Pool 4), Aviva Stadium, 3pm (live BT Sport 3/beIN Sports/RTÉ Radio 1/highlights Virgin Media One)

Team News: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made four personnel changes for their crunch Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final against Saracens behind-closed-doors at IRFU HQ.

Showing the intense competition for places within the province’s ranks, there is no starting place for Josh van der Flier – the Guinness player-of-the-match in last week’s PRO14 final win – as Will Connors returns at openside flanker.

Connors and Hugo Keenan, who were both part of the Ireland Men’s Sevens programme in recent seasons, will make their Champions Cup debuts, while vastly-experienced hooker Sean Cronin also gets the nod to start.

Club captain Jonathan Sexton and Luke McGrath resume at half-back for the visit of the reigning European champions, with Jordan Larmour anchoring the back-three on the occasion of his 50th Leinster cap.

Garry Ringrose, the victorious skipper against Ulster, and James Lowe and Robbie Henshaw, two of the PRO14 decider’s try scorers, complete a familiar-looking back-line.

Up front, loosehead Cian Healy will become the fourth most-capped Leinster player of all-time as he wins his 220th cap, scrummaging alongside Cronin and Andrew Porter.

Devin Toner and the fit-again James Ryan continue together in the second row, backed up by 21-year-old Champions Cup newcomer Ryan Baird from the bench.

Wicklow man Jack Conan fills the number 8 berth again with Connors looking to have a key influence with his tackling ability, and fellow flanker Caelan Doris is chasing his third try in six Champions Cup games so far this season.

Meanwhile, long-serving flanker Jackson Wray will make his 250th appearance for Saracens as director of rugby Mark McCall names his strongest possible side for this repeat of last season’s Champions Cup decider.

England captain Owen Farrell is the most notable absentee following his five-week suspension for a dangerous tackle on Wasps’ Charlie Atkinson. His place at out-half is filled by the versatile Alex Goode who switches from full-back.

Goode, last season’s European Player of the Year, is one of 11 men in today’s Saracens squad who played in that 20-10 final victory over then-champions Leinster at St. James’ Park in Newcastle.

Wray combines with Mike Rhodes and the strong-carrying Billy Vunipola in the back row, with the latter’s brother Mako making a timely recovery from a back injury in the front row, alongside Jamie George and South African tighthead Vincent Koch.

Scotland international Tim Swinson makes his 50th European appearance in the second row, linking up again with Maro Itoje, while the fit-again Richard Wigglesworth partners Goode at half-back.

Soon-to-be-retired captain Brad Barritt and Duncan Taylor line out together in midfield, Elliot Daly fills the full-back slot in his 11th Sarries game, and Sean Maitland, a first-half try scorer when the sides last met, and Alex Lewington occupy the wing berths.

LEINSTER: Jordan Larmour; Hugo Keenan, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Jonathan Sexton (capt), Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Andrew Porter, Devin Toner, James Ryan, Caelan Doris, Will Connors, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Ed Byrne, Michael Bent, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ross Byrne, Rory O’Loughlin.

SARACENS: Elliot Daly; Alex Lewington, Duncan Taylor, Brad Barritt (capt), Sean Maitland; Alex Goode, Richard Wigglesworth; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Vincent Koch, Maro Itoje, Tim Swinson, Mike Rhodes, Jackson Wray, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Tom Woolstencroft, Richard Barrington, Alec Clarey, Callum Hunter-Hill, Calum Clark, Aled Davies, Manu Vunipola, Dom Morris.

Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant Referees: George Clancy, Joy Neville (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Olly Hodges (Ireland)

Pre-Match Quotes: Leo Cullen (Leinster) –

For our group, it’s the last game (the 2019 European final) that we lost. I remembering driving into the ground in Newcastle and the sea of blue, when we started the game we were 10-0 up after 35 minutes and Saracens were losing players to the bin.

“They showed amazing resilience though to weather that patch and we were level at half-time which was a huge swing in the game. We had some chances at the start of the second half to get back in front but we couldn’t quite execute them.

“Saracens then took their chances and won the game 20 points to 10. They’ve had plenty of change since then but they’re still the champions, they’re still the team we’re trying to beat because they’ve the ultimate prize with the European trophy in their cabinet at the moment and that’s what we’re all trying to go after at the moment.

“It’s a game that we’ve all been looking forward to for a long time. You have to be smart with how you play against Saracens because they’re a very strong defensive outfit and clearly put a huge amount of pressure on teams.

“As the game wears on they put on more and more pressure so it’s about making sure we’re smart with how we manage the game. The small little bits of communication that go on during games is different now to what it was like.

“You’re normally playing in packed out stadiums and now it’s empty so it’s different in terms of how players communicate. It’s about staying composed and making sure when opportunities do come along you’re ready to pounce and execute in the heat of the battle.”

Alex Goode (Saracens) –

Current Form – Leinster – Played 23, Won 23 – (Guinness PRO14): Won 32-27 v Benetton Rugby (away), Won 53-5 v Ospreys (home), Won 40-14 v Edinburgh (home), Won 3-0 v Zebre (away), Won 50-15 v Dragons (home), Won 42-11 v Connacht (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 33-19 v Benetton Rugby (home), Won 13-6 v Lyon (away); (Guinness PRO14): Won 23-10 v Glasgow Warriors (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 43-16 v Northampton Saints (away), Won 50-21 v Northampton Saints (home); (Guinness PRO14): Won 54-42 v Ulster (home), Won 13-6 v Munster (away), Won 54-7 v Connacht (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 42-14 v Lyon (home), Won 18-0 v Benetton Rugby (away); (Guinness PRO14): Won 36-12 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), Won 21-13 v Ospreys (away), Won 55-19 v Glasgow Warriors (home), Won 27-25 v Munster (home), Won 28-10 v Ulster (away); (Guinness PRO14 semi-final): Won 13-3 v Munster (home); (Guinness PRO14 final): Won 27-5 v Ulster (home)

Saracens – Played 31, Won 20, Lost 11 – (Premiership Rugby Cup): Won 50-28 v Wasps (away), Lost 36-17 v Sale Sharks (home), Won 54-28 v Northampton Saints (away), Won 28-21 v Harlequins (home); (Gallagher Premiership): Lost 27-25 v Northampton Saints (away), Won 24-10 v Leicester Tigers (away), Won 16-13 v London Irish (home), Won 21-12 v Gloucester (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Lost 30-10 v Racing 92 (away), Won 44-3 v Ospreys (home); (Gallagher Premiership): Won 25-12 v Bath (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Lost 10-3 v Munster (away), Won 15-6 v Munster (home); (Gallagher Premiership): Won 47-13 v Bristol Bears (home), Lost 14-7 v Exeter Chiefs (away), Won 62-5 v Worcester Warriors (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 22-15 v Ospreys (away), Won 27-24 v Racing 92 (home); (Gallagher Premiership): Lost 41-14 v Harlequins (away); (Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final): Lost 28-7 v Sale Sharks (away); (Gallagher Premiership): Won 36-22 v Sale Sharks (home), Lost 60-10 v Wasps (away), Won 27-21 v Northampton Saints (away), Won 24-13 v Leicester Tigers (home), Lost 16-12 v Bristol Bears (away), Won 38-24 v Harlequins (home), Won 36-20 v Gloucester (home), Won 40-12 v London Irish (away), Lost 28-18 v Wasps (home), Lost 24-17 v Sale Sharks (away), Won 40-17 v Exeter Chiefs (home)

Top Scorers – 2019/20 Heineken Champions Cup: Leinster – Points: Ross Byrne 40; Tries: Garry Ringrose 6; Saracens – Points: Manu Vunipola 26; Tries: Mako Vunipola, Maro Itoje, Alex Lewington, Roti Segun 2 each

Previous European Meetings: 4

Saturday, May 11, 2019 – Final – Leinster 10 Saracens 20, St. James’ Park, Newcastle
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 and Saracens have met on four previous occasions in Europe with the province winning three times. This will be the third knockout stage game between the teams, Leinster winning the quarter-final clash in 2018 while Saracens claimed victory in last season’s final

– Leinster have reached the knockout stage of the Heineken Champions Cup for the 16th time, and only Munster and Toulouse have achieved that feat more often (18 each)

– Leinster have won eight of their last nine quarter-final fixtures (L1), including their last four in-a-row. Five of Leinster’s eight victories in that run were against Gallagher Premiership opposition

– Saracens have won seven of their nine quarter-final fixtures in the Heineken Champions Cup, and their 78% win rate is the joint best of any team to reach the last eight on at least three occasions (Munster also 78%)

– Leinster have scored eight tries in the opening 20 minutes this season, more than any other side and five more than Saracens (3) who have scored the fewest of any quarter-finalists in that period

– Leinster have used just 31 players in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, fewer than any other side and nine fewer than Saracens (40) who have used the most of any of the quarter-finalists

– Saracens allowed their opponents just 28 offloads during the pool stages, the fewest of any team

– Leinster’s Josh van der Flier has made 98 tackles this season, more than any other player, while he is one of six to have won a joint-high seven turnovers in the competition

– Of the hookers to attempt 25-plus lineout throws so far this season, Leinster’s James Tracy boasts the best success rate with 28 out of 29 successful throws (97%)

– Jackson Wray, who will make his 250th appearance for Saracens, was the only player to feature in each of their six pool matches this season. In contrast, Leinster had 15 players to feature in every game, more than any other side

European Cup Records:

Leinster –
2018/19: Runners-up
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 –
2018/19: Champions
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