Good afternoon and welcome to our liveblog for this much-anticipated Champions Cup quarter-final between Leinster and Saracens.
It has been billed as the tie of the round with good reason, Saracens beating Leinster in last year’s final by 10 points in Newcastle. For their part, Leinster have rattled off 25 successive victories ever since.
That’s only one reason why they are favourites to win today, the absence of seven of the XV who started for Saracens in that 2018/19 final victory over Leinster being the secondary factor.
Kick-off is at 3pm, so get settled in.
Remember when Saracens last defeated Leinster in the 2019 Champions Cup final, they had George Kruis (now playing in Japan) and Will Skelton (now at La Rochelle) in their second row, Ben Spencer (currently on Bath’s books) and Owen Farrell – who is suspended – at half-back. Liam Williams (Scarlets), Alex Lozowski (on loan at Montpellier) and Titi Lamositele (at Montpellier) also played that day in Newcastle.
They still have an impressive team – although their bench does not look anywhere near as strong as Leinster’s. The key for Saracens today is the performance of out-half, Alex Goode, who relocates from full-back to replace the suspended, Farrell.
It is worth noting that Goode also played out-half in the quarter-final stage last year, when Sarries beat Glasgow Warriors. He excelled that day although Leinster are a tougher opponent.
They have made big calls for this game, Johnny Sexton’s return an inevitable one but the decision to opt for Will Connors over Josh van der Flier was something of a surprise. Luke McGrath joins Sexton at half-back with Sean Cronin getting the nod over Ronan Kelleher.
Here are the teams –
Leinster
15. Jordan Larmour
14. Hugo Keenan
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Jonathan Sexton (Captain)
9. Luke McGrath
1. Cian Healy
2. Sean Cronin
3. Andrew Porter
4. Devin Toner
5. James Ryan
6. Caelan Doris
7. Will Connors
8. Jack Conan
Replacements
16. Ronan Kelleher
17. Ed Byrne
18. Michael Bent
19. Ryan Baird
20. Josh van der Flier
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Ross Byrne
23. Rory O’Loughlin
Saracens
15 Elliot Daly
14 Alex Lewington
13 Duncan Taylor
12 Brad Barritt (Captain)
11 Sean Maitland
10 Alex Goode
9 Richard Wigglesworth
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Jamie George
3 Vincent Koch
4 Maro Itoje
5 Tim Swinson
6 Mike Rhodes
7 Jackson Wray
8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements
16 Tom Woolstencroft
17 Richard Barrington
18 Alec Clarey
19 Callum Hunter-Hill
20 Calum Clark
21 Aled Davies
22 Manu Vunipola
23 Dom Morris
Both teams out on the pitch warming up. Elliot Daly banging over the kicks from all sorts of angles. Johnny Sexton and Mark McCall had quick catch-up, earlier.
Here is what the main men had to say in advance of today’s game.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen: “Saracens on their day, we know the threats that they have, they’ve had some changes but they still have such quality throughout their team, some world class players in there so we need to make sure we’re peaking week on week basically at the moment.”
Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall: “It’s definitely going to be a little bit different (to the team that played last season’s final) but the core of the 23 is identifiable as a team who have played a lot of knockout rugby over the past five years.”
The teams are about to come out
And he knocks it over – was not the cleanest of strikes but six minutes in and it is Leinster 3-3 Saracens
Alex Goode, standing in for Owen Farrell, puts it between the posts
Leinster 3-6 Saracens
Great tempo to the game so far, Saracens pressurise Robbie Henshaw and Sarries have another penalty in front of the posts. Ten minutes on the clock, Sarries on top
Yet another penalty conceded at the breakdown – this time by Saracens, just inside their half, but Sexton kicks to the corner
Ringrose darts at an angle, Toner also carries, so too Doris. Now Lowe, Leinster edging closer
Quality of Wigglesworth’s box-kicking is exceptional as Saracens test James Lowe in the air. Big scrum here inside the Leinster half
Better stuff there for a brief spell from Leinster. But just when it looked like they were beginning to find their rhythm, Saracens force another knock on
Incredible line speed from the Saracens defence. Just as Leinster were trying to build through the phases, they kept running into a defensive wall. The English side edging it here, six points ahead with 22 minutes on the clock.
Some kick. Daly scores Saracens fourth penalty of the day, Saracens lead by nine points after 25 minutes. Wind in Sarries’ favour but still, this is a decent lead they are building
Leinster 3-12 Saracens
Saracens win yet another scrum penalty – again on half-way. Daly nails his second kick, again from distance. Leinster need to sort out their scrum Saracens 15-3 Leinster
And they do. Mako Vunipola penalised – but rather than go for the posts, Sexton kicks the penalty to the corner
Cronin throws to Ryan, McGrath feeds Sexton who tries to crosskick. Saracens offside. Penalty Leinster. Sexton goes to the corner again
Good line-out from Leinster, Cronin on form with his darts, Saracens punished again, Leinster opt to go to the corner again. They need something here from this period of pressure.
And they don’t get it. Koch and Mako Vunipola force a turnover. Scrum Saracens, deep inside their 22
Another penalty won by Saracens at the scrum. Their front row are well on top here. Saracens survive a serious period of pressure.
Saracens set up a maul from the line out – and march Leinster down the field to win another penalty
Superb try from Saracens, Goode with the finish but the handling beforehand from the Saracens backs was magical, George involved in midfield, then Duncan Taylor, before Goode took flight, finishing easily. He added the conversion. It is now
Leinster 3-22 Saracens
Leinster have been awful so far. Beaten up in the scrum, torn apart for Goode’s try, they have also been penalised at the breakdown. Saracens have defended brilliantly and have also benefited from Sexton making basic errors. If they are to come back from this, they will need a comeback like Cardiff in 2011. Sexton’s form was somewhat better that day than it has been here. Alex Goode has been seriously good.
HALF-TIME: Leinster 3-22 Saracens
Maul formed. McGrath to Henshaw, Leinster on the charge; Cronin with a carry, deep in the Saracens 22, now Healy has a go ….. but Itoje forces another turnover. Leinster, again, come away with nothing. Can’t help feeling that was a key, key moment in the game
45 minutes: Another solid scrum from Sarries – Mako, George and Koch have been superb – Taylor charges down the middle but Leinster defend well. Danger over.
That was more like it. Great set-piece move from Leinster leads to another penalty, and yes, another kick to the corner. Leinster on the attack deep inside the Saracens 22
48.59 on the clock and a huge moment, Porter showing strength to squeeze across the line, Leinster showing nerve and ambition, Cronin’s darts once again finding the target while the subsequent retention of possession by backs and forwards was much, much sharper than anything we saw in the first half.
Conversion added – Leinster 10-22 Saracens
Leinster playing with much more purpose and tempo now. James Ryan collided in midfield with Maro Itoje. Leinster win another penalty and have again kicked for territory. Signs that Saracens are tiring a little. Leinster have stronger bench which could become an issue as the game goes on.
Another Leinster attack in the Saracens 22 comes to nothing – Ryan Baird held up in the tackle. Saracens have been brilliant in defence today.
Saracens, yet again, win a scrum penalty, relieving the pressure they were under in their own 22. Mako has been magnificent today.
57 minutes on the clock and just when Saracens were enjoying their best spell of the half, Ryan Baird forces a turnover. Penalty Leinster, the play is back in the Sarries half
59 minutes – Leinster are emptying the bench – Baird, van der Flier and Ed Byrne all on – Doris with a great carry there, ball just outside the Saracens 22
Sexton down with an injury, no penalty given when there really should have been after Mike Rhodes caught him high. TMO reviewing it
61 minutes – Penalty awarded to Leinster but no yellow to Rhodes. There should have been. Saracens lucky to still have 14 on the field
Key to that try was Sexton who delivered the perfectly timed and well weighted pass to Larmour who showed his pace. Quick ball off a set-piece. A quite brilliant try, all the momentum with Leinster at the moment
65 minutes – Ringrose pressure leads to Leinster getting a line-out in the Saracens 22 after a fine chase from the centre, following Gibson Park’s clever kick.
Michael Rhodes and Jackson Wray combine to turn it over. Saracens have a reprieve and with 13 minutes remaining, they also have a five-point lead
68 minutes on the clock – Rhodes wins a Saracens penalty in midfield. Mako being called ashore now, so too scrum-half Wigglesworth. Have Sarries steadied things?
70 minutes – Saracens win a penalty just outside the Leinster 22, Jamie George credited with the turnover. Leinster 17-22 Saracens
73 minutes – Larmour makes a break for it from inside his own half but just when it looks as if he has successfully offloaded to Josh van der Flier, the pass goes slightly forward – still Leinster 17-22 Saracens …. the clock is not on Leinster’s side
And from a difficult angle and a fair old distance, he misses it.
Five minutes to go, five points in it, Saracens ahead
76 minutes – great catch from Larmour following Davies’ high ball. Leinster have the ball deep inside their own half. Trying to run it
Just over 76 minutes on the clock and Gibson Park’s attempt to free Jack Conan ends with the ball going into touch. Leinster 17-22 Saracens
Brilliant…a team we can be proud off, 6 nations champions, clean sweep of the November series, the future is bright…the future is green.
And highest ranked Rugby team in the Northern Hemisphere! Woohoo!
We have crumbled as we know before been that far ahead early doors. This will stand to them more than any other game. It was perfect for us in that sense.BELIEVE
A super defensive outfit again in the second half Paul o Connell was just immense in the end
Not a follower of Rugby, but that’s very impressive. As a football fan I can’t help but think that someone in the FAI should ask someone in the IRFU how to run a game, from grassroots up to international level. The IRFU really do seem to be in a different league than their counterparts in the FAI.
Well said. I would add that the gaa and the FAI need to ask the IRFU how to run the show.
A voluntary organisation with nearly over 600,000 seats.. Maybe not.
Karen,
Every child in this country has the option to play GAA. The GAA have coaching in nearly every school in the country. They have attendance figures well above the other two sports ? So what would the GAA have to ask the IRFU about ?
What about coach behaviour and respect for referees ?
Maybe they could learn from the IRFU how to beat the Aussies ;) ;)
Seriously though, as the man below points out, they could learn how to Introduce a proper discipline system, whereby respect for referees and players is enforced from an early age
Also, whereas GAA is our national sport and rightly deserves every bit of support and credit, it might be time to spot the elephant in the room- rugby has been by far our most successful international game. Even the most blinkered GAAA fan can’t avoid that. Structurally, economically and professionally, it is one of the success stories of Ireland in the last 15 years.
There’s room for all sports, and yes, there is certainly room for the GAA to learn off other sports. The GAA was not founded with a view to being a virulently homogenous jealous backyard of insular minds- it was founded to present a unique representation of Gaelic culture, sport and sportsmanship. It did so by modernising our games by adopting more modern consistent rules and structures, particularly using the example of Association Football (‘saccar’)
Hence, the codifying of GAA regulations from 1884 onwards.
So yeah, maybe just maybe, the intergalactic GAA champions could learn from the IRFU.
Or maybe, just from their own history. That is, if they remember their own history.
Incredible match. Ireland finished like men demented. Absolutely brilliant.
I think Zebo answered a lot of critics today (myself included)
Cue everyone getting ahead of themselves about winning the world cup.(Me included)
Ireland for the world cup!!
Yeah, zebo impressed. Light as a feather but still through himself into tackles. Madigan ia gonna be a star.
Shame for Zebo about the errant offload. But really got his hands dirty today, shot up for a great challenge late on.
Madigan is really putting his hand up. I would like to see himself and henshaw in the centre for the 6 nations
That o connell hit was unreal..inspirational
Some boyo!
Amazing!
Yippee. Just won 3 challenge games in a row.
Australia really wanted to lose ..
Sums up irish rugby really
Martin Quinn
My response was to J.C ..I was being sarcastic ..
We are serious contenders for the World Cup
Roll on the Six Nations!
Ireland for the world cup!!
BRILLIANT
We now win these tight games that we used to lose (honourably)..in Joe we trust..
Well done Ireland, you make us proud.
Ripper! You beauts.
I think after 06 07, people seriously have to take a step back and say we can be competitive for the World Cup but not expect more. They’ve beaten two very good teams, but were still a long way from the wc. I think we should be confident going into 6 nations, but realistic to keep the pressure off the players.
Dead right. We did the exact same thing in 2006, beating Australia and SA but crumbled in the world cup.
Still, enjoy today, maybe let ourselves get run away with ourselves today and calm down tomorrow.
Hon Ireland
Congrats to all the guys. Think we got something special with Henshaw. He’s got a big future in the Irish Jersey.
Can’t wait to see what we’re like when we get all the injured guys back!!!!
Get. Fuc$ing. In. There.
Great performance from the lads! I think what this match confirmed is that we have great strength in depth. No Sean O’Brien, Cian Healy, Keith Earls, Andrew Trimble, Luke Fitzgerald and the retirement of 2 World class players in BOD and Ferris but we are still able to compete with and beat the best teams in the World.
Also confirmed is that we have found our new 13….Henshaw was immense in defence and made yards in attack.
Keep our current players fit and get our injured players back and we have a real chance in next years WC.
Will the zebo bashing stop now?
No he was shit today. Huge errors and utterly reckless.
I was a fan but what the hell. Not the day for running rugby.
You must be a troll.
Try saving tackle when he came in off his wing at the end, chased kicks well all day and got his try thanks to that. Threw himself into tackles, he was immense.
In fairness to Zebo he was brilliant today but he handed them a lifeline with that stupid off load when were 17-0 up and rampaging forward. If he’d set up that ball and we pushed on from the ruck the game was over at half time.
More than made up for it try saving tackle on tomoua at the end and huge hit on kurudrani too. We won he played well give it to him.
A pattern emerges with David Burke. I’ve crossed swords with you on energy policy before where you have been patently wrong but to see you be so utterly wrong when it comes to rugby…well..sums you up….some people are just burdened with a kind of stupidity that makes them always think they are right when they are obviously wrong. Zebo poor??? How wrong could you be..
Couldnt agree with you more mr fingleton
Chris that offload was very unlucky not to go to hand and there were missed tackles after that which led to the try
But if he made that off load, to I think sexton coming through it could of been a try down the other end and he would of been a hero. He was brilliant, non stop work all game. Outside of O Connell he could of just as easily got MOTM. Fair play to Zebo
Sensible people at last!!
Fingelton you were utterly wrong on the facts of wind energy because you don’t like them near your house. Not my fault you want to blatantly lie.
I like zebo but he was genuinely reckless today. He got isolated numerous times.
I honestly don’t get that you would be so offended to insult me because I disagree over the performance of a player.
Anyway you were wrong about the renewable energy then and you still are.
Those who are critical of Simon’s attempted pass must realise that to have the ability to think, anticipate and act at the level of international rugby is the sign of genius. Rant and rave at me if you want but there are few sports where you have to think beyond the impending impact of an opposing player and concentrate on what you perceive as “the gap” to put away your team-mate, as is done in rugby. I am a dedicated atheist but it was an Australian rugby administrator who summed the game up beautifully: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JWo8fXp0Zg
It’s not the pass its the way he plays when the game doesn’t call for his brand of rugby.
He is an amazing player, Ireland best going forward player. But he is reckless.
To be fair to Zebo. The offload was slapped back and 3 further Irish players missed tackles before they scored
You haven’t a rashers Burke.
Burke no one is agreeing with you come out of the fog and admit you were wrong. How did zebo get isolated? Pretty sure the only time he was turnover was that offload. Beats the first man constantly and made crucial yards going forward. Youre wrong, accept it.
Plus he made some pretty poor clear outs at ruck time. Charging over the top and leaving the ball exposed.
Throw that on yer flamin barbee Australia :)
Great result – but let’s not get too carried away with talk of World Cup just yet. Kick on for the six nations and then peak for next October and we’ll be in good shape. On the right track and more and more strength in depth than ever.
Id say lancaster is sooooo pissed off with that result.
As much fun as that was, let’s not do that again. Heart stopping stuff.
I thought all the off field stuff would mean they were out of the running, but Cheika can have his guys well in shape come the World Cup. Remember, both Australian World Cup wins have come in the Northern Hemisphere. They’re dark horses for me.
Tense to say the least!!Now I think we all know how truly good our team is.Six nations and WORLD CUP here we come!
Are Ireland now kings of the Commonwealth nations? Do any other countries play this tripe?
Don’t even go there Girlfriend
Tut tut, must troll harder
I bet the few hours it took you to come up with that comment was the highlight of your weekend!
Knob. You commented on rugby yesterday. If you dont like it dont come onto this page
If we had beaten England, we could be the second team to go unbeaten in the calendar year, after All Blacks last year.
Weren’t we unbeaten in 09 calendar year?
Autumn tests? Cant remember to be honest
We did go unbeaten in ’09. But one was a draw to Australia. All Blacks were the first team to win all their games in a calendar year.
Does Hook have to apologise this week, didn’t see the start of the match so don’t know if he put his foot in it once again.
Rock on 2015
Paulie x
Unbelievable stuff from Ireland. Well done lads.
What a game.
I had been critical of Zebo’s defence before but he was excellent defensively today, making smart interventions throughout the game. Indeed, all the Irish players seem to have come on leaps and bounds under Schmidt. Sign of a good coach, as they say.
Agreed … I suspect when/if JS gets a prolonged period with keith earls, Luke fitz, olding etc. then well have serious options in the back line (in addition to what we have)
Stupid question, but do ireland not play the all blacks in the autumn internationals too?
Not this time.
6 teams come North in the Autumn and play the ‘home nations’ in two lots of three.
We will play the ‘other three’ again next year
The Shinners won’t be happy about this.
Jesus wept, Argentina beat France!
Great result the lads played great excluding 20-40 mins six nations we can win without grand slam and World Cup at least semi finals but with joe in charge will be aiming to win the RWC I just pray we can do this,this time and not Mess it up