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
Yikes! Not what we need before we start… well this is why you need a squad to win a World Cup, Ireland’s depth will be tested.
@Aaron Tynan: big loss in centre but could be a silver lining later in tournament to have Addison as full back option
@BMJF: silver lining henshaw out???? That’s a huge loss!!!! Adisson or Henshaw v SA or NZ give me a break. Kearney will be solid dont worry about him
I’m on my way lads
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: “You’re my Boy Blue”!!!
@#JUSTICE4NOEL:
NOT YET !!!!
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: sorry Noel but no overseas money grabbers allowed.
Ah feck. He just can’t stay fit these days. He was so good last week & for me would have started against the Scots. Hopefully it’s not his World Cup over. Luckily we’ve good cover there but it’s not an ideal way to go into the tournament.
@Kevin: nothing to do with fitness, he did his hamstring. Could happen to anybody.
@Harry Fanning: I’m not just talking about this most recent injury. Henshaw has had a very unlucky run of injuries over the last couple of years.
@Kevin: ever since he left Connacht he’s seemed injury prone.
@David Finn: yup, broke hand against Munster in Thomond. About the only major injury in four seasons with seniors at Connacht…
Hope he recovers but I don’t mind Ringrose and Aki. Ringrose is a dancer, love his play.
Ringrose is just as good a replacement to have. But hopefully if Henshaw recovers in time for SA. That would be a huge boost!
@Harry O’Callaghan: Pretty presumptuous there!
@The Guru: you’re right… could be NZ!
@Sam Ahern: Irish rugby fans becoming increasingly like English football fans.
@The Guru: stirring the pot there
@Harry O’Callaghan: it time for the Italy quarter final
@The Guru: Very insightful
@The Guru: Shurrup ya scruffy fleabag :P
Said it before, has to be something wrong with the training regime when players can’t put 2 games back to back without picking up injuries, Sexton next!
@Martin McKenna: it’s the nature of the game, aging team and it’s about as contact as contact sports can be
@5hbeZh0I: Henshaw has played very little and keeps getting injured, has to be an underlying cause.
@5hbeZh0I:
What does “aging team” have to do with Henshaw ??
Not sure if it was enforced but Addison was pulled from the team for Ulster today at the last minute. Wonder was it a precaution to prevent him being injured if he needs to go to Japan.
@Ruckin’ Hell: God I really need to read articles before I comment
@Ruckin’ Hell: haha it helps. Henshaw bad injury profile, might see Will fly in alright.
A pity. We have good replacements but Aki and Ringrose don’t have the same kind of synergy together.
Loads of comments about Aki and Ringrose covering, nobody mentions that Farrell can do a job at 12, big, strong and abrasive, wouldn’t be shocked if JS picks him to cover Henshaw who is …..big strong and abrasive
@Kevin50: yep, I’d say Farrell could easily be picked instead. Either way ringrose is a class act, hasn’t really been himself the last few months but a lad like him could turn it in a game. Be an awful shame for Ireland & especially henshaw himself if he were to miss out. He’s starting to get tod type luck and in fairness last week he looked class, up against one of the world’s top centre pairings. Looked like he was spot on for a great wc
@Tim Magner: Aki Farrell didn’t work. Not much point in Farrell at 13 if aki only passes after contact. Farrell And ringrose would be better
@Chris Mc: are you saying that because of that 1st Welsh friendly? Cos back in the grand slam year v Wales, Aki & Farrell played and Farrell was mom
Poor fella can’t catch a break.. fingers crossed
Some bodies are just injury-prone and Henshaw’s injury profile is dreadful at this stage. Sad for him and a big blow for Ireland if he’s not available for quarters.
Gutted for him if the issue is confirmed. But as a squad someone else will hopefully get a shot.
What a disaster.
Should never happen in training.
We haven’t even kicked a ball yet and a key guy is out!
What have they been at for the last week?
A few days off and then some unavoidable travel/recovery time.
But 7 days without being on a pitch with a rugby ball?
A week before the biggest game of their careers? Ain’t no expert but It seems odd.
@Oran Burns: why should it not happen in training? Training loads at this stage should be heavy and at match intensity to acclimatise to humidity etc. with loads getting lighter closer to games.
@Oran Burns: nowhere near the biggest game of their careers, it’s a world cup group game. This squad have played grand slam deciders, world cup 1/4 finals and many bigger games. Henshaw has been massively unfortunate but any professional team must train as they mean to play. You cannot train at 75% and expect to ramp it up to 100% on match day. But as you say, your no expert, so il forgive and forget
If he could be fit for a potential qf then he’s worth keeping in the squad.
Is it over yet?
Irish Rugby just had a press conference in Japan at 1am our time. The official word is he “felt a tightness in his hamstring at training yesterday. He will be scanned today and monitored this week. No replacement player has been called up at this stage”. Fingers crossed it is only tightness and not a tear. We can do without him against Scotland, we’ve got coverage. But I feel we’ll definitely need him in the quarter finals, and to play in that game he’ll need minutes in the group games.
Ffs!