SARACENS WILL TRAVEL to Dublin for Sunday’s hugely-anticipated Champions Cup quarter-final clash with Leinster at full strength after both Owen Farrell and George Kruis were passed fit to play.
The England pair missed last week’s Premiership win over Harlequins but have recovered in time to be named in a strong starting XV named by the defending champions for the Aviva Stadium showdown [KO 3.30pm, BT Sport].
Farrell was nursing a quad injury sustained in the Six Nations defeat to Ireland but starts at out-half while Kruis has won his race to be fit and partners Maro Itoje in the Saracens second row.
The other change to Mark McCall’s XV from last week sees Mako Vunipola promoted from the bench to start ahead of Richard Barrington, while captain Brad Barritt starts despite having surgery on a fractured cheekbone during the week.
Although Billy Vunipola misses out, Saracens head into the game with Leo Cullen’s side fully locked and loaded for what promises to be a thrilling quarter-final tie.
Speaking earlier in the week, director of rugby McCall suggested Farrell would be selected even if he is unable to place-kick, with scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth and Alex Goode providing cover in that department.
Saracens:
15. Alex Goode
14. Liam Williams
13. Marcelo Bosch
12. Brad Barritt
11. Sean Maitland
10. Owen Farrell
9. Richard Wigglesworth
1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. Juan Figallo
4. Maro Itoje
5. George Kruis
6. Nick Isiekwe
7. Schalk Burger
8. Jackson Wray
Replacements:
16. Schalk Brits
17. Richard Barrington
18. Titi Lamositele
19. Dominic Day
20. Blair Cowan
21. Ben Spencer
22. Alex Lozowski
23. Chris Wyles
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Farrell is fit? Colour me shocked.
That’s a strong team, but so is Leinster’s. I think it’ll be a home victory
A great team but similar to England alto of their big names like Itoje aren’t performing as well as their reputation and with a few losses this season they’re not as feared as they used to be , that being said I certainly wouldn’t underestimate them
That’ll be a Leinster win. No comparison between the two teams in terms for squad and form. Vunipola is such a huge loss for them. I’d say Leinster by 10+ points.
@Jim Demps: have to disagree with you there. Don’t think we’ll be too comfortable.
@Jim Demps: what on earth are you talking about, this is going to be as tight as it gets
@Stephen Fennel: Saracens scraped through the group stage, their internationals have no form, their top player is injured, it’s in Dublin, leinsters players are all on top form after winning the grand slam. It all points to a Leinster handy win
Sarries are the definition of a good team, much more than the sum of their parts. With Figallo at TH and Kruis running the lineout, they will have a formidable set piece game, allied to their oppressive defence means they present a serious threat to a young Leinster team. Can’t wait..
I’d like us to plays fast game with big ball carriers close to either side of the ruck. Suck that ‘wolf pack’ defence in and then saracens don’t have much pace from 9-13
@Kendo90: we have rob and ferg in our back 3 pace is not something we have an abundance of
@Chris Mc: true but I can see ringrose’s footwork bamboozling that aging sarries midfield
I believe that we don’t stand a chance in this fixture, with the addition of arguably one of the best talents in rugby we’ll be doing well to scrape a draw, bring frawley in and that’ll do the trick