Hello, and welcome to our liveblog for this evening’s big game. Here are the teams:

Saracens: Goode; Ashton, Tomkins, Barritt, Strettle; Farrell, Wigglesworth; Vunipola, Brits, Stevens, Borthwick, Hargreaves, Brown, Fraser, Joubert.

Replacements: Smit, Gill, Du Plessis, Botha, Wray, De Kock, Hodgson, Wyles.

Ulster: Payne; Trimble, Cave, Marshall, Gilroy; Jackson, Pienaar; Court, Best, Afoa; Muller (capt), Tuohy; Henderson, Henry, Williams.

Replacements: Herring, Black, Lutton, Diack, McComish, Marshall, Olding, Bowe.

So how do you see this game turning out?

The Ulster fans are in good spirits ahead of today’s game.

Ulster’s Tommy Bowe arrives for the match (INPHO/Billy Stickland). Will he feature from the bench?

We’re underway…

Saracens 3-0 Ulster: Bad start for Ulster! Borthwick knocks on, after Ashton breaks through two tackles with a menacing run down the wing.

However, despite the forward’s mistake, the referee brings it back, and Farrell makes no mistake with the penalty they’re awarded in front of the posts (2 mins).

A promising attack for Ulster is ended when Darren Cave knocks on all too easily as he’s tackled.

It’s been a less than assured start for the Irish side.

Ulster are growing into this game, without really threatening as of yet.

They’ve enjoyed a sustained period of possession in the last few minutes.

Really poor attempt at a short chip kick from Ulster fails to go the desired distance, and the referee penalises them accordingly, as the momentum is back with Saracens again.

The Irish side need to cut out those type of sloppy errors that have been evident in their game in the opening minutes.

Relentless Ulster pressure finally results in a penalty.

However, Ruan Pienaar drags his kick from distance wide. It was straight in front of the posts, so he’ll be disappointed with that.

Ulster win another penalty straight from the kick-off.

Pienaar’s effort hits the post, but Borthwick knocks on from the ensuing rebound, giving Ulster a scrum in the opposition 22.

Saracens 3-3 Ulster: At the third time of asking, Pienaar finally makes no mistake, with a kick straight in front of the posts.

Ulster have recovered well since going behind, and the three points is the least they deserve, following a period of pressure.

Saracens 6-6 Ulster: Saracens force Ulster into immediately conceding a penalty from the kick-off.

And Farrell’s consummate kick, means all their hard work is undone.

Incredibly, a Saracens indiscretion from the kick-off thereafter, means Ulster earn a penalty straight away.

Pienaar does the business to make it 6-6 (31 mins).

TRY FOR SARACENS!

Saracens 13-6 Ulster: Will Fraser crosses over amid a pile of bodies, and the referee awards the try following consultation with the video referee, before Farrell converts in his usual assured manner (33 mins).

It’s awarded in controversial circumstances though, as there was a knock-on from Saracens that the referee missed in the build-up.

Saracens 16-6 Ulster: Farrell gets another penalty to extend the English side’s lead (37 mins).

Less than two minutes until half-time now.

HALF-TIME: SARACENS 16-6 ULSTER

So it’s been a tight game as expected, with few opportunities for both sides’ set of talented backs to illustrate their prowess.

Saracens probably just about deserve their lead. They’ve attacked with more conviction, while Ulster’s game has been littered with needless errors.

Whenever the Irish province have looked like threatening, a silly knock-on or loose pass has stopped them in their tracks

Nonetheless, Ulster still won’t be happy with the performance of Roman Poite.

He has missed both a Saracens knock-on in the lead up to Fraser’s try, and a forward pass prior to the English club’s first successful penalty.

Saracens’ Alex Goode is tackled by Ulster’s Luke Marshall (INPHO/Billy Stickland).

The second half has begun…

David, one of our readers and an Ulster, has emailed with the following thoughts ahead of the second half:

“It’s rare to see Ulster get dominated physically at the breakdown like that. This game reminds me of last year’s Munster – Ulster quarter final. That day, Ulster took their chances when they had them, exactly like Saracens today. As an Ulster fan, I physically hate the sight of Owen Farrell standing over a kick. The sheer inevitability of it all.

“The game is tighter than the scoreline suggests though. Pienaar needs to settle into his rhythm and he will get more chances off the back of a dominant scrum. Still, Saracens look too clinical for my liking.”

Gilroy surges through the Saracens back line amid cheers from the visiting fans.

However, the referee correctly brings the play back on account of some obstruction in the build-up.

Saracens 19-6 Ulster: Some intensive pressure from Saracens leads to another penalty, which Farrell almost inevitably kicks over straight in front of the posts (49 mins).

Ulster need a break in this game promptly, with Saracens looking relatively comfortable right now.

Another forward pass from Ulster, as a promising attack comes to an end yet again.

Their backs look desperately short of invention and confidence right now, so surely it’s only a matter of time before Tommy Bowe emerges from the bench.

Saracens 19-9 Ulster: Great ball carrying from Henderson eventually results in Chris Ashton conceding a penalty.

Ruan Pienaar then comfortably kicks over a simple chance from the penalty (56 mins).

Tommy Bowe is on the field!

He’s just replaced Darren Cave.

Saracens 22-9 Ulster: Another immaculate kick from Owen Farrell increases his side’s lead (59 mins).

An Ulster comeback is looking increasingly unlikely.

TRY FOR SARACENS!

Saracens 27-9 Ulster: A clever inside pass from Brad Barritt finds Chris Ashton, who bursts through the opposition defence for a clinically taken try.

Tellingly, it stemmed from another unforced error from Ulster, as an intercepted pass started the Saracens attack.

Strangely, Farrell misses the routine conversion, but surely it’s game over for Ulster anyway.

Ulster are once again deep in the opposition 22.

There is a sense of now or never about this somewhat desperate-seeming attack.

Ulster lose a lineout 5 yards from opposition try line, as another chance is wasted.

The lineout, in particular, has consistently been an area of concern for Ulster today.

Ruan Pienaar takes a quick tap and go, however, much to the visiting side’s frustration, his attempted pass then goes straight out of play.

There’s been too many of those sort of errors from Ulster today.

Will Fraser departs the field and he’s simultaneously announced as the deserved Man of the Match.

Ulster continue to press, but it’s a lost cause at this stage.

There’s been one or two promising moments instigated by Tommy Bowe since he came on.

Nonetheless, he’s had few opportunities to influence the game.

TRY FOR ULSTER!

FULL-TIME: SARACENS 27-16 ULSTER

Ulster get the try that their toil has deserved.

It’s a well-worked effort, with some intelligent, flowing rugby that’s belied the unattractive manner that this game’s been played.

At the end of the move, Iain Henderson backs himself, breaking through two opposition tacklers and crossing over.

Ruan Pienaar then kicks over from an awkward angle with the last act of the game.

So, a disappointing finish to what had been a Heineken Cup campaign filled with moments of huge promise for Ulster.

The Irish side will point to key refereeing decisions that went against them in the first half, but in truth, Saracens’ win was well deserved.

Ulster conspicuously underperformed. They made far too many unforced errors, while continually coming off second best in the lineout.

The home side, on the other hand, were clinical, taking most of the opportunities that came their way, with Owen Farrell successful in all but one of his kicks.

It seems injuries and tiredness took their toll on the visitors, as this inept showing contrasted strongly with their displays earlier in the season, which had many critics touting them as potential winners of the Heineken Cup.

Right, that’s it from me.

Thanks for reading and commenting, and commiserations if you’re an Ulster fan.