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
Luke mcgrath having a shocker as usual
@Jim Beatty: He’s fine, it’s the high balls that are troubling Leinster
@Sustainable Hedgehog: one bad pass cost 3 pts, another bad pass cost a try scoring opportunity
@Jim Beatty: a penalty advantage and he doesn’t move the ball from the maul.
Cmon Sarries! Leinster been acting the big men in the comment section after beating Munster and Ulster recently, would love if they lost!
@Cortiss: sad man
@Cortiss: everyone already knows you hate Leinster. Cmon LEINSTER.
@Cortiss: You’ll be Sarrie.
@Cortiss: if the only joy you get watching rugby is to hope a team lose maybe you shouldnt watch. All those negative vibes can’t be good for you. Either way an Irishman chearing on the English over another Irish side says more about you than the leinster fans you have a problem with.
@Cortiss: if you are not english you must be a turnip muncher and to pick a team of tax dodging cheats over leinster you should be ashamed of yourself
They are struggling to deal with a world class referee at the moment. Let’s see if they manage to adapt
@Cortiss: your an embarrassment to Ireland and Irish rugby..
@Cortiss: top 14 ,, is a muck league ,, better off being amateurs ,,, Leinster being slaughter. , Really terrible Irish rugby ,,,
@Cortiss: it’s a big drop from the smugness to the whining in the space of a week :-)
@The Exhibition Guy – Stephan Murtagh: he’s absolutely right tho. Don’t support his idea of rooting for the foreign side but lads on here were thinking Leinster were gonna walk it. All the bookies had Leinster by +9. Well saracens have won and it’s not even half time.
@Chris Mc: as a Munster supporter I would hope Leinster are victorious Cortiss’s comment has more to do with how the vast majority of Leinster posters tend to belittle the other provinces and how ungracious they are in victory.
@Greg Cavey: Dont think any of us real supporters thought it was going to be a walk over Greg and Leinster not playing well but his comment just makes him a dic period.
@Mark Sheehan: but they don’t belittle anyone though. Ye just keep saying they do.
@Paul Mcnevin: Is it too late to sarrie
@David: went to reply but childish comments editor section deemed it toxic because I was talking about your head and the lack of sunshine from where your head is.
@Greg Cavey: The thing about having Leinster by 9 is that they also offer the opposite bet. That’s where the smart money was.
There’s HD live stream on Brown Thomas’ website.
@Ray de Róiste: In the end it wasn’t the cockiness of the Brits that won it. It was the cockiness of the West Brits that lost it
Saracens making Leinster look very normal and after getting cheap penalties now Leinster getting squeezed and need to get stable quickly
All penalties given against Leinster are cheap? They are getting hammered fair and square. They have come back from this far down before. But at this rate it would be one of the greatest comeback of all time.
@Lance Write: they are getting squashed all around the park so far by the better team. Did I say all penalties are cheap? The first couple were cheap the scrum ones are all from the pressure they’re under.
@Bryan Russell: neither leinster flankers are scrummaging and healy is not at the races.
IT’S OVER
@Sustainable Hedgehog: chubby lady sings
@Sustainable Hedgehog: fatt lady sings
@Pat Andrews: Sorry, I can’t sing
Leinster being bullied in all aspects of the game Saracens have been close to perfect
Leinster back row been shown up. Sorry but alot of Leinster supporters given O Mahony and Stander a hard time while talking up their own. Doris, Connors and Conan being outplayed. Whatever about Doris and Connors as relatively inexperienced I dont see how so many people rate Conan so highly or think he’s anywhere Stander for international games. Connors tackling exceptional but not as good an all round player. Still think van der flier and connors are not near the standard of Leavy whos a massive loss to Leinster in Europe.
@Martin McCarthy: Conan hasn’t done much wrong today, I mean he hasn’t been good but seems cruel to single him out.
@Martin McCarthy: I will say, I’m much more impressed with Munster considering how hard they played Saracens last year.
Leinster need composure, they look like they are scared of Saracens.
@Sustainable Hedgehog: Leinster need a miracle
Looking so incredibly bleak at this point… I dont even know what to think.
@Conor HF: that you are overrated?
@Bill: Classy Bill, if you mean by you Leinster unfortunately you are 100% right.
As an aside, are tackles round the neck okay now?
@Sustainable Hedgehog: no need to be salty now
@TheHospitalPass: I’m an Ulster man, not being salty but for a while you couldn’t touch the neck. Now it seems okay.
Most embarrassing half of rugby I’ve watched. Just shows how poor Ulster and Munster are, as Leinster have played time the same level in this match as the other two. Big changes needed at half time
@Dave: LMFAO.. yeah bro.. says nothing about Leinster of course..
Tackle on Sexton should be a red
@Sustainable Hedgehog: that could have changed the game
@Sustainable Hedgehog: I find Sexton’s soccer-style fakery quite repellent. He alone made me want Sarries to win. I cannot image Ollie Campbell, Tony Ward, O’Gara, Eric Ellwood doing a Sexton. Shame with such talent.
Soft 3. Porter making sure he wasn’t interfering.
Not really. But it’s probably the first time he has been pinged for it all season. The difference between the standard of referee in the PRO 14 and Europe is evident already in this game.
Watch Leinster come back
@Thomas Bohan: I’m still waiting Thomas. Will they come back tonight???
No comment using the word us or we today
Put me few shillings on sarries today n it early days but lienster not arrived at the aviva yet
Game over 3-22
Massive wake up call for Leinster so far. Being beaten in every area of the pitch. Still time on the clock, but I feel they could have 5 extra players on the pitch and it wouldn’t help.
Best team won on the day hopefully Ulster can progress and keep the Irish interest alive in the champions cup
Ringrose is a god
What’s the point in the ref calling advantage and then saying advantage over once Leinster kick it…
@RhinoDino: When you kick the ball away it usually means end of advantage
Men against boys ,, pro 14 , is Micky mouse rugby
@Mill Miller: Get off my bridge
Leinster need to be 100% focused on damage limitation at this point. Leinster probably need a serious autopsy / inquiry after a performance like this.
Serious questions need to be asked of this Leinster game plan. Never fired a shot apart of the strike play that led to the Larmour try. Scrum terrible, and lineout was brutal, consistently going to the front man when Kelleher came on, the mind boggles and it shows the lack of confidence in the lineout. Positives are limited, Baird’s performance and maybe Ryan’s effort against Itoje.
Leinster look utterly shell shocked, seriously need to sort the scrum, they’re getting mushed up front.
@Daithí O’ Donnabhain: wait wait, they’re starting to play now
@Daithí O’ Donnabhain: Gibson Park could be the man, much better than Mcgrath in my opinion.
Any good streams going?
@Gooney: Mobdro dire today, anyone got one that works?
@Michael Killian: BT subscription
@Thomas King: knob
Tough game. Penalty count was too high and ultimately that was the winning and losing of the game
@Austin O’sullivan: Saracens a better team. Not bad for a second tier side.
Roglic should wrap it up
Look at positives leinster are a top 8 side