Ryan Bailey reports from the Aviva Stadium
A DISAPPOINTING RETURN to Dublin for Saracens, as the back-to-back champions relinquished the crown they worked so hard to win, but it was always going to be a big ask for Mark McCall’s side to outgun Leinster having stuttered their way through the pool stages.
The Premiership side were left to rue their inability to capitalise on sustained possession and territory in the first half as Leinster upped the intensity in the third quarter to pull clear and end Saracens’ two-year reign as European champions.
McCall accepted that the better side won on the day, labelling Leinster as ‘outstanding’, while also suggesting that the effect of Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam could have also contributed to this quarter-final result.
“It’s probably going to have some sort of effect, you would have thought,” he said post-match.
“We have had the luxury of having our players come back from the last two seasons, having won a Grand Slam, and having won a Championship, and coming back into European quarter-finals and being in great form — physically and emotionally. I’m sure Leinster benefitted from that as well.”
While Leinster emerged as convincing winners, largely thanks to a ruthless 20-minute spell after half-time during which the hosts scored 17 points, the contest was on a knife-edge at the break.
Despite conceding an early try during a sluggish start, Saracens had showed all their credentials by regaining a foothold in the contest through the boot of Owen Farrell, trailing by a single point when the sides headed for the sheds.
But Leinster had been able to weather the storm, producing a big defensive effort led by the likes of Dan Leavy and Cian Healy, to keep Saracens at bay and then show a clinical edge at the other end through man of the match Leavy and then James Lowe.
McCall, the former Ulster coach, was full of praise for Leinster, who will now go on to face Scarlets in the semi-finals.
“Obviously we are disappointed,” he continued. “The first half, I felt it was an even game. We responded very well to the bad start that we had, which was the first try.
“We had a little chance just before half time when it was a one-point game and didn’t convert that. We started the second half poorly. We gave away 10 points in the first five or six minutes.
“I just felt it was the kinda game where… it’s tough to chase down a team like Leinster with a 10-point lead. We tried very hard to.
“We’re a little bit disappointed that their two tries that they scored weren’t as a result of relentless pressure and us being under the pump. I felt that they were tries that we could have avoided.
“We had a lot of possession of the ball ourselves, and in fairness to Leinster, they defended superbly all day.”
McCall added: “I think Leinster are outstanding. They were the best team in the pool stages. When we analysed them, there were not many weaknesses to find.
“They were good today. They had to defend for a long time and they did it really well. They’ve got some people on their team who can really hurt you on attack as well, so they are a very good, all-round team.”
Saracens captain Brad Barritt agreed Leinster were full value for their win.
“Huge congratulations to Leinster,” the centre added. “As a playing group, we felt they were better on the day and were full quality for their victory today.
“They are a very good team. I think in terms of the level that was played at today we’ve all suggested that it was something a little more than what we’ve had this season.
“You never want to make predictions but I thought they were full of quality and they backed up what they did in the pool stages, so a very, very good team.”
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Third choice 7 MOM – just saying…
@Fuinneóig Ó’Fuigeann: Very obvious after Six Nation’s he’s not 3rd choice.
@Tomás O’Loughlin: Shame a 7 from another province didn’t put his hand up…
@Fuinneóig Ó’Fuigeann: Tommy O’Donnell. Injured. Like Sean O’Brien. Next point?
@Tomás O’Loughlin: who?
@Fuinneóig Ó’Fuigeann: What a troll. No one had heard even mentioned Leavy 6 months ago. Just because a fantastic player is injured you forget him? Eejit.
Outstanding Easter weekend what a way to end Lent with a Feast of Irish Winners,,,,,,sadly my liver is fecked
james lowe must have worked on his defence, it was immense today
You have to love his enthusiasm – his delight when he scored!
That picture at the top is gold!
@Sam Harms: two great players disappointed at losing a game? What’s your point
@Victor Sonovich: because no one likes Owen Farrell
@Bob Joe: i dont get why. He gets in fights but hes a physical player. Much more likeable then Lawes,Hartley,Marler,Care,Brown
@Bob Joe. I dunno, seems alright to me.
Farrell is very popular amongst his colleagues and most people who’ve met him have nothing but good things to say about him.
leinster where good for their money on the day and held back a big saracens pack which i thought where not so good in defence .but we must be carefull in our defence which nearly went off the rails if only they where more aggresive against scarlets in week or so we can win as they have a stronger team than off form scarlets and will be dirty as usual look at last year one sent of and target sexton many times and other dirt they got away with by the ref in that game we must show them we wont be bullied and we can win with speed and on long ball to keep them in their half .it will be hare to call but as i said if they attack them in power we can win as scarlets will play dirty all day long we cant let them do it as they could be dangerous if we let them away with it .ill go leinster 29 .scarlet 19