European Champions Cup quarter-final: Leinster v Saracens

Leinster - Saracens game should be a very good one, both proper heavyweights of European rugby.

I have not seen much of Saracens to adjudge their form but Leinster have been very good this year in the Pro-14 and at home, I would have them as favourites.

Saracens: Goode; L Williams, Bosch, Barritt (c), Maitland; Farrell, Wigglesworth; M Vunipola, George, Figallo, Itoje, Kruis, Isiekwe, Burger, Wray.

Replacements: Brits, Barrington, Lamositele, Day, Cowan, Spencer, Lozowski, Wyles.

Leinster: Kearney; McFadden, Ringrose, Nacewa (c), Lowe; Sexton, McGrath; Healy, Cronin, Furlong, Toner, Ryan, Fardy, Leavy, Murphy.

Replacements: Tracy, McGrath, Porter, Ruddock, Deegan, McCarthy, Carbery, O'Loughlin.

Best of luck to both teams but I would personally love Leinster to win

Poor summer recruitment in the backrow plus some unfortunate injuries mean Sarries are going to struggle badly against this Leinster team. The Wolf pack defence is missing a little teeth and some of the Sarries backs are a little long in the tooth particularly Wyles on the bench who's been a great servant but offers no impact.

The bench in general doesn't look great for Sarries who really wouldn't have wanted to have Day and Cowan on there. Not sure they'd really want them other than as the injury squad fillers that they are.

The Leinster backline seems to be missing a few so if they don't capitalise on the chances that backrow will give them then Sarries are masters as squeezing the life put of teams and grinding out victories.

Leinster fans, any reason why Larmour is not in the squad?

eirebilly wrote:Leinster fans, any reason why Larmour is not in the squad?

Quad injury I think.

Ahh ok, cheers.

That's some crowd there for Leinster, very imposing for Saracens.

Oh what a try that for Leinster from deep. Lowe brilliant in that

Nice try from Leinster - Saracens will have to improve significantly on recent performances to stand any chance today.

Saracens coming back into this. I really thought that Leinster would run away with that after their start.

Yes they are certainly having a lot of possession and territory ...

How on earth do you play the week after fracturing your cheekbone?! Hard bar steward.

Wigglesworth must see yellow for that late hit on Sexton...

Dirty English barsteward

Only made Leinster angry

I tell you what, that James Ryan is going to be as good if not better than POC.

Possible YC but remarkably similar to the one in the England v Ireland match though which also wasn't given.

Stupid from Sexton there.

Sexton seems a bit wound up. Typical saracens to slow and get niggly. Just need to laugh it off and offer some back rather than be silly.

Stupid - but good kick though.

Absorbing first half of rugby. Leinster just on top but Saracens showing their European pedigree.

If Saracens were a little more clinical then I think they would be leading this.

Indeed Sarries doing better than I expected ...

Sexton doing well to keep a lid on it. He's had Burger tip him, Itoje late with the knee. Kruis late hit, and Wigglesworth late shoulder!

Oh Leavy, that was special

Game over. Leinster will put 40 on them

Nicely taken try - bad error by Sarries

That was savage defence from Saracens.

Yep, 100% all over for Saracens as Leinster get their third try.

Clinging on by their finger tips though

Maybe 50

Cancel that ...

This is now more like what I expected

Kearney a no arms tackle, that could be problems for him.

Wigglesworth is so so poor, Saracens look like a different side with him off. Too late though, same as Eng v Ire, his glacial delivery has snuffed out any chance.

Itoje having an absolute stinker as well.

Really hope Sarries lose this so that our England players get a bit more rest to sort themselves out.

Nice turnover and rubbish kick

So stupid from Toner...

It’s like rope a dope from Leinster. Saracens are clueless

Sarries have had their chances but haven't been anywhere near as clinical as they can be ...

Every England player looks mentally shot to bits, just one stupid decision after another.

Amazing what a little confidence and momentum can do for a group of players....and also what a losing streak and lack of confidence does. Being played out right here.

Well done Leinster and their fans. On their way to the semi finals.

What a weekend for the Pro-14, 3 teams in the semi finals and guaranteed 1 in the final

Congrats to Leinster - would like to see them go on to win the cup. A final v Scarlets could be really entertaining.

Saracens were never in it from about 20 mins. There was an inevitability about the outcome. Only the final score was in doubt. Can’t see anyone beating Leinster this yesr

ooops - just realised the semi is that match ...

Well done Leinster, well deserved win but please stop the football antics and trying to con the Ref, no place for play acting in Rugby Union.

I don’t think they needed to con the ref. The gulf in class was more an issue than anything else.

To be honest I don't think there was a gulf in class, more a difference in current form. Sarries had several chances that they blew with simple errors that they wouldn't have made previously.

Hard to go lunch from 50 min onwards so it must have changed post that as the game was very even.

Brilliant from Leinster.
It's always good to see Saracens beaten but that was even more enjoyable than usual. I wonder what rule changes the English will come up with next to gain an advantage in European competition.

Pete330v2 wrote:Brilliant from Leinster.
It's always good to see Saracens beaten but that was even more enjoyable than usual. I wonder what rule changes the English will come up with next to gain an advantage in European competition.

Anyway, very well done Leinster, clear head and shoulder above the rest of the competition.
Where is the final this year btw ?

There's certainly been less complaining this year as the celtic teams have done better pete! As I said before swings and roundabouts.

Like I said geen match must have changed as teams looked very equal.