Leinster’s task made tougher by Farrell return for Aviva showdown

ENGLAND star Owen Farrell has been named in the Saracens team for tomorrow’s European Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster at the Aviva.

Farrell suffered a quad muscle injury during England’s Six Nations loss to Ireland at Twickenham two weeks ago.

Ulsterman Mark McCall, Saracens rugby director, said earlier this week that Farrell probably had a 50-50 chance of making the Leinster game. He missed last Saturday’s Aviva Premiership victory over Harlequns.

But the fly-half, who was last season’s Champions Cup top points scorer, is set to start in Dublin, with his fellow England international Alex Lozowski on the bench.

Lock George Kruis, who also sat out the Quins game, has recovered from a back injury to partner Maro Itoje in the second-row, while prop Mako Vunipola returns to the starting XV and captain Brad Barritt features after having surgery on a fractured cheekbone in midweek.

Barritt, meanwhile, believes the Champions Cup holders will face “the form team in Europe” tomorrow.

Leinster, packed with members of Ireland’s Six Nations title and Grand Slam-winning team, cruised through their qualifying group by claiming six successive victories and collecting 27 points from a possible 30, leaving Exeter, Montpellier and Glasgow in their slipstream.

“We know what is on the line now, we know we are playing against the form team in Europe,” Barritt said.

“Playing at the Aviva Stadium is probably a little bit in our favour in that it is not Leinster’s out and out home ground.”