FARRELL PASSED FIT FOR QUARTER-FINAL CLASH

AFTER a week of speculation surrounding his fitness, England star Owen Farrell has been named in the Saracens team for tomorrow’s European Champions Cup quarter-final clash against Leinster. Farrell suffered a quad injury during England’s Six Nations loss to Ireland at Twickenham 13 days ago, and speaking earlier this week Saracens rugby director Mark McCall said he had a 50-50 chance of making the Leinster game, having missed last Saturday’s Premiership victory over Harlequns. But the fly-half, who was last season’s Champions Cup top points-scorer, is set to start at Lansdowne Road, facing off against fellow Lions star Johnny Sexton. Fellow England international Alex Lozowski is on the replacements’ 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’ this weekend. Leinster 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,’ said Barritt. ‘This team has always thrived on these big occasions and going to these big stadiums. ‘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. They don’t play there every week. ‘It is a huge opportunity for this team [Saracens] to stake a claim.’