‘THEY WON’T GIVE UP THEIR TITLE EASILY’

braced for a monumental challenge from the visitors, the last team to beat the province in a competitive game – the European Champions Cup final in Newcastle – 17 months ago. ‘We’ve got to go out here and be at our best here, there’s no second chances,’ he said. ‘It’s a step up. I don’t mean that being disrespectful to Ulster at all. They came and gave us a good run for our money (in the Pro14 final) but Saracens, this is the one they want obviously – the big one. ‘They’re reigning champions and they’re not going to relinquish that easily so a bit of a point to prove. They feel like the world is against them at the moment with Owen Farrell having the red card etc. ‘When you can create that type of environment, you come out fighting and I dare say that they’ll be looking to come over here and make that point.’ Tadhg Furlong remains a doubt for the European encounter with a back injury and the Leinster and Ireland tighthead will be further assessed after training this afternoon. ‘It’s frustrating for Tadhg,’ McBryde added. ‘That said, it’s a big occasion so there’s a lot of things we have to weigh up when we consider those options. ‘We know that Tadhg is a vastly experienced British and Irish Lion, so we’ll see how we go.’ Elsewhere, Munster have been dealt another blow ahead of the new season next month with Denis Logan, their head of athletic performance, leaving his post due to ‘personal reasons’.