Sarries’ dented reputations can be easily fixed

WHERE THE GAME WILL BE WON

THIS is a re-run of England v Ireland in disguise, and looks routine. Ireland battered England. Leinster battered all before them. Saracens scraped through as No 8 seeds with only three wins.

But very different teams were put out last week as regards to returning internationals. Leinster only sent out Irish lads who had been subs during the Six Nations to give them game time and the big guns were rested. They were taken to the cleaners by the Ospreys.

Saracens got all their fit superstars back out and turned over Harlequins.

Leinster were imperious in the group stages. They won at Glasgow (12 points clear in PRO14 Conference A), Exeter (eight points clear in the Aviva Premiership) and Montpellier (five points clear in the Top 14).

It was a staggering set of results, probably the finest pool performance of any team in the tournament for two decades.

Their pack is awesome and the set-piece has brilliance to add to their breakdown burglary and ball-handling verve. The backs are so difficult to break down and rock-solid under the high ball, and clever in their ability to find your weak edge or soft inside shoulder.

Saracens, by contrast, have not been able to hit their straps this year. There have been glimpses of their skills, yet too often they have been unable to sustain pressure and accuracy, their copyright for so long.

Saracens needed an abject Northampton Saints to cough up 10 pool points and nearly 120 match points in two games to give them a leg up.

Saracens will rely on muscle memory, but what muscle memory they have. A backbone of players that took Saracens to the top of the tree and England to second in the world.

Some reputations have been dented in the last five months. But nothing more than dented, and easily fixed. Saracens have too many titles, too many wins to roll over and they won’t give up their chase of the treble easily.

KEY CLASH

James Ryan v Maro Itoje (pictured). Two lads who have had extraordinary starts to their careers. For so long it was Itoje who couldn’t lose a game. Ryan now has that mantle. They are second rows of a different ilk to the classic mould: dynamic, lean, athletic.

PREDICTION

The form suggests only one winner in Leinster. Saracens won’t mind that. (© Daily Telegraph, London)