LEINSTER V SARACENS

Sunday 3.30pm TV BT Sport 2

Where the match will be won and lost This is a re-run of England v Ireland, and looks routine. Ireland battered England. Leinster battered all before them. Saracens managed to scrape through with only three wins.

But very different teams were put out last week as regards to returning international players.

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, unless their players were carrying a knock, got all their superstars out and turned Harlequins over.

Leinster were imperious in the group stages.

They registered difficult away wins at Glasgow (12 points clear in the Pro 14), Exeter (eight points clear in the Aviva Premiership) and Montpellier (five points clear in

Top 14). It was a staggering set of results. Their pack is awesome and the setpiece has brilliance to add to their breakdown burglary and ball-handling verve. The backs are so difficult to break down, rock-solid under the high ball and clever in their ability to find your weakness. Saracens, by contrast, have not been able to hit their straps this year.

We have had glimpses of their skills, yet too often they have been unable to sustain pressure and accuracy, which has been their copyright over the years for so long.

They will rely on muscle memory, but what muscle memory they have. Some reputations have been dented in the last five months, but they are easily fixed. Saracens have too many titles, too many wins to roll over and they will not give up their chase of the treble easily.

Prediction The form suggests only one winner in Leinster, but Saracens will not mind that.