Itoje: Saracens must reach ‘different level’ to overcome Leinster
England lock says team are ready to face Europe’s form side Champions Cup last-eight clash a repeat of last year’s final
Nothing lasts forever and, as Saracens face arguably the greatest threat to their European hegemony against Leinster in Dublin today, even their poster boy Maro Itoje has spoken about his desire to one day pursue his career overseas.
“Definitely, I think at some stage, I would love to play abroad,” said the England and Lions lock forward. “I’m fairly open to what the future holds and I don’t want to pin myself on a certain region. But I would love to do it at some point and would like to spend at least a season somewhere.”
The here and now, though, has never been more important to the 25-year-old. Just over a year ago, Saracens appeared to be an invincible force, winning the Premiership and claiming their third Champions Cup title in four years.
That status, however, has been undermined by their salary-cap breaches, sanctions and player exodus, to such an extent that it is now Leinster, with a record-breaking 25 successive wins since their Champions Cup final defeat last season, who are on the verge of reasserting their claim to be masters of Europe.
In sharp contrast, Saracens, already relegated from the Premiership, are fighting for their competitive lives. Defeat at the Aviva Stadium today would mean Itoje and his team-mates would not have another meaningful top-flight club match for a year and that significance is not lost on Itoje who is ready to stand and fight for the club to which he owes everything.
“It’s knockout rugby; you win or you go home,” he said. “Obviously, we’ve had a good history in the European Cup and it’s a tournament that we love as a group. It’s a tournament that we have a lot of respect for and we want to be a part of.
“At Saracens we are used to competing for trophies in all competitions and being involved until the end of those competitions.”
If there is one club in Europe equipped to exploit that do-or-die mentality, it is Saracens. Yet, while their starting XV remains formidable – even without their talisman, England captain Owen Farrell, through suspension – it is when you compare the respective benches that the ramifications of Saracens’ misdemeanours appear most acute.
Having been forced to let go of stellar names including Liam Williams, Will Skelton, Alex Lozowski, Ben Spencer, George Kruis and Titi Lamositele – players who started last year’s final – as well as the likes of Ben Earl and Max Malins, Saracens go into today’s quarter-final lacking significant firepower.
As if to underscore that point, Leinster, who managed to comfortably defeat Ulster to win the Pro14 final last Saturday despite resting Ireland captain Johnny Sexton, can afford the luxury of dropping man of the match and Ireland open-side flanker Josh van der Flier to the bench, promoting another defensive goliath in Will Connors. Luke Mcgrath and Sean Cronin also return to Leo Cullen’s side.
With both sides famed for their frightening line speed and ability to suffocate their opponents with a vice-like defence, it will still make the kind of intriguing contest that has been sadly missing from the restart of the Premiership.
Saracens can call on the wealth of experience and footballing nous of Alex Goode to deputise for Farrell, and battle-hardened warriors such as Brad Barritt and Richard Wigglesworth and Mako Vunipola, who has recovered from a back spasm.
Elliot Daly takes over at full-back, in place of Goode, with Alex Lewington and Scotland’s Sean Maitland completing the back three.
There has been a sense, too, that Saracens have built their entire restart programme on preparing for this game and Itoje did not dispel the suggestion that they were poised to deliver their most intense performance. “European quarterfinal rugby is a step above normal domestic Premiership matches so a different level is definitely required,” Itoje said. “Obviously, we’ve had this game in sight, but we haven’t taken the foot off the gas in the Premiership.
“Leinster are leading the way, but I think we have a special team here with some special individuals and some big characters who love these types of games and who relish these kinds of opportunities.
“I don’t have a fear of failure. It feels like the team is coming together at the right time. Regardless of what happens at the weekend, we’ll be back.
“We want to win, no doubt about that. We never go into games just to participate. It is a huge opportunity and I’m excited to be playing in such a game. It’s always a team effort and guys buying in to create something special.”