CHAMPIONS CUP BOOTROOM
Leinster v Saracens
Lansdowne Road, 3.30pm TEAM NEWS: Second row Scott Fardy is shifted to the back row, joining Dan Leavy and Jordi Murphy, with Seán O’Brien and Jack Conan both failing to prove their fitness, while Garry Ringrose and Isa Nacewa start together in the centre for only the second time this season. Key man Owen Farrell starts at out-half for Saracens after overcoming a quad problem. PREVIOUS MEETINGS: Jan 11 – Leinster 43 Saracens 20 Oct 10 – Saracens 23 Leinster 25
VERDICT: Leinster. WHY: Even accounting for the heavy injury count, this is a Leinster team that have really kicked on since crashing out to Clermont in the semi-finals last year. Packed with Grand Slam winners, they are primed to back up their fighting talk.
LEINSTER: R Kearney; F McFadden, G Ringrose, I Nacewa (capt), J Lowe; J Sexton, L McGrath; C Healy, S Cronin, T Furlong; D Toner, J Ryan; S Fardy, D Leavy, J Murphy. Reps: J Tracy, J McGrath, A Porter, R Ruddock, M Deegan, N McCarthy, J Carvery, R O’Loughlin.
SARACENS: A Goode; L Williams, M Bosch, B Barritt (capt), S Maitland; O Farrell, R Wigglesworth; M Vunipola, J George, J Figallo; M Itoje, G Kruis; N Isiekwe, S Burger, J Wray. Reps: S Brits, R Barrington, T Lamositele, D Day, B Cowan, B Spencer, A Lozowski, C Wyles. Referee: Jerome Garcés (Fra) TV: Live on BT Sport 2 from 3pm, KO 3.30pm
Key Stat
Leinster have won their last eight home games in the Champions Cup, with those victories coming by an average margin of 25 points.