SEMI-FINAL GUIDE
SARACENS v WASPS
THESE domestic rivals have never met in Europe and unbeaten Saracens are widely regarded as the team to beat in this year’s competition, having won all six pool games. Sarries’ England Grand Slam star Billy Vunipola (above) goes head to head with Nathan Hughes in the clash of the No 8s. Saracens stand-off Owen Farrell said: ‘Experience makes you more comfortable going into these situations so the hope is that you perform as you would every week.’ Dai Young, Wasps director of rugby, said: ‘Saracens have probably been favourites from the word go so we’ll have to be at our best. We don’t want our European journey to end here.’ PREDICTION:Saracenswin. SARACENS: Goode; Ashton, Taylor, Barritt (capt), Wyles; Farrell, Wigglesworth; M Vunipola, Brits, Du Plessis; Itoje, Kruis; Rhodes, B Vunipola, Fraser. WASPS: C Piutau; Wade, Daly, S Piutau, Halai; Gopperth, Robson; Mullan, Festuccia, Cittadini; Launchbury, Davies; Haskell (capt), Hughes, Smith. Kick-off: Today, 3pm, Madejski Stadium, Reading. TV : LIVE Sky Sports 1 from 2.55pm. Referee: Roman Poite (France).
LEICESTER v RACING 92
UNSTOPPABLE force meets immovable object as the tournament’s meanest defence (Racing) come up against the most potent attack (Leicester). The French side have conceded only seven tries, while Leicester have run in 30. Leicester are unchanged from last weekend’s derby win over Northampton and director of rugby Richard Cockerill (above) said: ‘We went with the same group of players because we wanted to build momentum and we’ve had three good wins.’ Luke Charteris, Racing’s Wales lock, said: ‘We’ve got the added incentive that if we make the final it is on French soil.’ PREDICTION:Leicesterwin. LEICESTER: Tait (capt); Veainu, Betham, Tuilagi, Goneva; Burns, B Youngs; Ayerza, Thacker, Cole; Barrow, Kitchener; Fitzgerald, Fonua, McCaffery. RACING 92: Dulin; Rokocoko, Goosen, Dumoulin, Imhoff; Carter, Machenaud (capt); Ben Arous, Lacombe, Tameifuna; Charteris, Van der Merwe; Lauret, Masoe, Le Roux. Kick-off: Tomorow, 3.15pm, City Ground, Nottingham. TV : LIVE BT Sport Europe from 2.30pm. Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales).