After four successive defeats in European Cup semi-finals, and a Challenge Cup semi-final reversal at Thomond Park, the time feels right for Munster to return to the final stage after a gap of nine years. Reigning champions Saracens can expect a red-hot welcome at a packed out Aviva Stadium.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP SEMI-FINAL: Saturday, April 22
MUNSTER v SARACENS, Aviva Stadium, 3.15pm (live BT Sport 3/beIN Sports/Sky Italia/RTÉ Radio 1/highlights TG4)
Team News: Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has named his team for Saturday afternoon’s Champions Cup semi-final showdown with English giants Saracens at the Aviva Stadium.
CJ Stander has overcome the ankle injury he sustained during the recent quarter-final win over Toulouse to be named in the province’s starting XV.
Stander is one of five changes to the side that defeated Ulster at Thomond Park in the GUINNESS PRO12 last weekend. The Ireland international and 2017 British & Irish Lion is the only change to the pack as he joins fellow Lions squad member Peter O’Mahony and Tommy O’Donnell in the back row.
An unchanged front five sees Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and John Ryan scrum down in the front row, while the squad’s most capped duo of Donnacha Ryan and Billy Holland continue their second row partnership.
With late changes to the starting line-up last weekend, the half-back pairing of Duncan Williams and Tyler Bleyendaal return to the starting berths. Conor Murray, the third of Munster’s 2017 Lions, remains sidelined with a shoulder/neck injury.
Centre Jaco Taute also makes a return as he resumes his European midfield partnership with Rory Scannell who has been deemed fit to play after a knock to his ankle during last Saturday’s interprovincial clash.
The final change comes on the right wing where recent Ireland debutant Andrew Conway joins Keith Earls and Simon Zebo in the back-three. South African powerhouse Jean Deysel will make his Champions Cup debut if he is sprung from the bench.
Meanwhile, in the week that the Lions squad was announced, all six of Saracens’ 2017 Lions are named in the European title holders’ team to face the Munstermen.
Loosehead prop Mako Vunipola is joined by fellow Lions pick Jamie George and Springbok tighthead Vincent Koch in the front row, while New Zealand-bound duo Maro Itoje and George Kruis are paired together in the second row. Billy Vunipola starts at number 8 alongside in-form flankers Michael Rhodes and Jackson Wray.
Richard Wigglesworth partners Owen Farrell at half-back, and Brad Barritt captains the side ffrom midfield where Argentinian international Marcelo Bosch will make his 50th Champions Cup appearance. Sean Maitland, Chris Ashton and Alex Goode combine again in the back-three.
Experienced front rowers Schalk Brits and Petrus du Plessis are joined on the bench by USA international Titi Lamositele, while Scotland lock Jim Hamilton takes his place among the replacements after recovering from a back injury.
Following his comeback game on Easter Sunday, Schalk Burger is the other forward option, while the reserve backs are scrum half Ben Spencer, Alex Lozowski, who is part of the England squad to tour Argentina this summer, and the returning Chris Wyles, another player who is set for his 50th European cap.
MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Jaco Taute, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Tyler Bleyendaal, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Rhys Marshall, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Dave O’Callaghan, Jean Deysel, Ian Keatley, Francis Saili, Darren Sweetnam.
SARACENS: Alex Goode; Chris Ashton, Marcelo Bosch, Brad Barritt (capt), Sean Maitland; Owen Farrell, Richard Wigglesworth; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Vincent Koch, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Michael Rhodes, Jackson Wray, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Schalk Brits, Titi Lamositele, Petrus du Plessis, Jim Hamilton, Schalk Burger, Ben Spencer, Alex Lozowski, Chris Wyles.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant Referees: Pascal Gauzere, Alexandre Ruiz (both France)
Television Match Official: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 6/4; Draw: 17/1; Saracens to win: 4/7
Pre-Match Quotes: Rassie Erasmus (Munster) – “I guess that’s the challenge, to stay on task and things that worked for us, keep on doing them. We have to focus on them, if we don’t stop the things they are doing well, we’ll lose the game.
“One of the things they do well is the intensity they put on to whatever you’re trying to do. I must say, when I look at Saracens, apart from their tactical and individual brilliance, every game they’ve got higher intensity than the opposition.
“I guess that’s because they’ve got a squad that’s been building over years and the can rotate and lose players and the next guy will step in. That will probably be the biggest thing. I wouldn’t worry about our guys being overly motivated because you’re going to need that to match Saracens.
“There was no setback (with Conor Murray), the setback is that it is taking so long. That is a setback, no specific incident happened. The setback is the time it is taking to heal. For me it’s impossible to say when he will be back. Until he has all his strength and power back, with no pain any more, then he will be able to play.
“Hopefully he can get a few games in before the Lions series, we would have hoped he would have got a lot of games in before now. But unfortunately not.
“We have a few plans to cover, we will have to make-shift some guys around in terms of that. In defence and attack, we will have different options to try to work out there. Obviously we are taking a bit of a risk with Ian Keatley (covering) on the bench.”
Mark McCall (Saracens) – “I think the players do know what’s coming and what they are walking into and I think they are looking forward to it to be honest. It is going to be difficult at times and we know there will be times in the match when we are under pressure and they’ve got all the momentum and we have got to show our experience in those moments, we’ve got to be resilient.
“We have got to understand we are not playing against super humans just because the crowd are noisy. We are just playing against a team and we’ve got to wrestle the initiative back.
“Munster’s lineout is exceptional, their lineout maul is a big strength, their kicking game’s good, their kick chase is good, their defence. I think the exceptional thing is how hard they work.
“Of all the teams we’ve analysed this year, I don’t think there’s a team who work as hard and fight for each other the way they do, which is why they come out the right end of a lot of results this year.”
Current Form – Munster – (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 23-13 v Scarlets (away), Lost 24-23 v Cardiff Blues (home), Won 20-16 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away), Won 28-14 v Edinburgh (home), Won 49-5 v Zebre (home), Lost 35-14 v Leinster (away); (Champions Cup): Won 38-17 v Glasgow Warriors (home); (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 15-14 v Ulster (away), Won 33-0 v Ospreys (home), Won 46-3 v Benetton Treviso (home), Won 16-15 v Glasgow Warriors (away); (Champions Cup): Won 38-0 v Leicester Tigers (home), Lost 18-16 v Leicester Tigers (away); (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 29-17 v Leinster (home), Won 16-9 v Connacht (away); (Champions Cup): Won 32-7 v Racing 92 (away), Won 14-12 v Glasgow Warriors (away), Won 22-10 v Racing 92 (home); (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 10-9 v Edinburgh (away), Won 45-17 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), Won 25-23 v Ospreys (away), Lost 30-21 v Scarlets (home), Won 23-13 v Cardiff Blues (away), Won 50-14 v Zebre (away); (Champions Cup): Won 41-16 v Toulouse (home); (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 10-7 v Glasgow Warriors (home), Won 22-20 v Ulster (home)
Saracens – (Aviva Premiership): Won 35-3 v Worcester Warriors (home), Won 34-13 v Exeter Chiefs (away), Won 27-12 v Northampton Saints (home), Lost 17-10 v Harlequins (away), Won 39-0 v Bristol (away), Won 30-14 v Wasps (home); (Champions Cup): Won 31-23 v Toulon (away), Won 44-26 v Scarlets (home); (Aviva Premiership): Won 24-10 v Leicester Tigers (home); (Anglo-Welsh Cup): Lost 36-32 v Gloucester (away), Won 29-18 v Newcastle Falcons (home); (Aviva Premiership): Won 28-13 v Sale Sharks (away), Won 24-20 v Gloucester (home), Lost 14-11 v Bath (away); (Champions Cup): Won 50-3 v Sale Sharks (home), Won 24-10 v Sale Sharks (away); (Aviva Premiership): Won 21-6 v Newcastle Falcons (home), Won 16-12 v Leicester Tigers (away), Drew 13-13 v Exeter Chiefs (home); (Champions Cup): Drew 22-22 v Scarlets (away), Won 10-3 v Toulon (home); (Anglo-Welsh Cup): Won 32-17 v Scarlets (away), Won 29-20 v Leicester Tigers (home); (Aviva Premiership): Lost 24-18 v Worcester Warriors (away), Lost 31-23 v Gloucester (away), Won 29-18 v Sale Sharks (home), Won 35-27 v Newcastle Falcons (away); (Anglo-Welsh Cup quarter-final): Lost 32-10 v Leicester Tigers (home); (Aviva Premiership): Won 53-10 v Bath (home); (Champions Cup quarter-final): Won 38- 13 v Glasgow Warriors (home); (Aviva Premiership): Won 40-19 v Harlequins (home), Won 27-25 v Northampton Saints (home)
Top Scorers – 2016/17 European Champions Cup: Munster – Points: Tyler Bleyendaal 94; Tries: Simon Zebo 4; Saracens – Points: Owen Farrell 97; Tries: Chris Ashton 5
Previous European Meetings: 7
Saturday, January 17, 2015 – Pool 1 – Saracens 33 Munster 10, Allianz Park
Friday, October 24, 2014 – Pool 1 – Munster 14 Saracens 3, Thomond Park
Sunday, December 16, 2012 – Pool 1 – Saracens 19 Munster 13, Vicarage Road
Saturday, December 8, 2012 – Pool 1 – Munster 15 Saracens 9, Thomond Park
Sunday, April 27, 2008 – Semi-final – Saracens 16 Munster 18, Ricoh Arena
Saturday, January 8, 2000 – Pool 4 – Munster 31 Saracens 30, Thomond Park
Sunday, November 28, 1999 – Pool 4 – Saracens 34 Munster 35, Vicarage Road
Match Facts –
– This will be Munster’s 12th European Cup semi-final – a record for the competition – while Saracens have reached the semi-finals for a sixth time and for the fifth season in a row
– Munster will be playing their 158th tournament game – the most of any team. The two-time champions are currently level with Toulouse, whom they beat in the quarter-finals, on 157 matches
– This will be the eightth meeting between the sides, Munster have won five of the previous seven clashes (L2), although those two defeats against Saracens have come in their last three meetings
– These sides have met once before at the semi-final sage with Munster progressing to the final in 2008 after an 18-16 victory at the Ricoh Arena before going on to lift trophy in Cardiff
– Saracens are unbeaten in their last 16 Champions Cup matches (W15, D1), and only Leinster have gone on a longer unbeaten streak in the competition (W16, D1, 2010-2012)
– Munster have won their last four Champions Cup games and have not gone on a longer run since winning six in-a-row in 2013/14 when they last reached the semi-final
– Chris Ashton needs just one try to become the outright top try scorer in European Cup history. He is currently level with Vincent Clerc on 36 tries
– Munster (5) and Saracens (8) have conceded fewer tries than any other side this season, with both teams yet to concede a first half try
– CJ Stander has made 114 carries this season, and no other player has made 100+ carries so far in the competition
– Owen Farrell (97) and Tyler Bleyendaal (94) are the top point scorers in the Champions Cup this season, and no other player has scored more than 80 points to date. Farrell was last season’s top scorer with 127 points.
European Cup Records:
Munster –
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2013/14: Reached the semi-finals
2012/13: Reached the semi-finals
2011/12: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Reached the semi-finals
2007/08: Champions
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Champions
2004/05: Reached the quarter-finals
2003/04: Reached the semi-finals
2002/03: Reached the semi-finals
2001/02: Runners-up
2000/01: Reached the semi-finals
1999/00: Runners-up
1998/99: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool D
Saracens –
2015/16: Champions
2014/15: Reached the semi-finals
2013/14: Runners-up
2012/13: Reached the semi-finals
2011/12: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2007/08: Reached the semi-finals
2005/06: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
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