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10 match facts to whet the appetite ahead of the juggernaut Leinster vs Saracens European clash

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

European rugby returns this weekend after a 35-week hibernation, with the juggernaut Champions Cup collision between Leinster and Saracens in Dublin on Saturday heading the quarter-final bill. Having finished off their pool matches last January, defending champions Saracens were originally due to come to Dublin at the start of April only for the outbreak of the pandemic to delay that fixture.

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With the action having restarted in the 2019/20 Premiership last month, Saracens will now head to Ireland with a squad short a chunk of the players that helped them reach the European knockout stages.

The departures of the likes of George Kruis, Ben Earl (loan) and Will Skelton are illustrative of the overhaul of their squad ahead of their upcoming season in the Championship following automatic relegation due to the salary cap scandal. 

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The Rugby Pod reacts to the red card tackle that has ruled Owen Farrell out of next Saturday’s European quarter-final in Dublin

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The Rugby Pod reacts to the red card tackle that has ruled Owen Farrell out of next Saturday’s European quarter-final in Dublin

That impending year in the second tier has only added to the intrigue of Saracens locking horns with Leinster, the team they defeated in the 2019 European final in Newcastle who just last weekend clinched their third successive Guinness PRO14 title.

French referee Pascal Gauzere will be in charge of this latest meeting between the sides, a last-eight encounter that has some eye-bulging statistics surrounding it. Here are ten match facts to whet the appetite:    

 

1. Leinster and Saracens have met on four previous occasions in Europe with the Irish province winning three times. This will be the third knockout stage game between the clubs, Leinster winning the quarter-final clash in 2018 while Saracens claimed victory in last season’s final.

2. Leinster have reached the knockout stage of the Heineken Champions Cup for the 16th time, and only Munster and Toulouse have achieved that feat more often (18 each).

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3. Leinster have won eight of their last nine quarter-final fixtures (L1), including their last four in a row. Five of Leinster’s eight victories in that run were against Gallagher Premiership opposition.

4. Saracens have won seven of their nine quarter-final fixtures in the Heineken Champions Cup, and their 78 per cent win rate is the joint best of any club to reach the last eight on at least three occasions (Munster are also 78 per cent).

5. Leinster have scored eight tries in the opening 20 minutes this season, more than any other side and five more than Saracens (three) who have scored the fewest of any quarter-finalist in that period.

6. Leinster have used just 31 players in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, fewer than any other side and nine fewer than Saracens (40) who have used the most of any of the quarter-finalists.

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7. Saracens allowed their opponents just 28 offloads during the pool stage, the fewest of any club.

8. Leinster’s Josh van der Flier has made 98 tackles this season, more than any other player, while he is one of six to have won a joint-high seven turnovers in the competition.

9. Of the hookers to attempt 25+ lineout throws so far this season, Leinster’s James Tracy boasts the best success rate with 28 out of 29 successful throws (97 per cent).

10. Jackson Wray, who will make his 250th appearance for the club on Saturday if selected, was the only player to feature in each of Saracens’ six pool matches this season. In contrast, Leinster had 15 players to feature in every game, more than any other club.

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Hellhound 1 hour ago
South Africa player ratings | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

There is this thing going around against Siya Kolisi where they don't want him to be known as the best national captain ever, so they strike him down in ratings permanently whenever they can. They want McCaw and reckons he is the best captain ever. I disagree.


Just like they refuse to see SA as the best team and some have even said that should the Boks win a third WC in a row, they will still not be the best team ever. Even if they win every game between now and the WC. That is some serious hate coming SA's way.


Everyone forget how the McCaw AB's intimidated refs, was always on the wrong side, played on the ground etc. Things they would never have gotten away with today. They may have a better win ratio, but SA build depth, not caring about rank inbetween WC's until this year.


They weren't as bad inbetween as people claim, because non e of their losses was big ones and they almost never faced the strongest Bok team outside of the WC, allowing countries like France and Ireland to rise to the top unopposed.


Rassie is still at it, building more depth, getting more young stars into the fold. By the time he leaves (I hope never) he will leave a very strong Bok side for the next 15- 20 years. Not everyone will play for 20 years, but each year Rassie acknowledge the young stars and get them involved and ready for international rugby.


Not everyone will make it to the WC, but those 51/52 players will compete for those spots for the WC. They will deliver their best. The future of the Boks is in very safe hands. The only thing that bothers me is Rassie's health. If he can overcome it, rugby looks dark for the rest of the rugby world. He is already the greatest coach in WR history. By the time he retires, he will be the biggest legend any sport has ever seen

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