Saracens’ knockout experience should steer them to a win when they take on Munster in the first Champions Cup semi-final at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday the 20th of April.
Saracens v Munster
20 April 16h00
Ricoh Arena
To Win
Saracens 1/3
Draw 25/1
Munster 24/10
Both sides have been in impressive form once again this season, domestically and in Europe, and this weekend’s contest is sure to be decided by the slightest of margins. That said, it is Saracens’ familiarity with such high-pressure situations that should guide them home.
The English club has been a perennial European contender for the past several seasons now, claiming titles in 2016 and 2017 while finishing as runner-up to Toulon in 2014. With experienced campaigners like Brad Barritt, the Vunipola brothers and Owen Farrell in their ranks, the London-based side has seen and done it all before. Flyhalf Farrell in particular will be pivotal, with his accuracy off the tee set to play a big role.
Contrarily, Munster are expected to be without their star playmaker, Joey Carbery, after the 23-year-old picked up a knock in his team’s 17-13 quarter-final win in Edinburgh three weeks ago. This comes as a big blow to director of rugby Johann van Graan, who is likely to start the dependable albeit less dynamic JJ Hanrahan at 10.
Munster have not bagged a title since 2008, with this factor likely to play on the minds of their players.
Much of each side’s success this term has come off the back of their respective forward packs and this weekend will be no different. The set-piece battle will be monstrous and the collisions gigantic, with everything from Vunipola’s to O’Mahony’s, Stander’s to Itoje’s and even Koch’s to Scannell’s set to go full throttle.
The game will be closely contested, with discipline sure to be the order of the day. As always in finals footy, the side that makes the least amount of unforced errors will assume the driver’s seat. The respective boots of the flyhalves may make all the difference come kick-off.
Verdict: Saracens by six-points or more.
