Leinster & Saracens Name Teams For Champions Cup Quarter Final Clash At The Aviva
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Heavyweight clash.
Saracens head coach Mark McCall has named his team to take on Leinster in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup this weekend.
Jackson Wray will make his 250th appearance for the reigning European champions tomorrow. He is joined the back row by Mike Rhodes and England international Billy Vunipola – a try-scorer in last season’s final.
His brother Mako returns to the front row alongside England teammate Jamie George and South Africa international Vincent Koch, while Maro Itoje is partnered by Tim Swinson in the second row.
In the back division, Owen Farrell’s suspension sees Alex Goode switch to fly-half to play outside scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth.
Elliot Daly fills in at full-back with Sean Maitland and Alex Lewington taking spot on the wings. Captain Brad Barritt and Duncan Taylor make up the midfield.
Replacements Alec Clarey and Dom Morris will earn their Champions Cup stripes should they enter the fray.
Saracens
15 Elliot Daly (10)
14 Alex Lewington (51)
13 Duncan Taylor (130)
12 Brad Barritt (260)
11 Sean Maitland (77)
10 Alex Goode (300)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (247)
1 Mako Vunipola (169)
2 Jamie George (230)
3 Vincent Koch (85)
4 Maro Itoje (123)
5 Tim Swinson (3)
6 Mike Rhodes (97)
7 Jackson Wray (249)
8 Billy Vunipola (114)
Replacements:
16 Tom Woolstencroft (40)
17 Richard Barrington (192)
18 Alec Clarey (5)
19 Callum Hunter-Hill (21)
20 Calum Clark (54)
21 Aled Davies (4)
22 Manu Vunipola (26)
23 Dom Morris (24)
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has also named his team as his side look to exact revenge on Saracens following last year’s final defeat.
Johnny Sexton will captain the side with two players, Hugo Keenan and Will Connors, making European debuts from the start and a third, Ryan Baird, from the bench.
Jordan Larmour is selected at full-back and the former St. Andrew’s College man will win his 50th cap for Leinster in the number 15 jersey. Keenan will make his European debut on the right wing with James Lowe selected on the left.
In the centre once again Cullen has selected Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose as his partnership. In the half-backs, Luke McGrath starts at scrumhalf alongside captain Sexton.
Cian Healy will become the fourth most-capped Leinster player of all time when he pulls on the number one jersey tomorrow. The Clontarf native is closing in on Jamie Heaslip who is in third place on 229 caps.
Seán Cronin is selected alongside Healy in the front row as is Andrew Porter.
Devin Toner and James Ryan will again form the second-row partnership for Leinster Rugby this week.
Finally, in the back row, Caelan Doris will start at blindside flanker, with Will Connors selected at openside and Jack Conan at number eight.
On the bench, Ryan Baird is another player in line to make his European debut should he be introduced.
Leinster Rugby
15. Jordan Larmour (49)
14. Hugo Keenan (17)
13. Garry Ringrose (75)
12. Robbie Henshaw (47)
11. James Lowe (46)
10. Johnny Sexton (166) CAPTAIN
9. Luke McGrath (126)
1. Cian Healy (219)
2. Seán Cronin (184)
3. Andrew Porter (65)
4. Devin Toner (248)
5. James Ryan (38)
6. Caelan Doris (32)
7. Will Connors (19)
8. Jack Conan (92)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (14)
17. Ed Byrne (56)
18. Michael Bent (139)
19. Ryan Baird (9)
20. Josh van der Flier (83)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (92)
22. Ross Byrne (88)
23. Rory O’Loughlin (70)