Champions Cup final team news: Brad Barritt and Mako Vunipola fit to start for Saracens against Leinster
Saracens pair have recovered from ankle injuries to start Saturday’s European final while Leinster name the same starting XV that defeated Toulouse in the semi-finals
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Your support makes all the difference.Mark McCall has named 13 of the Saracens side that defeated Munster last month for Saturday’s European Champions Cup final against Leinster, with Brad Barritt fit to captain the Premiership club as they look to regain the title against the reigning champions.
In what is being billed as the greatest final in European rugby history, the winners of the last three European seasons will go head-to-head in Newcastle at a sold-out St James’ Park.
With Barritt fit to return from a recurrence of an ankle knock suffered in the 32-16 semi-final win over Munster, the former England centre will be joined in the starting XV by current international Mako Vunipola, who has shaken off a similar injury to start at loosehead prop.
The side is almost identical to the one that dispatched the Irish province at the Ricoh Arena on 20 April, with the only changes coming in Scotland wing Sean Maitland returning for David Strettle, and Will Skelton starting in the second row as Maro Itoje is needed at blindside flanker to cover the injured Michael Rhodes, who misses out with a stiff back.
Such are Saracens’ reserves this season, the starting line-up shows 14 changes from the side that thrashed Premiership leaders Exeter Chiefs 38-7 last weekend, with McCall able to rest his big guns for Saturday evening’s showcase match.
Leinster coaches Leo Cullen and former England boss Stuart Lancaster are also able to go for familiarity as they name the exact same starting line-up that defeated Toulouse 30-12 in the semi-finals, with Sean Cronin proving his fitness after overcoming a calf niggle to start at hooker.
However, scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park misses out due to a hamstring strain with both Josh van der Flier and Andrew Porter unavailable despite returning from groin and pectoral injuries respectively. Forward Rhys Ruddock has recovered from a concussion to feature on the bench after completing the return-to-play protocols, with the side captained by Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton.
The match will feature all five of the European Professional Club Rugby Player of the Year nominees in Saracens pair Alex Goode and Mako Vunipola and Leinster trio Cronin, Tadhg Furlong and Garry Ringrose all selected. The winner, which will be decided by a combination of a public vote and a selection panel comprised of names including past players Bryan Habana, Brian O’Driscoll and Dimitri Yachvili, will be announced after the match and presented with the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy.
Teams
Saracens: Goode; Maitland, Lozowski, Barritt, Williams; Farrell, Spencer; Mako Vunipola, George, Lamositele; Skelton, Kruis; Itoje, Wray, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Gray, Barrington, Koch, Isiekwe, Burger, Wigglesworth, Tompkins, Strettle.
Leinster: Kearney; Larmour, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Sexton, Luk eMcGrath; Healy, Cronin, Furlong; Toner, Ryan; Fardy, O’Brien, Conan.
Replacements: Tracy, Jack McGrath, Bent, Ruddock, Deegan, O’Sullivan, Byrne, O’Loughlin.
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