Champions Cup
Saracens Comeback Stuns Leinster
Saracens claimed their third European crown with a stunning win over Leinster
Saracens won their third Champions Cup in four seasons with an incredible 20-10 comeback victory over reigning champions Leinster on Saturday evening.
The win was Leinster’s first ever defeat in a European final and ruined their chance to become the first team to claim five Champions Cup titles.
The game was a back and forth affair for the opening quarter with both teams looking to get off to the perfect start.
It was Leinster who broke the deadlock with only four minutes gone as captain Johnny Sexton knocked over a penalty.
However, it was not until just after the half-hour mark until there was another score. Following some serious pressure from the boys in blue Maro Itoje was shown a yellow card.
Within two minutes Leinster’s Tadhg Furlong, making his 100th appearance for the club, barged over to score the opening try of the match.
Sexton made no mistake with the conversion and it was 10-0 with 34 minutes on the clock.
Sarries, with only 14 men on the pitch took the game to Leinster and were rewarded on 39 minutes when Owen Farrell slotted over a penalty to make it 10-3.
As Itoje took his place back on the pitch the clock struck 40 minutes, and with Leinster in possession it looked as though they would lead going in at half-time.
That was until Luke McGrath decided to kick forward rather than put the ball into the stands and Saracens took full advantage.
They kept possession of the ball for a further three minutes, with the clock in red before some swift hands from the back-line allowed Sean Maitland to stroll over for a try in the left corner.
Farrell was perfect from the tee and suddenly it was 10-10 at the whistle.
The second-half started well for Leinster as they tried to retake the lead. A poor decision by Garry Ringrose, who chose to keep the ball instead of passing with an overlap, proved costly as they failed to take their chances.
Saracens were more clinical in attack and when Scott Fardy was sin-binned for Leinster after a number of penalty concessions near the line, the team in red struck.
Farrell landed the penalty from Fardy’s sin-binning and with only a couple of minutes left before the Australians return Saracens dealt the killer blow.
As Leinster failed to clear their lines a scrum were Saracens had a full eight man pack, to Leinster’s seven was crucial as they won their own ball and Billy Vunipola crashed over between the posts. Farrell added the extras and with only 10 minutes left it was 20-10.
Even when Fardy returned Leinster could not get near the Saracens line as the game finished 20-10 in the English champions favour.
The result means that Saracens have now become the most successful English team in the competitions history while Leinster remain with four titles of their own.
Both must now dust themselves down and prepare for the final stages of their respective domestic competitions as they fight to defend their Pro 14 and Premiership crowns.
Player Ratings:
Leinster: Rob Kearney (5), Jordan Larmour (6), Garry Ringrose (5), Robbie Henshaw (7), James Lowe (5), Johnny Sexton (7), Luke McGrath (8); Cian Healy (7), Sean Cronin (6), Tadhg Furlong (8), Devin Toner (6), James Ryan (6), Scott Fardy (6), Sean O’Brien (5), Jack Conan (7)
Replacements (5)
Saracens: Alex Goode (7), Liam Williams (7), Alex Lozowski (8), Brad Barritt (7), Sean Maitland (8), Owen Farrell (8), Ben Spencer (7); Mako Vunipola (6), Jamie George (7), Titi Lamositele (6), Will Skelton (7), George Kruis (9), Maro Itoje (7), Jackson Wray (7), Billy Vunipola (9)
Replacements (9)
The Munster squad have started preparations at the HPC ahead of Saturday’s sold-out clash against the All Blacks XV at Thomond Park (5.30pm).
The game will be exclusively live-streamed on Access Munster, sign up here.
Pinergy, Munster Rugby’s official energy partner, are the presenting partners for the clash.
On the injury front, there were no fresh concerns following Saturday’s clash against the Sharks in Durban.
Peter O’Mahony (hamstring), who has been included in Ireland’s Autumn Nations Series squad but is continuing his rehabilitation at the HPC, will increase his training load this week. His availability for this weekend’s clash against the All Blacks XV will be determined later in the week.
Brian Gleeson (shoulder) and Diarmuid Kilgallen (leg) came through the weekend with no issues after returning to action with Garryowen in the AIL.
On the international front, Tadhg Beirne, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash and Alex Kendellen have travelled to Portugal with the Ireland squad ahead of the Autumn Nations Series.
Continuing to rehab: Shane Daly (leg), Jeremy Loughman (knee), Alex Nankivell (hip), Josh Wycherley (neck), Mark Donnelly (ankle), Dave Kilcoyne (ankle), Oli Jager (neck), Liam Coombes (leg), Thaakir Abrahams (thigh), Patrick Campbell (shoulder), Cian Hurley (knee), Edwin Edogbo (Achilles), Roman Salanoa (knee).
Tickets
Saturday, November 2
Munster v All Blacks XV, Thomond Park, 5.30pm; SOLD OUT – Watch live on Access Munster here
URC Round 7: Saturday, November 30
Munster v Emirates Lions, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
Champions Cup Round 1: Saturday, December 7
Munster v Stade Francais, Thomond Park, 5:30pm; Buy tickets here
Champions Cup Round 3: Saturday, January 11
Munster v Saracens, Thomond Park, 5.30pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 9: Friday, December 27
Munster v Leinster, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 11: Saturday, February 15
Munster v Scarlets, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 12: Friday, February 28
Munster v Edinburgh, Virgin Media Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 15: Saturday, April 19
Munster v Bulls, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 17: Friday, May 9
Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 18: Friday, May 16
Munster v Benetton, Virgin Media Park, 8pm; Buy tickets here
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to announce that Academy trio Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan and Mark Donnelly will be promoted to the senior squad in the summer.
We can also confirm that hooker Scott Buckley, who graduated from the Academy to the senior squad in 2022, has signed a contract extension.
Out-half Butler, scrum-half Coughlan (both 21) and 22-year-old prop Donnelly have all signed on for the next two seasons after impressing over their three years in the Academy.
Butler and Coughlan become the first Ennis RFC players to earn senior Munster contracts.
As previously confirmed, Academy lock Edwin Edogbo (21), who also came up through the Munster Youths system with Cobh Pirates, will graduate from the Academy to the senior squad on a two-year deal next season.
Buckley, Butler, Coughlan and Donnelly all made their Munster debuts in the famous Champions Cup win over Wasps in December 2021.
Tony Butler in action against Dragons.
Ennis out-half Tony Butler has earned his first senior contract after a very productive three years in the Academy.
He has made six senior appearances to date, including two starts so far this season against Dragons and Connacht.
A Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s in 2022, Butler now plays his AIL rugby with Young Munster having previously lined out for Garryowen.
He captained Ennis at underage level, teaming up with Coughlan in the half-backs as they enjoyed success in the Munster U16 and U18 Clubs competitions.
Scrum-half Ethan Coughlan is enjoying an excellent campaign with three starts so far this year and eight senior appearances in total since joining the Academy.
He enjoyed great success alongside Butler with Ennis RFC at underage level before captaining the Ireland U18 Clubs team.
He also won a Grand Slam with the Ireland U20s in 2022 and plays his AIL rugby with Shannon.
Prop Mark Donnelly has already made nine senior appearances for Munster after coming up through the ranks at Midleton RFC, Midleton College and CBC.
He was a Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup winner with CBC in 2019 and featured for the Ireland U20s in the 2021 Six Nations.
He joined the Academy that summer before making his Munster debut along with Buckley, Butler and Coughlan against Wasps in December 2021
Along with his nine senior Munster appearances, Donnelly has also played regularly for Garryowen in the AIL over the past three years.
Mark Donnelly at Munster training.
Hooker Scott Buckley (23) has signed a one-year contract having made 25 appearances for Munster to date.
A product of the Munster Rugby Academy, Buckley started out with Kinsale RFC before captaining CBC to the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup in 2019.
He was Player of the Match against Wasps on his Munster debut and made nine appearances last season as Munster won the URC title.
A UCC clubman, he scored the match-winning try against Crusaders at Páirc Ui Chaoimh earlier this month.
Scott Buckley scores a try against Leinster in pre-season.
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby are pleased to confirm the signing of 23-year-old winger Diarmuid Kilgallen on a two-year deal ahead of the 2024/25 season.
In further contract news, hooker Eoghan Clarke has signed a one-year deal for next season after rejoining Munster in November.
Prop Keynan Knox has completed his time at the province after scoring three tries in 33 appearances and we wish him all the best for the future.
Diarmuid Kilgallen in action against Ulster in November.
Kilgallen hails from Eadestown in Kildare and has scored 12 tries in 22 appearances for Connacht to date.
He started out at Naas RFC before playing schools rugby for Cistercian College Roscrea on the Tipperary-Offaly border.
He joined the Connacht Academy in 2019 and made his debut against Munster in 2020.
A tall, athletic winger, he scored five tries in eight appearances last season and has five tries in six appearances so far this year.
Eoghan Clarke made his first start for Munster against Crusaders earlier this month.
25-year-old hooker Clarke has signed on for next year after impressing since returning to the province in November.
Clarke spent three years in the Munster Academy before departing for Jersey Reds in 2021. He won the English Championship with Jersey last season but the club went into liquidation in October.
He has made five appearances for Munster since returning, including a debut against Bayonne in December and a first start against Crusaders at Páirc Uí Chaoimh earlier this month.
24-year-old tighthead prop Knox departs after over seven years at Munster Rugby.
He joined the Academy midway through the 2017/18 season after completing his second level education with Michaelhouse in South Africa.
The Young Munster clubman made his senior debut against Dragons in September 2019 and moved up to the senior squad in 2020.
Knox featured in eight games last season as Munster clinched the URC title. In total, he scored three tries in 33 Munster appearances.
We wish Keynan all the best with his next move.
Keynan Knox at training last month.
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
Squad Update | Munster Prepare For All Blacks XV At Thomond
