Leinster vs Saracens: European Champions Cup final preview
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By Sky Sports Rugby Union
Last Updated: 11/05/19 3:52pm
Europe's two most consistent teams do battle in this year's Champions Cup final as Saracens take on Leinster.
The match pits holders and 2018 Pro14 champions Leinster against last season's Gallagher Premiership champions Saracens, with both club aiming to add to their haul of continental honours.
Sky Sports provides you with the ultimate guide to the showdown, which takes place at Newcastle's St James' Park on Saturday, with kick-off at 5pm.
Which club has final pedigree?
Both clubs have enjoyed plenty of success in domestic and European competitions in recent years, with Saracens emerging as a force in the English game during the past decade.
Their first major domestic honour was the old Tetley's Bitter Cup in 1998, but since 2011 they have won the Premiership four times and added the European Champions Cup to their honours list with back-to-back wins in 2016 and 2017.
Those victories followed a 23-6 defeat to Toulon on their first final appearance in 2014.
During the same period, Leinster have also dominated on the European scene, winning the top European prize four times since 2009 - not to mention having an unbeaten record in those games.
That sits alongside their record-five Pro14 triumphs as well.
Sky Bet odds
The holders are slight outsiders for this one, with two-time winners Sarries having a slight edge, according to the bookies.
Road to the final
Saracens enjoyed a relatively untroubled passage through the group stages, winning all six games and qualifying for the knock-out rounds as number one seeds.
They then stormed to a 56-27 win over fellow Pool Three qualifiers Glasgow Warriors in the quarter-finals, followed by seeing off former champions Munster 32-16 at Coventry's Ricoh Arena to book their place in the final.
Leinster finished top of Pool One, making a statement in the first game when they beat Wasps 52-3, and their only defeat came when they were edged out by a single point away to Toulouse.
Irish rivals Ulster were beaten 21-18 in the quarter-finals and the rematch with French outfit Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium saw Leinster emerge triumphant with a 30-12 victory.
Memories spur on Wigglesworth
Richard Wigglesworth has featured in all three of Saracens' previous runs to the showpiece European final and knows their success has not come easily.
The memories of the defeat to Toulon in 2014 and other previous near-misses in the continental competition are spurring the scrum-half on as Sarries bid to overthrow reigning champions Leinster.
Wigglesworth believes those experiences will stand him and his team-mates in good stead.
"We suffered a lot of pain in Europe before winning in the Lyon rain (against Racing 92 in 2016)," Wigglesworth said. "The feeling that day was relief because we had put it to bed.
"The best thing now is that there is no sense of panic; that is not bought, but comes from experience. We can react to pressure and get the job done.
"When we lost before, it tended to be because we were unable to cope with it but, if Leinster win, it will be because they were the better team."
'Our biggest challenge' - Henshaw
Robbie Henshaw is braced for what he believes will be the toughest test Leinster have faced in Europe this season when they come up against Saracens in Saturday's final.
"They're one of the best teams in Europe from their record in the pool stages and in this competition," Henshaw said. "It's definitely going to be our biggest challenge this year."
Nevertheless, Champions Cup holders Leinster have produced some impressive performances of their own this season - not least in defeating Toulouse 30-12 in the semi-finals.
Centre Henshaw was full of praise for the Blues' display in that encounter, but is in no doubt there is more to come from the team as well.
"Toulouse was a good performance," Henshaw added. "We needed to have a good game plan going against them and I think, definitely, there is another gear in us.
"We just look to keep doing the best we can week in, week out and hopefully, come this week, we'll pull our best performance out of the bag."
Ton up for Tadhg
Saturday's Champions Cup will mark an extra special occasion for Tadhg Furlong, who will make his 100th appearance in a Leinster shirt.
Since making his debut off the replacements bench against the Dragons in 2013, the 26-year-old prop has gone on to become an established player for both club and country, and forms part of a formidable front row with Cian Healy and Sean Cronin, who has recovered from injury in time to play.
Back row Sean O'Brien will be aiming to make it a memorable occasion for a personal reason, too, as the final marks his last appearance for Leinster before joining London Irish ahead of their Premiership return next season.
The 32-year-old will be making his 126th appearance for the team in what is an unchanged side from the one which beat Toulouse in the semi-finals.
Goode and Vunipola are Euro stars
Alex Goode and Mako Vunipola could both enjoy double delight if Saracens lift the Champions Cup with victory in Saturday's final.
Full-back Goode and prop Vunipola are among the five players who have been nominated for the European Player of the Year award following their stand-out displays for Saracens this season.
They both feature in a Saracens side which shows two changes from the win over Munster in the semi-finals, with Will Skelton and Sean Maitland both coming into the side.
Team news
Saracens: Alex Goode, Sean Maitland, Alex Lozowski, Brad Barritt, Liam Williams, Owen Farrell, Ben Spencer, Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Titi Lamositele, Will Skelton, George Kruis, Maro Itoje, Jackson Wray, Billy Vunipola
Replacements: Joe Gray, Richard Barrington, Vincent Koch, Nick Isiekwe, Schalk Burger, Richard Wigglesworth, Nick Tompkins, David Strettle
Leinster: Rob Kearney, Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Johnny Sexton, Luke McGrath, Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner, James Ryan, Scott Fardy, Sean O'Brien, Jack Conan
Replacements: James Tracy, Jack McGrath, Michael Bent, Rhys Ruddock, Max Deegan, Hugh O'Sullivan, Ross Byrne, Rory O'Loughlin
Match stats
Leinster are aiming to become the first club to win European club rugby's top prize five times. They are currently equal with Toulouse on four wins.
Saracens have the chance to win by going unbeaten through the tournament for the third time. They won every game en route to lifting the title in 2016 and their only dropped pool-stage points the following season came in a 22-22 draw away to the Scarlets.
- Both teams have proven to be prolific try-scorers during this season's competition and lead the way among all sides, crossing the whitewash 32 times each.
- Saracens have racked up more points than any other side in the competition this season with 273, thanks in no small part to 79 from Owen Farrell.
- Leinster players have made more carries than any other side this season, taking the ball up 1,258 times. They like to keep play alive too, making a competition-high 1,374 passes.
How can I follow the Champions Cup final?
You can follow all of the action from St James' Park on the Sky Sports app and skysports.com with our dedicated European Champions Cup final live blog, which will feature the best build-up, commentary and reaction from Newcastle.