Saracens vs Munster LIVE: Stream, score and latest updates from Champions Cup semi-final
Follow the latest from the Heineken Champions Cup semi-final at the Ricoh Arena
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow the latest updates live from the Heineken Champions Cup semi-final between Saracens and Munster, brought to you from the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.
Saracens are looking to make it a third final in four seasons as they attempt to reclaim the trophy that was once theirs, but the build-up to this afternoon’s match has been blighted by accusations of salary cap breaches, the social media controversy involving Billy Vunipola and an awful recent away record. And while they may be the home side, the semi-final has to take place at a neutral venue, meaning the reigning Premiership champions have left Allianz Park for the Ricoh.
Munster meanwhile are out for revenge following their 2017 semi-final defeat by Saracens, and the prospect of an all-Irish final remains a very real possibility with Leinster taking on Toulouse in Sunday’s semi-final. Follow the live updates below.
What time does it start?
Saracens vs Munster kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 20 April.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on BT Sport 2 from 2:15pm.
Teams
Saracens: Alex Goode; Sean Maitland, Alex Lozowski, Brad Barritt, Liam Williams; Owen Farrell, Ben Spencer; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Titi Lamositele; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Michael Rhodes, Jackson Wray, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Joe Gray, Richard Barrington, Vincent Koch, Will Skelton, Schalk Burger, Richard Wigglesworth, Nick Tompkins, David Strettle.
Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Darren Sweetnam; Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O'Mahony, Jack O'Donoghue, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Arno Botha, Alby Mathewson, JJ Hanrahan, Dan Goggin.
27 mins: Farrell sails the ball through the posts and that's three from three from the England captain. 9-3
28 mins: Both Haley and Williams go up for the umpteenth box-kick from Spencer, but this time it's the Munster full-back who comes off best as he takes the ball and wrestles back possession enough for Garces to give Munster the scrum put-in.
31 mins: Good pressure from Munster sees possession moved into the 22, and Itoje is guilty of playing the ball while off his feet to give Bleyendaal his second shot at goal.
31 mins: Bleyendaal's second effort of the day is sweet and he reduces the lead. 9-6
34 mins: Saracens attempt to go through the phases, with both Vunipola brothers carrying as well as Williams and Strettle, but they find progress hard to come by as the Munster defends stands firm and eventually Mako Vunipola coughs up possession with a knock-on.
36 mins: Munster fans boo (again) when they feel a late tackle is missed, but they get their rewards as Williams knocks the catch on and Itoje makes a covering tackle from an offside position. Interestingly, Bleyendaal tosses the ball to Conor Murray, and it'll be the scrum-half to go for goal from nearly 50m.
37 mins: Murray's long-range effort makes it! An inch-perfect nudge from the Ireland scrum-half and the scores are level! That was some kick... 9-9
39 mins: Munster cough up possession in attack and compound the error when they're offside from the next play. Farrell kicks to touch just outside the 22 on the right and Saracens get a late chance here.
40 mins: O'Mahony knocks the ball on in what looks like a tackle on Farrell, but Garces wants to take a second look at this and calls for a TMO review, and decides on second viewing it's a deliberate knock-on before the tackle. It gives Farrell the chance to go for goal and send Saracens in with the lead.
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