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.
53 mins: Another penalty for Saracens after phase play takes them deep into the 22, and it's Mako Vunipola again whose run brought about the shot at three points. Farrell will go for his fifth penalty of the day, and it's a simple one in front of the posts.
56 mins: A big change for Munster as Johan van Graan decides to haul off his No 10 Tyler Bleyendaal and send on JJ Hanrahan in his place in an effort to try and fire the side into life.
58 mins: A few gruelling minutes pass as Munster finally get some decent possession, only for Saracens to try and batter them to death in defence. Big tackles from Rhodes, Lozowski and Billy Vunipola fly in, but the latter is judged to have been high and Munster have a penalty that Hanrahan kicks to touch about 15m out.
59 mins: Mark McCall starts to ring the changes as Vincent Koch and Will Skelton come on in place of Lamositele and Jackson Wray, meaning that Itoje will move to 6 and Rhodes across to 7.
60 mins: Another penalty for Munster and this time Hanrahan puts the ball on the 5m line. Th lineout maul is stopped short of the line, and when Chris Farrell goes into contact, Rhodes and Geore hold him up to force the maul and, eventually, the turnover.
61 mins: Spencer has the scrum put-in, but as the scrum moves off the mark the ball comes back out of the right side - the opposite to where we are sat. How the ball came out is uncertain, but what happened next certainly isn't! Murray collected the loose ball and spread right immediately, and as Williams slipped out on the wing it gave Darren Sweetnam all the space he needed to race in at the corner. Hanrahan adds the extras with a superb kick from the right touchline and the lead is cut to nine points. 25-16
66 mins: Munster believe they're turned the ball over through Beirne, but Garces punishes him for offside at the ruck and, again, that looked a tight call as the tackle had barely been completed. Farrell will go for his sixth penalty of the day from over 40m out.
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