European Rugby Champions Cup
Saracens want revenge over Wasps in European semifinal cracker
Rob Bartlett
April 22, 2016

Saracens vs. Wasps

Madejski Stadium, Reading

Sunday, 15.15 BST

Saturday's all-English European Champions Cup semifinal will be the third time that Saracens and Wasps have faced each other this season -- and it's tightly poised. Reading will play host to top against second in the Aviva Premiership as both sides aim for that coveted European final spot. Sarries beat Wasps in Coventry just after Christmas but Dai Young's side gained domestic revenge with a huge victory at the Allianz in February. Now, they clash for the first time in European competition.

Team news

Saracens have their England contingent all starting with Owen Farrell at fly-half, Mako Vunipola at loose-head, Billy Vunipola at No.8, Alex Goode at fullback, Chris Ashton on the wing and George Kruis and Maro Itoje packing down in the second-row. Michael Rhodes gets the nod at blindside with Brad Barritt captaining the side at inside centre. For Wasps, James Haskell captains the team while Lorenzo Cittadini is at tighthead, Bradley Davies packs down alongside Joe Launchbury and Jake Cooper-Woolley and Kearnan Myall miss out.

Key head-to-head

Nathan Hughes' battle against Billy Vunipola at No.8 should be mouthwatering. Vunipola is the man in charge of the England No.8 shirt at present but Hughes is seen as the man who may dethrone the Saracens back-rower when he qualifies for England. The gainline battle will go a long way to deciding this match and that head-to-head should be fascinating. 

Key stats

*Saracens have won just one of four previous Champions Cup semifinals, beating Clermont 46-6 in 2014 -- the biggest margin of victory in a tournament semifinal.

*This will be Wasps' third Champions Cup semifinal appearance; they won both previous matches at this stage and went on to lift the trophy on both occasions in 2004 and 2007.

*Saracens remain undefeated in the Champions Cup this season; no side has ever won the competition after winning all of their pool games.

Form guide

Saracens - LWWWW

Wasps - WWWWW

Odds

Despite Wasps heading into the clash in slightly better form, it is Saracens who favourites with bet365 pricing them at 4/9 to win the match -- and 2/5 to qualify for the final. Young's men are currently 7/4 to win the match in 80 minutes.

Prediction

Wasps simply do not know when to give in; Jimmy Gopperth's last-gasp conversion saw them clinch victory over Exeter in one of the most memorable European Cup quarterfinals in history earlier in April. However, Saracens may just have too much clash for them on this occasion. Mark McCall's side to win by four.

© Rob Bartlett

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