Munster v Saracens - Champions Cup

Munster v Saracens

Munster head coach Rassie Erasmus has named his matchday 23 for the Champion's Cup semi-final with Saracens at the Aviva Stadium.

Conor Murray will miss the fixture due to an ongoing injury complaint following the 'stinger' he received while playing for Ireland in Cardiff.

Cork native Duncan Williams starts the game at scrum-half, joining Tyler Bleyendaal in a half-back partnership, in one of 5 changes from last weekend's Pro12 victory over Ulster at Thomond Park.

CJ Stander has recovered from an ankle injury suffered in the QF win over Toulouse to be named in the starting XV. Stander joins fellow Lions' colleague Peter O' Mahony & Tommy O' Donnell in the back row.

The tight-five remains unchanged as the squad's most capped duo Donnacha Ryan and Billy Holland resume their second row partnership.

Jaco Taute makes a returns to the fold as he resumes a Champions Cup partnership with Rory Scannell.

The final change to last weekend's team gives Andrew Conway another opportunity to further his growing reputation, alongside Keith Earls & Simon Zebo in the back three.

Jean Deysel has been named among the substitutes ahead of Jack O' Donoghue and will make his Champions Cup debut should he come off the bench.

Saracens head coach Mark McCall has named all his 6 Lions' in his starting XV to take on Munster on Saturday.

Loosehead prop Mako Vunipola joins Jamie George and Springbok international Vincent Kock in the front row, while Maro Itoje and George Kruis are named in the second row.

The back row sees Billy V start at No. 8 alongside the in-form back-row duo of Michael Rhodes and Jackson Wray.

At half-back, Richard Wigglesworth partners Owen Farrell. At centre, Saracens captain Brad Barritt is set to partner Marcelo Bosch. The back three comprises of Sean Maitland, Chris Ashton and Alex Goode.

Game Notes 

• This will be Munster's 12th European Cup semi-final – a record for the competition - while Saracens have reached the semi-finals for a sixth time and for the fifth season in a row. 
• Saracens are unbeaten in their last 16 Champions Cup games (W15, D1), and only Leinster have gone on a longer unbeaten streak in the competition (W16, D1, 2010-2012). 
• Munster have won their last four Champions Cup games and have not gone on a longer run since winning six-in-a-row in 2013/14 when they last reached the semi-final. 
• Munster (5) and Saracens (8) have conceded fewer tries than any other side this season, with both teams yet to concede a first-half try

Tournament Stats

Player Stats

• CJ Stander has made 114 carries this season, and no other player has made 100+ carries so far in the competition. 
• Owen Farrell (97) and Tyler Bleyendaal (94) are the top point scorers in the Champions Cup this season, and no other player has scored more than 80 points to date. Farrell was last season's top scorer with 127 points.
• Chris Ashton needs just one try to become the outright top try scorer in European Cup history. He is currently level with Vincent Clerc on 36 tries.