Billy Vunipola steers the champions home as Saracens survive a storm | Robert Kitson

Saracens triumph after a torrid first half as their England No8 has the final word against Leinster in NewcastleJust occasionally two teams can be so evenly matched it is almost impossible to separate them. This was one of them, a contest so tight it practically required a chisel to prise the prize-fighters apart. Until, that is, someone stands up and decides to take matters into his own, huge hands. Billy Vunipola is not everyone’s favourite athlete right now but no one can deny his relish for the big occasion.If the boos that greeted him at various points on a cool north-east afternoon were …