Munster v Saracens: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Saturday's protagonists at Thomond Park have won five Champions Cups between them, as two-time winners Munster host Saracens, who have been European supremos on three occasions.

Sarries sit second in Pool 3 with nine points, three points ahead of Munster, whose 16-14 defeat at Castres has left them with ground to make up.

They had previously outlasted Stade Francais 33-17, who Saracens beat 28-17 last time out after opening their campaign with a 27-5 success over Bulls.

Munster have been boosted by the returns of Jack Crowley, Jack O'Donoghue and Conor Murray but are still without 15 players through injury, including Craig Casey and Alex Nankivell.

Although 2019 European Player of the Year, Alex Goode, is among those missing for Saracens, their pack looks superior, while Liam Williams' return adds further class behind the scrum and the visitors can grab a third European win on the spin.

Munster v Saracens betting tips and predictions

Saracens to win - 11/10

Saracens waved goodbye to some of their all-time greats in the summer but those who have come in have excelled, while the remaining old guard have also contributed to Mark McCall's more expansive gameplan.

While Kiwi fly-half Fergus Burke has helped fill the playmaking void left by Owen Farrell, his grizzled pack have also given him a platform, and the forwards were again excellent in last Saturday's 35-26 win over Bristol.

Sarries' blended style of play has helped them up to third in the Premiership and, while they have won only twice on the road domestically, they beat Stade in Paris before Christmas and will relish facing a Munster team shorn of so many of their stars.

Munster's last home outing was a 28-7 defeat to Leinster. Injuries played their part, but so did selection, with number 10 Crowley missing out due to player management guidelines.

They have had over a fortnight to dwell on that defeat and will be determined to give the Thomond Park crowd enough encouragement to get behind them and provide the backing that has so often helped them edge big European nights under the lights.

However, it has been a tumultuous few months for the club and their lack of direction could be exposed by Saracens.

Tom Willis anytime try scorer - 12/5

Ben Earl has been England's first-choice number eight for the last 18 months but he wears seven for Sarries, with Tom Willis selected at the back of the scrum.

The pair's respective skillsets allow them to switch roles, with Earl often packing down as the eighthman, providing Willis with the freedom to roam and he has been sensational this season, making 40 tackles and beating 11 defenders in the opening two rounds of the Champions Cup.

He scored two tries against Bristol and also went over in the pre-Christmas victory over Bulls, displaying nous to touch down from close range.

While his elder brother Jack is ineligible for England, despite tearing it up for Toulouse, Tom is expected to be part of Steve Borthwick's Six Nations squad.

A big performance at Thomond Park will further burnish his credentials and another try will help him grab more headlines.

Jamie George anytime try scorer - 2/1

Willis might be on the fringes of the England squad but his colleague Jamie George is expected to feature heavily, most likely as captain.

After making his 300th appearance in the victory over Bristol, the 34-year-old will be aiming to show he's still got it, and his longevity is proved by having started the last six meetings between these two, a run which started in 2014.

Sarries have been more expansive this season but could keep things tight early on in Limerick, bringing a third try of the competition for George into play having gone over against Bulls and Stade.

McCall will want his forwards to take the game to Munster and with both his European tries coming as part of driving mauls, the hooker could bundle over again.

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Munster v Saracens odds

Munster - 4/5
Tie - 18/1
Saracens - 11/10

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.