The underdogs tag suits Sarries

Apr 26 2008 Western Mail

GLEN JACKSON is happy for Saracens to be written off as Heineken Cup no-hopers when they tackle tournament heavyweights Munster on Sunday.

While the Irish province are one win away from reaching their fourth major European final in nine seasons, Saracens have entered uncharted territory.

But the semi-final debutants do not intend just making up the numbers in front of a probable 32,000 capacity crowd at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena.

Saracens fly-half Jackson said: “We definitely have the belief we can get to the final, but no-one outside of this club shares that belief. We believed we were good enough to get out of the pool stage, and we were in a tough group that included Biarritz – one of the competition’s favourites – but we still qualified.

“No-one gave us a hope against the Ospreys in the quarter-finals, but we proved ourselves again.

“So if no-one believes we can beat Munster, then fine.”

Saracens, coached by former Munster boss Alan Gaffney, field the same pack that accounted for the Ospreys, including England World Cup winner Richard Hill in what could be his final game before retirement.

Munster rugby director Declan Kidney, meanwhile, has chosen the side originally selected for the quarter-final success at Gloucester. On that occasion, prop Marcus Horan was forced out after suffering a back spasm just before kick-off, with Tony Buckley answering an SOS to replace him.

But Horan now starts, Tomas O’Leary continues at scrum-half ahead of Peter Stringer.