Alex Lozowski ready to step up as Saracens prepare to face Leinster without Billy Vunipola and Owen Farrell

Lozowski could be a pivotal play-maker at the Aviva Stadium in the season-defining clash with European Champions Cup favourites Leinster next Sunday

Sam Peters
Monday 26 March 2018 09:39 BST
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Alex Lozowski may be called upon
Alex Lozowski may be called upon

Owen Farrell faces a race against time to be fit for Saracens season-defining clash with European Champions Cup favourites Leinster next Sunday after Billy Vunipola appeared to lose his fight to play.

The England three-quarter, nursing a quad injury, watched from the side-lines at the London Stadium on Saturday as Mark McCall’s team secured a tortuous 24-11 win over Aviva Premiership rivals Harlequins in a desperately stop-start affair which saw Maro Itoje return to form after a difficult Six Nations campaign.

Farrell missed the match along with England lock George Kruis (back) and No8 Vunipola - who has been out of action since breaking his arm in January - and the Saracens fly half remains a doubt for Sunday’s hugely-anticipated encounter in Dublin.

With captain and inside centre Brad Barritt also struggling after appearing to leave the field with concussion late in the second half against Quins, 24-year-old Alex Lozowski could be a pivotal play-maker at the Aviva Stadium.

Lozowski, capped four times by England, produced an excellent all-round performance in a largely disjointed win over hapless Quins in front of more than 55,000 fans on Saturday and insists he is ready to run the quarter-final show if called upon.

“I will do whatever the team needs, whether that is starting or coming off the bench,” Losowski said. “I am looking forward to making a difference.

“Everyone wants to play in these big games. That’s why I signed for Saracens and why I play here because we hope to be competing at the top end of these competitions. Everyone is massively excited by next week. We will have a couple of days off to get energised and come in firing on Tuesday.”

Saracens scraped into the last eight with a bonus-point win over Northampton in January after recording back-to-back losses to Clermont and drawing away to Ospreys in their pool.

Billy Vunipola is running out of time

Leinster powered through their pool as first seeds and, with a host of Ireland internationals buoyed by their recent Grand Slam triumph, are many peoples pick to claim their fourth European Cup title in the last decade.

“I am not sure who is the underdog and who is not,” Lozowski added. “It is not something I take much notice of. It is going to be a belter, two teams desperate to win and desperate for success. It’s going to be class.”

With Vunipola apparently certain not to play, while Farrell, Kruis and Barritt are all doubts, Saracens will need their remaining fit internationals to stand up and be counted in Dublin.

Owen Farrell has been struggling with fitness 

McCall said: “Owen has got a quad injury. George Kruis has a back injury. Both are touch and go for next week. I don’t think Billy will make it.”

Itoje, stung by criticism of his performances for England during a hugely disappointing Six Nations campaign, was outstanding on Saturday as McCall’s men easily overcame a demoralised Harlequins outfit showing no sign of getting back to winning ways.

Itoje scored a superb individual try and made a telling all-round contribution in an infuriatingly stop-start game marred by continual stoppages in play and persistent back chat from players directed at referee Tom Foley.

The second row celebrated his first-half score by pretending to fall asleep, mocking his detractors to the amusement of his team-mates, but looked fit, fresh and energised in a display which made his laboured showings for England even more bemusing.

Maro Itoje had a superb game

“Maro has been full of energy,” Lozowski said. “He has always. He is a phenomenal player and also a big voice in the team. We rely on him a lot and he is happy to shoulder that responsibility. He speaks well in the group and leads by example in his actions. It is great to have him back.”

With several of Saracens leading figures struggling to be fit, Itoje will be a central figure as McCall’s men look to progress to the last four of a tournament they have won twice and been runners up in the last three years.

“I am just happy to be back at the club,” Itoje said. “I have had a tough couple of weeks and have come back into a loving environment. I am alright, I have got youth on my side, I am only 23 years old.”

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