This match had the scent of redemption for Saracens severely punished at the start of the season for having circumvented the English regulation on the salary cap for several years and promised relegation at the end of the season.
"It's the only game that really matters," said Scottish winger Sean Maitland before the match.
While several important players have already left them, after the interruption linked to Covid-19, and the future looks uncertain, despite the loyalty of other executives, the English have honored their status with an intense performance and generous.
Leinster, who had not known the taste of defeat for 25 matches - the last was the final of the previous edition against the Saracens (20-10) - never really found the solution.
It must be said that in Pro14, which they won last week for the third time in a row with 17 victories in as many matches, they do not often encounter such fierce and ruthless defenses.
Decisive goode
Several times, the men of the province of Dublin were stopped a few meters from the line by the black dike.
As with 5 minutes of the break when, after having held firm on a tuck-penetrating, the Londoners put their opponents at fault on the following scrum.
A key moment because, two minutes later, Alex Goode, who had the heavy task of replacing Owen Farrell suspended for a dangerous gesture during the game against the Wasps, scored the break test.
Until then, Elliot Daly and Goode had punished each fault of the Irish to take away the Sarries (15-3).
Goode, voted best player of the competition in 2019, found the loophole by serving Duncan Talyor at a height of 40 meters from the opposing line, who found him immediately inside.
The opener then made his speed speak (22-3, 38th).
The second act was summed up in a long defense of the title holders, who gave in on a test in strength from Andrew Porter (22-10, 49th) and a very beautiful combination performed to perfection to create a gap exploited by Jordan Larmour (22-17, 62nd).
But the deliverance came on a penalty from Alex Goode, again him, 10 seconds from the end, to offer much more than a prestigious victory to the Saracens, still alive.
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