It fits well with the metropolitan origins of Saracens and London Irish that their performances in this season’s Heineken European Cup should have strong echoes of the old joke about the capital’s buses. After waiting four years for a new semi-finalist, the Heineken has had two turn up at once.

Their inexperience – this is the first time either has made the knockout stage, never mind the final four – is counterpointed by facing the tournament’s hardy perennials.