We're not sure why we picked Sherlock Holmes, any fictional detective would do the trick. Morse maybe, he was always quite good, but we digress. Saracens have this week taken the unusual step of having to warn their fans to buy tickets to January's Champions Cup tie so as they are not all snapped up by Munster fans.
A statement on the club's official website warned that "Saracens supporters planning to attend the home match against Munster next month must buy their tickets before 17h00 on Tuesday 23 December".
Up until Tuesday, tickets are being sold to "Saracens season-ticket holders seeking extras or to anybody who has bought tickets to two or more matches at Allianz Park this season". After that date tickets go on general sale and the club is worried that Munster fans may start to eat away at Saracens' home advantage.
A Supporter Service spokesperson went on to outline the concerns that the club have if tickets are not sold before they go on general sale.
Munster are probably the best supported club in Europe. They have already been allocated their 1,000 tickets (10% of the total available) as required by the competition regulations, and any spare tickets will be quickly snapped up on general sale by members of the Munster Red Army.
They will all be made to feel most welcome at what we consider to be the most friendly sports stadium in Europe but, with respect to our Irish friends, we would rather see every available seat filled by Saracens supporters.
The statement on the website goes on to say that any 'bona fide Saracens supporters' who are not season ticket holders or who haven't bought tickets for two or matches this season can ring a number to also buy their tickets before the general sale. Obviously that causes the possibility that Munster fans may try and pass themselves off as Owen Farrell aficionados. However, Saracens have come up with a brilliant solution:
Callers with an Irish accent will be treated with suspicion.
You have been warned.
