Starting Lineup
15
Tom Collins
12
Fraser Strachan
11
Ryan Olowofela
10
James Grayson
9
James Mitchell
2
James Fish
4
Devante Onojaife
5
David Ribbans
6
Tom Wood
7
Ollie Newman
8
Mitch Eadie
Subs
16
Michael van Vuuren
17
Will Davis
18
Ben Franks
19
Karl Garside
20
Ehren Painter
21
Lewis Bean
23
Teimana Harrison
24
JJ Tonks
25
Tui Uru
26
Henry Taylor
27
Connor Tupai
28
Tommy Mathews
29
Reuben Bird-Tulloch
30
Josh Gillespie
30
Taqele Naiyaravoro
Opposition Lineup
15
Hugo Keenan
14
Fergus McFadden
13
Jimmy O'Brien
12
Joseph Tomane
11
Cian Kelleher
10
Ciaran Frawley
9
Hugh O'Sullivan
1
Peter Dooley
2
Ronan Kelleher
3
Michael Bent
4
Ross Molony
5
Ryan Baird
6
Max Deegan
7
Scott Penny
8
Caelan Doris
Subs
16
Bryan Byrne
17
James Tracy
18
Roman Salanoa
19
Scott Fardy
20
Josh Murphy
21
Will Connors
22
Jamison Gibson-Park
23
Ross Byrne
24
Dave Kearney
25
Conor O'Brien
26
Rory O'Loughlin
27
Adam Byrne
Full Time
Northampton Saints
26
Leinster
34
Cracker of a first fixture at Franklin's Gardens this season but Saints just come short of an opening win.
Scrum Leinster as Saints knock on and as they run the clock down, Leinster send the ball into the stands to end the game.
One last change for Saints; Taylor is replaced by Tupai is he returns to the field.
Byrne...
... adds the conversion too.
Try Leinster.
The away side push forwards and eventually its O'Brien that makes it over the whitewash.
76
The ball comes forwards off Saints this time and Leinster play on.
75
Forward pass from Leinster but Saints collect it and they're pushing around halfway now.
74
Saints secure the lineout but knock the ball on and Leinster have the scrum.
73
Taylor looks to clear and while its charged down, the ball finds touch and Saints still have the scrum.
71
Penalty Saints at the scrum! And Leinster return the ball as Saints clear it from the lineout. The home side push from within their own half.
69
Leinster play on and chip through. Mathews gets there but is carried over the line. Scrum on the five metre line for Leinster.
68
No conversion and Saints get play back underway.
Try Leinster.
The away side come forwards before chipping it over to O'Loughlin out wide who's got space to finish the job.
66
Saints turn the ball over and Gillespie flies down the wing before chipping forwards to himself. He's just beaten to the ball and Leinster play on.
Mathews...
... sends the conversion over too!
TRYYYYYYYY OLOWFELA!!
Saints keep pushing and eventually a gap opens for Olowofela to fly through!
64
Advantage coming for Saints too and they keep pushing.
63
Olowofela breaks through and it nearly there but is pulled down just short. Saints push from close range.
63
Taylor steams forwards off the scrum and Saints are up to the Leinster 22 again.
Two changes for Saints: Trinder replaces Franks and Olowofela is back to replace Strachan.
61
Leinster box it clear but the ball comes forwards and Saints have the scrum.
59
After a scrappy few phases of play and are pushing around the halfway line. Taylor sends the ball skyward and Leinster just get their first.
58
Leinster box clear from the resulting lineout and Saints have one of their own.
56
Saints come wide before Van Vuuren breaks through the middle. Saints are into Leinster's 22 but a loose pass heads into touch. Lineout Leinster.
55
Saints come forwards but knock on and Leinster collect. They come forwards but are pinged for a forward pass and Saints will have the scrum.
54
Penalty Leinster as Saints are penalised for holding on. Byrne sends it to touch but it doesn't make it and Freeman sends it high. Leinster get there but knock on and Saints play again.
53
Saints come forwards and Taylor breaks through. They're up to the Leinster 22 now and pushing still.
52
Penalty Saints at the scrum! And Mathews sends it to touch for a Saints lineout in Leinster's half.
51
Leinster get up for the restart but knock on and Saints have the scrum.
Mathews...
... sends the conversion over too!
TRYYYYYY FREEMAN!!
Strachan breaks through and Bird-Tulloch is with him. The centres make it up to the 22 before Taylor takes over and finds Freeman inside him to finish the job!
49
Saints dive on loose ball at the lineout and come fowwards hard...
48
Leinster secure the lineout but a forward pass sees Saints with the scrum. Taylor chips through and Leinster have the lineout but back in their own half.
46
Leinster maul forwards before the ball comes out wide. Saints are there to slow it and though Leinster get up to the five metre line, Saints turn the ball over and Taylor boxes clear. Lineout Leinster.
44
Good at the scrum from Saints but Leinster keep the ball and have an advantage coming. The ball comes wide but flies into touch and we come back for the penalty. Byrne sends it into the corner.
43
No conversion from Mathews but Saints collect the restart. Uru comes forwards but the ball comes forwards and Leinster will have the scrum.
TRYYYYYY TAYLS!!
Naiyaravoro breaks through and gets the ball away to this half's skipper Harrison. The flanker races down the wing before coming back inside to see Taylor over the line!
42
Leinster kick through and Freeman is there. Saints push on.
40
Uru and Harrison push forwards from the restart and Saints work up before Taylor boxes clear. Leinster collect and play on.
A whole new team for Saints as we get back underway...
HT in the first game back at Franklin's Gardens
But Leinster secure the ball and run the clock down before sending it into the stands for half-time.
39
Newman is up for the lineout and Dingwall breaks through off the back of it. Saints are inside Leinster's 22 now.
39
Advantage coming for Saints and eventually we come back for it. Grayson sends the ball into touch. Lineout Saints.
38
Olowofela gets play up to halfway as Saints secure the lineout and Saints keep pushing.
37
Penalty Saints are Leinster are penalised for obstruction. Grayson sends it into touch for a lineout near halfway.
36
Leinster work forwards and are pushing inside Saints' half now.
35
Leinster secure the restart despite goof pressure from Saints and play on.
Byrne...
... (who's taken over kicking duties) sends the ball through.
34
Penalty Leinster as Saints are penalised for holding on. As it's in front of the posts, the away side call for the posts.
33
Leinster work their way down the park after taking the resulting lineout but knock and and Saints collect the ball.
32
Leinster knock on and Saints get the scrum but there Leinster earn a penult and clear.
29
Advantage coming and we come back for it. The string of penalties that follows keeps Saints pushing in the corner and pushing.
25
Scrum Saints as Leinster knock on and the ball comes wide quickly. Collins and Olowofela are there to get play up to the Leinster 22.
25
Tupai clears the restart and Leinster collect. They play on.
Grayson...
... adds the conversion too!
TRYYYYYY TC!!
Tupai breaks through to halfway before setting Strachan free out wide. Sleightholme is there too and he chips through for Collins to chase - the winger winning the footrace to the ball to score!!
22
Leinster push from the restart and work into Saints' 22 but knock on and Tupai comes flying through the middle to get Saints back on the front foot.
22
Leinster look to bring it wide and McFadden races forwards but Grayson and Olowofela are there to slow their progress. The away side keep pushing though.
A trio of changes for Saints as Waller, Hill and Mitchell are replaced by Davis, Garside and Tupai.
McFadden...
... converts too.
Try Leinster.
The ball comes back inside from the wing and there's a gap there for Dooley to slip through.
20
Good pressure from Saints at the scrum and Leinster are forced to use it but they push forwards and work up to Saints' 22.
19
Straight out with the restart so scrum Leinster on halfway.
19
No conversion and Saints restart.
Try Leinster.
The away side whip it wide and with a mis-match out there, O'Brien gasses through to score.
17
Saints work their way up to halfway but Leinster defend hard and Grayson sends the ball skyward. Leinster get their first and play on.
16
Overthrow at the lineout from Saints and Leinster clear long. Collins is there and he comes forwards.
15
Leinster secure the ball at the lineout and they clear. Lineout Saints just outside the away 22.
14
Penalty at the scrum for Saints! And Grayson sends it to touch for a lineout inside Leinster's 22.
14
Not straight at the lineout from Leinster and Saints opt for the scrum.
13
Penalty Leinster as Saints are penalised for holding on. Frawley clears for a lineout back near halfway.
12
Saints secure the lineout this time and begin to push. They're up to the five metre again...
10
Leinster get up and disrupt the lineout but Saints pressure well and they can't clear immediately. They do get the ball away eventually though and Saints have the lineout inside the 22.
9
Wood is up for the lineout and Saints come forwards. They're up to the fie metre line with an advantage coming. We come back for it and Grayson sends it back into the corner.
8
Advantage coming for Saints and we come back for it. Grayson sends it to the corner. Lineout Saints inside Leinster's 22.
7
Leinster collect the restart and come forwards but chip through and Saints collect. The men in Black, Green and Gold play on around halfway.
Frawley...
... send the conversion through to.
Try Leinster
The Leinster scrum comes forwards and it's Doris that dots the ball down over the line
2
Leinster maul from the lineout but it slows and they play on. Saints defend hard but Leinster keep pushing and work their way up to the 22. They chip through but Collins gets there and touches down over the line. Scrum Leinster on the five metre line.
1
Penalty Leinster as Saints are penalised for holding on. Frawley sends it to touch for a Leinster lineout inside Saints' half.
0
WE'RE UNDERWAY!
And we're on for Saints' first outing at Franklin's Gardens!