Given the rollercoaster nature of the game, it was no surprise that Northampton Saints’ Director of Rugby Phil Dowson had a whole range of adjectives to describe his emotions after overcoming Leicester Tigers to seal their place in the Gallagher PREM Final.
The two East Midlands heavyweights traded blows throughout an enthralling Friday night contest at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, but it was those in Black, Green and Gold whose arms were raised come the final whistle, as a 45-31 victory booked their place in the final at Allianz Stadium on Saturday – and with it, a shot at reclaiming the title they won two years ago.
“I am obviously delighted, and so is everyone else associated with the Club – and probably a little bit relieved as well,” said Dowson. “The expectation is when you have a home semi, you’re supposed to win those.
“So after what has been a marathon-long season – we are in week 49 this week – to put that performance together and to stick at it under some decent pressure, I am very proud, delighted and relieved as well.”
A dozen years ago, when these two great rivals last met at cinch Stadium on this occasion, it was Tom Wood who produced his iconic late moment that still conjures such joy.
This time around, while Saints led entering the final passages of the game, the match still needed settling. Step forward George Furbank.
On the occasion of his final home game for the Club, the free‑flowing fullback pinned his ears back to finish in the corner for his second try of the contest, affording his side a modicum of comfort in the closing minutes.
“George has been fantastic,” said Dowson. “We had a bit of a focus on him this week, in terms of his last home game.
“We talked about it and had a video montage of him – how far he has come through the ranks and where he sits culturally within our group. I think you see that with the way the lads play, and you see it in the way he celebrates those tries.
Before Furbank landed his decisive double, another Academy graduate, Tom Litchfield, had completed a first‑half hat‑trick to send Saints into the sheds with a half‑time lead.
The selection call meant Fraser Dingwall operated as a replacement for only the fifth time in his last 57 appearances. Dowson was full of praise for both centres and their impact on the game.
“Litch has been excellent – he is the form horse and he has been doing stuff really well for us,” he explained. “There were a lot of conversations around it. We sit in the office and kick it around a lot, and we went with Litch because he is the form horse.
“There are a couple of things in Dingers’ game that we still think he can continue to pick up on, and it is only a matter of time before that happens. Hutch has had periods over the last two years where he has been unplayable.
“In 2024 he missed out – it was just the timing of the season. It’s a nine‑month season; you can’t be top drawer the whole time. There are going to be times where some part of your game needs just a little bit of work. Dingers isn’t far away. It was a very tight call, but we felt Litch was in a rich vein of form and going well. Dingers was excellent when he came on, and to have that experience coming off the bench was good for us.”
Dowson added: “This year has been a huge amount of fun. I can’t remember any season, playing or coaching, where I have laughed more.
“We have had a lot of fun this year and we have got another week to try and do that again. It is obviously going to be sad to see Furbs go – and Rambo [James Ramm], Sam Graham, Elliot Millar Mills, all those lads – we just want to enjoy this week.”