Freeman: Getting result against Saracens was pretty special

Tommy Freeman’s prolific try-scoring streak for Club and country may have come to an end at the weekend, but the Lion-in-waiting still played a prominent role in the remarkable comeback win against Saracens.

The 6’ 3’’ back’s form sky-rocketed after crossing the line in each of England’s 2025 Guinness Six Nations matches, as he subsequently bagged ten tries in his next five games in Black, Green and Gold to propel his side into the Investec Champions Cup Final and pick up seven Gallagher Premiership points from ten that were available against Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears.

Against top-four chasing Saracens on Saturday at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, Freeman didn’t add to his career-best try tally of 16 so far this term for Saints by registering for an eleventh-straight game – however his tireless work in attack, defence and under the high ball earned him the television man-of-the-match award as Saints overturned a 17-point deficit to clinch a 28-24 win at the death.

“Bizarre was probably the perfect word for it,” said the 24-year-old, who played his first game since gaining selection for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia this summer.

“It wasn’t the best start from us, definitely below par, but the fight we showed in that second half to put us in that position is credit to the lads. 

After taking an early lead through Josh Kemeny’s excellent finish from Fin Smith’s ingenious grubber, Saracens swarmed to land 24 unanswered points to seemingly condemn Saints to only a fourth home Gallagher Premiership loss in more than two-and-a-half years.

But entering the final quarter of the game, the hosts signed off their home campaign with a flourish as Tarek Haffar bagged a brace that sandwiched a penalty try to send the home fans into delirium.

“It took us probably 40 minutes to get going, which was a bit of a shame, but to get that result and come away with it was pretty special,” added Freeman. “In that first half we were probably doing things we don’t normally do. We were kicking it when we needed to counter.

“We just took it to them later in the game. We pinned our ears back and thought we would go and fly at them. Other than their try in the opening two minutes of the second half, we were putting pressure on them, and eventually we got it converted in the end.”

Saints’ victory was set in the context of damage limitation heading into this Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup final against Bordeaux-Begles at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

A number of senior players were withdrawn with niggles while others were replaced early as Phil Dowson managed his resources accordingly with the club’s third-ever final in European club rugby’s premier competition looming on the horizon.

The prospect of performing on that stage was in Freeman’s mind, he conceded: “It’s exciting and I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t already thought about it.

“We know it’s a massive game and we’ve got to do much better than we did in the first half against Saracens if we’re going to get it right.

“We’ll take some positives and a few negatives and look to build and have a good week this week. Will we be underdogs (in the Final)? I don’t know.

“But either way, it doesn’t change for us. We’ll do our thing and let the rest take care of itself.”