Match Report: Leinster 34 – 37 Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints banished the heartbreak of defeat in Dublin 12 months ago to secure victory against Leinster and reach their first Investec Champions Cup final in 14 years.

A home defence that had not conceded a single point in their two knock-out games in this season’s competition had shipped 27 by halftime at the Aviva Stadium as Tommy Freeman completed a hat-trick, in addition to Henry Pollock crossing the line. Leinster, who have competed in five of the last seven finals, remained in the contest through Tommy O’Brien and Josh Van der Flier tries.

Van der Flier added a second, Caelan Doris and James Lowe also touched down for second-half tries, but Phil Dowson’s side kept ahead on the scoreboard through James Ramm’s try and five points from the boot of Fin Smith to ensure Saints’ place in Cardiff’s Principality Stadium final on Saturday 24 May. 

FIRST HALF

After surviving an early lineout ten metres from their own line, it was Saints who landed the game’s first points with their first attacking foray. Smith pinned his ears back through centre field after spotting a gap. After the pace came a moment of subtle deftness as a perfectly-weighted chip through bounced nicely for Freeman to score for a tenth consecutive game for club and country. 

Smith landed the touchline conversion before Sam Prendergast cut the deficit by four with a penalty approaching the quarter-of-an-hour mark.

Saints briefly reclaimed their lead when Smith struck a close-range penalty, only for Leinster to pour on pressure after a quickly-tapped Lowe penalty that resulted in van der Flier rolling over in the left corner, with Prendergast slotting over the tricky conversion. To compound losing their lead, Curtis Langdon received a yellow card for his side’s collective indiscretions. 

Then came ten minutes from the heavens, for those of a Saints persuasion, at the Aviva Stadium.

Investec Champions Cup player-of-the-season nominee Pollock timed a perfect arrival to the fringes of a ruck to receive Alex Mitchell’s pass and round the last defender to finish from 40 metres out. 

The rapid tempo of the visitors’ attack saw no sign of abating as Smith, Ramm and Tom Litchfield combined for Freeman to finish close to the right corner flag four minutes before the break.

Saints weren’t finished there. Juarno Augustus powered through after gathering up a kick ahead and freed up his arms for Freeman to complete his hat-trick  as the visitors marched in the changing rooms 12 points ahead.

SECOND HALF

Leinster struck first in the second period when a clever 50:22 from Lowe provided field position and, following a penalty concession, van der Flier spun in field for Doris to bundle his way over, with Prendergast’s conversion pulling his side within five points. 

Momentum seemed to be with the boys in blue, but it was Saints who struck next on the scoreboard when Smith punched over a successful penalty from 45 metres out entering the final third of the contest. 

Leinster closed the gap to just three with another powerful maul that was finished off by van der Flier for his second of the contest. 

The hosts sensed another famous comeback victory against Saints but were stopped in their tracks, when Josh Kemeny remained alert to a half-blocked Smith grubber to advance towards the posts, where the ball was whipped wide by Fraser Dingwall for Ramm to scamper over. Smith nervelessly slotted the conversion for good measure.

There was to be no tame finish to an enthralling battle. Kemeny’s yellow card for a high shot on Rabah Slimani meant Saints would spent the final ten of 12 minutes without a full complement of players. 

When Lowe leapt acrobatically into a tiny patch of the ingoal area to finish, Leinster were once more within three of pulling level. 

Then came a period that defied belief. This time not for attacking brilliance, but sheer doggedness and a will to win. Pollock first pounced under intense pressure to produce a penalty turnover. But Leinster wouldn’t go away. In the 80th minute, a long TMO process deliberated over whether Ross Byrne had pounced on a loose ball to break Saints hearts. The final decision of no try still didn’t provide respite as Alex Coles was sin-binned and Leinster had one last chance to snatch it.

Saints held firm. Bloodied, battered and belligerent. With one final energy-sapping brutal period of pressure, Leinster were repelled. Another turnover, and the visitors had possession, inches outside their own goalline. Carry after carry, they managed to stay away from grounding in goal until blessed relief came as the ball was boomed off the field by Smith.

Rapturous cheers roared around the Aviva Stadium. Stirring renditions of Shoe Army from the delirious travelling contingent embraced their heroes as they booked their place in the Investec Champions Cup final.

LINE-UPS:

Leinster: 15 Keenan, 14 O'Brien, 13 Ringrose, 12 Henshaw, 11 Lowe, 10 Prendergast, 9 Gibson-Park; 1 Healy, 2 Sheehan, 3 Furlong, 4 Snyman, 5 McCarthy, 6 Deegan, 7 Van der Flier, 8 Doris (c).
Replacements: 16 Kelleher, 17 Porter, 18 Slimani, 19 Baird, 20 Conan, 21 McGrath, 22 R Byrne, 23 Barrett.

Saints: 15 Ramm, 14 Freeman, 13 Dingwall (c), 12 Hutchinson, 11 Litchfield, 10 Smith, 9 Mitchell; 1 Iyogun, 2 Langdon, 3 Davison, 4 Mayanavanua, 5 Coles, 6 Kemeny, 7 Pollock, 8 Augustus.
Replacements: 16 Walker, 17 West, 18 Millar Mills, 19 Lockett, 20 Munga, 21 Scott-Young, 22 James, 23 Seabrook.