Northampton Saints delivered a stunning upset when they beat red-hot favourites Leinster 37-34 at home in their Champions Cup semifinals yesterday.
The Saints were full of pluck and poise in the first half but Leinster came roaring back in the second to bring the game to a thrilling climax though it was the visitors who grimly held on.
The Saints, at times audacious, grew in confidence on the back of a sensational Tommy Freeman first-half hat-trick and they dug deep to hold on in the second. Combative and competent in most areas, they crucially also brought a coherent incisiveness to their attack to run into a 27-15 lead at the break.
They were daring and audacious, taking the game to the much-fancied four-time champions. Leinster, however, loaded their bench with seasoned internationals and they made an impact in the second half as the hosts scored tries earned through close combat grind.
The Saints stood their ground in the set pieces and at the breakdown, where Leinster were not allowed to create the chaos they so crave. The Saints came into the game hoping tear-away flank Henry Pollock and live-wire fyhalf Fin Smith would leave their mark on proceedings.
The pre-match hype around the two players was justified. Smith’s influence was felt early when his well-timed run onto a pass from fullback James Ramm helped him beat two defenders before his well-executed grubber bounced favourably for right-wing Tommy Freeman, who ran onto the ball to score.
Leinster grabbed the lead in the 19th minute when Jamieson Gibson-Park took a quick tap penalty and flung the ball wide with the ball eventually finding the unmarked right-wing Tommy O'Brien.
Freeman completed his hat-trick in the 37th minute again off a well timed surge. This time it was Juarno Augustus’ assertiveness that drew him to the ball and, though, the defence was onto him and he dexterously offloaded to a flying Freeman, who streaked clear.
Leinster were the first to strike in the second half, when captain Caelan Doris was driven over from close range in the 46th minute. Though the visitors scored a well-crafted team try through fullback James Ramm, they were always going to be under pressure in the final quarter. A yellow card to Josh Kemeny in the 68th minute and the pressure from the ensuing penalty earned Leinster a try through James Lowe three minutes later.
They will face Bordeaux-Begles or Toulouse who contest the second semifinal at Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux today. This is a heavyweight clash pitting the top two teams on France’s Top 14 points table.
Toulouse, the record six-time champions, will have their work cut out to get a positive result against Bordeaux. They may possess great depth but few teams can fully mitigate the absence through injury of ace goalkicker Thomas Ramos, fellow three-quarter Blair Kinghorn and tough as teak Test hooker Peato Mauvaka.
Toulouse, of course, are without talisman Antoine Dupont, whose season was ended in the Six Nations. By contrast, Bordeaux will go into the clash with two Champions Cup player of the year nominees in scrumhalf Maxime Lucu and right-wing Damian Penaud. The latter has been in red-hot form, scoring a record 12 tries this season.
The final is scheduled for the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on May 24.
Scorers:
Leinster (15) 34 — Tries: Tommy O'Brien, Josh van der Flier (2), Caelan Doris, James Lowe. Conversions: Sam Prendergast (3). Penalty: Prendergast.
Northampton (27) 37 — Tries: Tommy Freeman (3), Henry Pollock, James Ramm. Conversions: Fin Smith (3). Penalties: Smith (2).
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