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O'Brien (17'), Flier (25', 58'), Doris (46'), Lowe (69')
Tries
Freeman (7', 35', 37'), Pollock (28'), Ramm (62')
Prendergast (25', 47', 70')
Conversions
Smith (8', 29', 63')
Prendergast (13')
Penalties
Smith (22', 55')
Saints alive! What a performance Northampton Saints conjured up to beat Leinster 37-34 in Dublin and progress to the Investec Champions Cup final.
Leinster’s home advantage at the Aviva Stadium counted for nothing, nor three Northampton yellow cards. Instead, Saints’ manic defence and a red-hot ability to take their chances made the difference.
At the heart was Fin Smith. He showed how much he’s matured in the year since Leinster won at the same stage.
The 22-year-old is now an established international, and boy did he play like one.
Eight minutes in, the flyhalf’s powerful burst onto James Ramm’s flat past and grubber kick to put Tommy Freeman away for his first showed a wonderful ability to think under pressure and execute.
That start was a marked contrast to 2024 when they didn’t score till the 39th minute with Leinster already 15 points ahead.
HATTRICK HERO
Smith kicked magnificently throughout to keep building his side’s lead. In the end his second penalty was the difference.
Saints’ players seemed galvanised knowing Andy Farrell announces his Lion squad this Thursday.
Smith outplayed probable Lions rival Sam Prendergast, who was taken off late on despite the match still being on the line.
Freeman, the hattrick hero, outplayed his opposite number James Lowe and was imperious in the air, as he showed when beating Hugo Keenan to a box kick en route to his third score.
BANISHING THEIR DEMONS
Then there was agent provocateur Henry Pollock. After talking up his team pre-match, he let the Leinster fans know he was there while outplaying opposite number Josh van der Flier.
Northampton have waited a long time to exorcise the 2011 final when Leinster overturned a 22-6 deficit to win 33-22.
They are halfway there, and with the Saints now back at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, another performance like Saturday’s is likely to banish those demons forever.
