The business end of any sporting championship is about delivering your best performances at the end of the season. The side needing to keep ice cold composure in the heat of battle.
For the past several seasons, Leinster Rugby have brushed aside challenges early in the campaign.
Nonetheless, when they face an opponent in a semi-final or final, they meet difficulty and adversity. These opponents are prepared to execute at a high level and bring the game into the closing stages.
Northampton Saints deserved this triumph. Their opening half performance was full of creativity and effort. Finn Smith orchestrating beautifully at half-back. Henry Pollock sensational in the breakdown and open play. Tommy Freeman, try machine.
The images of both management teams spoke volumes. Sam Vesty and the Northampton Saints loose and enjoying the occasion and the team performance. Leinster Rugby staff looking like the grim reaper had delivered late tea and sandwiches to their room.
Northampton Saints enjoyed superb success in the opening play. Their ability to hit the runner at pace at the gain line was overwhelming. Leinster Rugby couldn’t handle it. Leinster Rugby dropping off tackles and were punished for the unforced errors.
Leinster Rugby did have a good spell of pressure midway through the opening half. O’Brien and van der Flier crossed over. Northampton Saints though were playing with freedom. They embraced the last four fixture at the Aviva Stadium.
Freeman the chief beneficiary to score a hat-trick of tries but the setup for those tries were sensational. Augustus offload for instance for Freeman’s try just before the break a marquee moment. Leinster Rugby chasing shadows much like Sam Prendergast as Henry Pollock scored a superb try. The kid is a superstar.
Leinster Rugby threw the kitchen sink at Northampton Saints after the break. The big marquee player names coming on to rescue the season. Barrett, Slimani introduced along with Conan, Baird and Byrne late on.
Doris crashed over in the third quarter. Lowe’s try with ten minutes left indicated a titanic finish. It was indeed a titanic finish. Ramm’s try was a crucial score for the Saints who were incredibly economical when in scoring range.
Leinster Rugby turning down kickable penalty after kickable penalty looking to create that try winning moment. End of season games are defined by clear decision making. Doris not on the pitch and unforced errors ensued. Saints winning turnover ball at crucial stages down the stretch.
Leinster Rugby fans will point to officiating decisions going against them. Nonetheless, the accuracy and composure needed to get the job done was missing from the side when it mattered most. This was damning. The focus and execution not at the levels required.
Northampton Saints have to be applauded for this display. Sam Vesty with a progressive attacking scheme which cared little for Leinster Rugby player reputations. They looked to create quick ruck ball and unleash their running lines. Mission accomplished.
Cardiff bound and who is to say that Northampton Saints will not deliver in the final? They will be outsiders again, a tag which they relish regardless of Bordeaux Begles or Toulouse. A fantastic start to the Champions Cup semi-final weekend.
For Leinster Rugby, this is a result which the ball club will struggle to recover from. The squad assembled should have got to the final at least.
This is a massive disappointment. The performance levels not tested in the last sixteen or quarter finals were exposed in the heat of battle today. The Saints go marching onto Cardiff!