Northampton took revenge against Leinster a year later. Eliminated by the Irish at the same stadium last season, the saints succeeded in winning on the Dublin lawn (37-34) to qualify for the final of the champions Cup of rugby rugby, 14 years after his last. This Sunday, at the end of the other semi-final between the UBB and the Toulouse stadium, they will know their opponent for the last meeting which will take place in Cardiff on May 24.
During a tight meeting, the club that evolves in green and black was able to count on its English internationals. Tommy Freeman, author of a hat -trick in the first period, and Henry Pollock put the Irish, who pushed until the last second, even believing a test in the last minute.
Larged in the league where they are seventh out of ten, the reigning England champions quickly put all their hopes of the season in the European Cup. It is the first time in the past five years that English team has qualified for the final of the Champions Cup. And for the occasion they showed courage, in particular to defend for 10 minutes when the premises had returned to three points after a test of Lowe (70th), and that they were in numerical superiority.
On the fire offensively, the saints were also able to oppose beautiful resistance to blue waves, fighting on all balloons and managing to block key elements, such as the second South African line RG Snyman. Despite their five testing tests and their three yellow cards, they still managed to limit the damage on Irish highlights.
Now, Northampton will try, facing a French team, to win a second crown 25 years later. At the time, the saints were won against the Munster (9-8).
