What we liked and displeased

Northampton created the sensation this Saturday, May 3, by qualifying in the final of Champions Cup. The English led by a Tommy Freeman unstoppable and a Henry Pollock Destructor in defense came to the end of the Leinster 34-37 on the lawn of the Aviva Stadium of Dublin.

The Saints will find Bordeaux-Bègles or Toulouse in the final in Cardiff on Saturday May 24 at 9 p.m. This is what we liked and displeased in this first semi-final.

What we liked:

• A semi-final at the end of the suspense

Northampton led 37 to 34. After several played playing times, in the last three minutes of the match, the Leinster was on the verge of flattening. But the second English line of the saints has set the fault one meter of his in-goal. In a cathedral silence at the Aviva Stadium, the referee Pierre Brousset made his decision: yellow card against Northampton and penalty for the Irish.

There was a minute left! Five meters from the English in-goal, the Leinster decided to play the penalty in hand. After several playing times and facing a heroic English defensethe Leinstermen was robbed of the ball in contact. Northampton cleared and snatched his ticket in the final at the end of the suspense!

• Tommy Freeman’s hat -trick

He alone has registered Three of the four tests of his team. Tommy Freeman marked this semi-final of his imprint. His series started at 7^e Minute following a recovery from Finn Smith. After crossing, the 22 -year -old English opener adjusted a kick for his winger in the back of the Defense of Leinster.

Two minutes after his second try (36^e), Tommy Freeman is served by a magnificent pass after contact with his third line Juarno Augustus for a hat -trick. Beyond his tests, the winger with 20 selections with England made a full match: 108 meters won et 6 defenders beaten.

• Henry Pollock’s crazy match

Just 20 anshe released a capital service in the semi-finals of Champions Cup. Henry Pollock illustrated himself by first registering an essay. Launched like a hornet on the edge of a ruck, the young Englishman surprised the defense of Leinster. He literally pierced the Irish line before overflowing Sam Prendergast and going to mark the second try of the English to pick up the scoring (15-17).

With 58 meters won ball in hand, the third line beat three defenders. In defense, Henry Pollock has largely contributed to the resistance of the saints in the face of the assaults of the Leinster. He finished the meeting with 23 tackles made And only one missed. What a monster!

What displeased us:

• Errors that cost dear to the Irish

Leinster did not find his surgical game that we know him. First of all in defense, the Irish came out of this meeting with only 68% successful tackles. It is too little for a final phase match of Champions Cup. In attack, the defensive pressure imposed by Northampton posed many difficulties to the men of Jacques Nienaber.

The rear has lacked inspiration in their choices. The Irish forwards were also put in difficulty losing balloons in contact or in the rucks like the last action. Finally, Sam Prendergast missed two transformations. Four points that would have been enough for the Leinsterman to win their place in the final.

• The indiscipline of the English

With 14 penaltiesNorthampton managed to get out of it. But their indiscipline could have led them to defeat. The saints played the meeting for almost a quarter of an hour at 14 against 15 following Two yellow cards Received at 67^e and at the 79^e minute. If it went against Leinster, the English will have to review their copy on this aspect for the final against Bordeaux-Bègles or Toulouse.

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