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Northampton Saints’ may face the Herculean task of overcoming Leinster at Aviva Stadium in the Investec Champions Cup semifinals on Saturday, but they start the match with victory behind them.
Northampton Saints’ may face the Herculean task of overcoming Leinster at Aviva Stadium in the Investec Champions Cup semifinals on Saturday, but they start the match with victory behind them.
NorthamptonNorthamptonThe Saints travel to Dublin, just as they did last year when Leinster booked a final place with a 20-17 victory at Croke Park.
On Saturday, Northampton had their big guns back for their 48-31 win over Bristol Bears in the Gallagher Premiership.
Thankfully, none were injured and Tommy Freeman, twice, Alex Mitchell, and Henry Pollock finished with tries.
BIG NAMES PURRING
The Saints scored seven tries, and while Leinster’s defence won’t be as porous having kept Harlequins and Glasgow Warriors to nil in the Round of 16 and quarterfinals, Northampton will be confident of exploiting any openings.
Number 8 Juarno Augustus will need to repeat his powerful showing and let his Saints teammates build their performance around him, just as Scarlets number 8 Taine Plumtree did in their 35-22 win over Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (URC) this weekend.
Leinster head coach Jacques Nienaber rested all his leading lights for that match, and they will have noted that Bristol’s five tries came from outside backs. When the sides met last season, wing James Lowe did the damage with a hattrick.
One thing Saints will take from the 2024 semi, is to score early. They waited until the 39th minute for a Fin Smith penalty, by which time Leinster were 15-0 ahead.
Smith’s growing composure after a season of international rugby should serve Saints well, and after last season the Dublin factor shouldn’t be as acute.
Above all they need to stop Leinster playing, and the Scarlets’ ability to slow the ball was crucial to limiting their momentum.
Fail to do so, and a long afternoon awaits the reigning English champions.
