Saints 'punch' Favourites Leinster In Game For The Ages

"We punched them successful nan face."

Alex Mitchell's reference to an enactment of unit aft 80 minutes of compelling European rugby astatine Aviva Stadium whitethorn person delivered an constituent of surprise.

It was, however, an emotive reflection which suitably matched a Northampton Saints capacity that near Leinster pinch much than a bloodied chemoreceptor successful their Investec Champions Cup semi-final.

Fuelled pinch vengeance for last year's defeat astatine nan aforesaid shape and a quiet assurance amid a backdrop of outer doubt, nan reigning Premiership champions produced nan knockout rustle to extremity Leinster's pursuit of a 5th prima connected nan jersey - a stunning 37-34 win.

"A mates of pundits were saying they're going to triumph by 20-30 points and that Saints won't people a point," Saints and England scrum-half Mitchell told RTE.

"We showed up coming and were a spot much fearless this clip around. Last year, we were waiting to spot what Leinster were going to do.

"We showed up coming and nan first 20 minutes, we punched them successful nan face. They weren't really expecting that. Credit to nan boys, we sewage nan result."

Confidence successful Leinster reaching a 4th consecutive last from fans and pundits alike was well-founded.

The Irish state sounded up astatine their vociferous Dublin location without having conceded a constituent successful thumping knockout victories complete Harlequins and United Rugby Championship title-holders Glasgow Warriors.

Saints, though, had not publication nan script.

England helping Tommy Freeman scored a first-half hat-trick to widen his tally to 7 tries successful his past 3 Champions Cup appearances and further fortify his declare for British and Irish Lions selection, while Henry Pollock's prima continues to emergence aft his searing try.

The hosts responded aft half-time, but, somewhat uncharacteristically, lacked nan objective separator to regain nan lead, while Saints were capable to negate Leinster's blitz defence erstwhile much arsenic James Ramm scored their 5th try.

Ireland helping James Lowe dragged his broadside to wrong 3 points to group up a thrilling finale but, aft referee Pierre Brousset awarded Leinster a precocious punishment alternatively of a try, Northampton salvaged possession pinch a last-gasp turnover camped connected their ain statement earlier kicking nan shot dead.

Saints head of rugby Phil Dowson was a personnel of nan playing squad nan past clip nan nine overcame Leinster successful 2013, but nan erstwhile backmost row's masterminding of their latest triumph is possibly nan top of his coaching career.

"Lots of group wrote america disconnected and we understood we were underdogs but nan belief wrong nan group was outstanding," Dowson told BBC Radio Northampton.

"I would dislike to deliberation what my humor unit was doing astatine nan extremity but nan past protect group said volumes astir our group, astir nan lads coming connected and their impact. We sewage nan turnover, killed nan timepiece and cue nan chaotic scenes successful nan coaching box.

"We person had acquisition earlier of playing into a property defence. We had practised playing done it and we revisited those principles. There were much opportunities we could've taken but we took capable to get connected nan scoresheet."

Saints' biggest trial remains against either Bordeaux-Begles aliases six-time winners Toulouse successful this season's showpiece successful Cardiff, but if this triumph is nan top of Dowson's era truthful far, his top servant could yet beryllium to beryllium nan influential Pollock, who is still remarkably successful his debut run arsenic a elder player.

The young backmost row, 20, has surgery into Northampton's side, made his England Test debut and is simply a contender for Lions action conscionable 12 months connected from watching past season's conclusion astatine Croke Park successful fancy dress arsenic a supporter.

"That was a battle. I person ne'er played successful a crippled that difficult successful my life," Pollock told Premier Sports.

"That is what dreams are made of.

"As a boy I grew up watching this title and to get to nan last pinch my boyhood club, I'm affectional speaking astir it.

"After nan past 2 performances these Leinster boys had, to travel present pinch nary fear, we person been saying each week, 'Why not us?'."

Pollock's all-round capacity belied his level of experience, while his effort demonstrated nan beingness prowess of a backmost arsenic he launched connected to Mitchell's level walk from a opinionated commencement to glide done a spread successful Leinster's defence, earlier sprinting astir last defender Sam Prendergast.

Asked astir applying 2 fingers to his cervix successful celebration, an enthused Pollock added: "I was conscionable emotion that pulse.

"This is why you play nan game, because you emotion it. The fans, nan sport, going up against nan champion backmost statement successful nan world was amazing. Bring connected Cardiff."