Saints ‘punch’ favourites Leinster in game for the ages

“We struck them in the face,” the statement read.

An element of surprise may have come from Alex Mitchell’s mention of an act of violence following 80 minutes of imposing European rugby at Aviva Stadium.

However, it was a heartfelt reflection that was appropriate to match the Northampton Saints’ performance in Leinster’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final, which left them with more than a bloody nose.

The reigning Premiership champions put a stunning 37-34 win over Leinster on the verge of avenging against the same opponent from last year’s defeat at the same time and a quiet confidence in the face of a backdrop of external doubt.

According to Saints and England scrum-half Mitchell, “a few pundits were saying they’re going to win by 20-30 points and that Saints won’t score a point.”

“We showed up today, and this time around we were a little less afraid.” We were anticipating Leinster’s plans the previous year.

We arrived today, and we punched them in the face for the first 20 minutes. They didn’t anticipate that at all. We received the result, boys, congratulations.

Fans and pundits’ confidence in Leinster winning a fourth consecutive final was well-founded.

Without conceding a point in thumping knockout victories over Glasgow Warriors and Harlequins, the Irish province pitched up at their vociferous Dublin home.

Saints, however, did not read the entire script.

Henry Pollock’s star continues to rise following his searing try, while England wing Tommy Freeman added a hat-trick to increase his tally to seven tries in his previous three Champions Cup appearances.

After half-time, the hosts responded, but they lacked the clinical edge to retake the lead, and Saints were able to thwart Leinster’s fifth try thanks to James Ramm.

James Lowe’s Ireland side pulled within three points to draw a thrilling finale, but Northampton salvaged possession with a last-gasp turnover camped on their own line before kicking the ball dead after Referee Pierre Brousset awarded Leinster a late penalty instead of a try.

Phil Dowson, the club’s director of rugby, was a member of the squad when they last defeated Leinster in 2013, but his masterminding of their most recent victory is perhaps his best of his coaching career.

“Many people wrote us off and we thought we were underdogs, but the group’s belief was outstanding,” Dowson said on BBC Radio Northampton.

The final defensive set, which included “I would hate to think what my blood pressure was doing at the end,” was a powerful reflection of our group, the young players coming on, and their impact. We won the game, stopped the clock, and uncovered the irrational behavior in the coaching box.

In Cardiff’s showpiece this season, Saints will take on Bordeaux-Begles or six-time champions Toulouse, but if this victory is the best of Dowson’s career so far, Pollock, who is still remarkably in his senior debut season, could be his greatest servant.

The 20-year-old, who made his England Test debut, is a contender for Lions selection after watching last season’s defeat at Croke Park in fancy dress as a supporter. He has since joined Northampton’s side.

“That was a battle,” he declared. In his lifetime, Pollock remarked to Premier Sports, “I have never played in a game that difficult.”

That’s what dreams are made of, he says.

I’m talking about it because I grew up watching this competition and being in my boyhood club.

We have been saying all week, “Why not us? After the last two performances, these Leinster boys had, and we came here without fear. ‘”.

Pollock’s all-around performance was defying his level of experience, and his try showed the strength of a backhand as he launched onto Mitchell’s flat pass from a standing start, scurrying through Leinster’s defense, before sprinting around Sam Prendergast, the team’s defense’s final defender.

When asked if he should celebrate by rubbing his neck with two fingers, Pollock responded, “I was just feeling that pulse.”