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Northampton player ratings vs Leinster | 2023/24 Champions Cup
Northampton player ratings live from Croke Park: This was quite the atmospheric rugby spectacle in contrast to when these two teams last met in Dublin.
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That was in December 2020, a sombre, closed-doors pool game at the RDS where the 19-35 bragging rights in front of a zero attendance comfortably went to Leinster.
Here, Leinster won again, but there was a world of a difference in how this 17-20 nerve-shredder unfolded in front of a tournament record 82,300 enthralled spectators.
Just when it seemed as if the hosts would again run away with it, James Lowe needing just four second-half minutes to complete his hat-trick, Northampton demonstrated they are made of much sterner stuff these days.
Energized by their excellent bench and astutely led by skipper Courtney Lawes and the youthfulness of Fin Smith, they ravenously got stuck into the 3-20 scoreboard disadvantage.
Two converted tries later, they had the margin sucked down to three points with six minutes remaining and they then exhibited guts in threatening to complete the comeback.
In the end, it took sublime Leinster turnover defiance at a ruck about 50 seconds from time to finally quell the delicious Shoe Army riposte.
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It meant it was London calling for the Irish province in three weeks, their third successive final, but it would be no surprise to see these Saints contesting the Gallagher Premiership final some weeks after that at Twickenham given this fine demonstration of second-half Champions Cup semi-final stubbornness. Here are the Northampton player ratings.
15. George Furbank – 6
Saints’ out-half all those years ago at the empty RDS, he returned to Dublin a far more mature player whose full-back ability was best seen when he gave what should have been a first-half, try-scoring assist to the flappy-handed James Ramm. A 64th-minute knock-on was frustrating but the head never dropped.
14. James Ramm – 1
Three nightmare first-half moments summed up his miserable effort, missing the tackle on Lowe for the first try, high-tackling Ciaran Frawley in the build-up to the second, and then butchering his own team’s sole opening-period try chance with poor hands. Then left grasping air when Lowe completed his hat-trick just minutes after the break. Ouch!
13. Tommy Freeman – 6.5
Came a cropper with an unfortunate midweek turn of phrase and was then left numberless due to an early shirt change. A first-half high point was the break and wristy pass that created the wasted Ramm try chance. Defiant second-half effort. Nicely played.
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12. Fraser Dingwall – 6.5
Given the thankless task of repeatedly carrying into first-half Leinster traffic, his frustration was clear on 26 minutes when penalised on the floor trying to rescue a ball that was about to be lost by a teammate. Had a better second half, similar to Freeman’s improvement.
11. George Hendy – 7
The two-try slayer of Munster as a sub in the round of 16, Ollie Sleightholme’s unavailability got him the start here. He gave Leinster their early onslaught invite with a soft knock-on when poorly covering a kick-through, but he is a lovely operator and his 59th-minute comeback-launching try was a peach.
Is there a chance? ?@SaintsRugby get themselves back in the game with their first try!#LEIvNOR | #InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/EUkzPFoHNy
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 4, 2024
10. Fin Smith – 8.5
Leinster initially had this gem of a youngster all worked out, as was seen with how Ross Byrne picked off his pass on halfway with the Saints seven points down and needing respite. Accelerated down the finishing straight, however, raising his all-round game brilliantly, ending with a crazy tackle count and also landing two ballsy touchline conversions. The future England No10.
9. Alex Mitchell – 7.5
Usually enjoys more of a running game at club level compared to his Test-level efforts with England, but his kicking helped get the Saints back into this contest. Had momentum flowing their way before he exited on 69.
1. Alex Waller – 6.5
The soon-to-retire prop warrior gave as good as he had in his 55 minutes, starting with a scrum penalty win and then getting another late in the opening half.
2. Curtis Langdon – 7.5
Another top tackler, his defiance was best seen with his drive in the contact to the breakdown where the penalty advantage became the prompt for Saints to finally create that late first-half try chance wasted by Ramm. A galvanizing presence while he was on.
3. Trevor Davison – 6
Engine can’t be faulted as he was another busy tackler but he badly erred at the scrum, costing his team three points on the half-hour and then conceding again soon after at another set-piece. His last act before exiting on 56 was getting penalised at an important scrum just five metres from the Leinster line.
4. Alex Moon – 7.5
Another of the cavalry added to the pack after last weekend’s league slip against Harlequins, he was an important part of the glue that kept this Northampton team together in that dark period after the break. Excellent hands in giving Hendy the try assist.
THE DRAMA ?@SaintsRugby strike late to put them within three with less than five to play. Strap yourselves in!#LEIvNOR | #InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/LekAeM4IVJ
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 4, 2024
5. Alex Coles – 7
Another whose grittiness was valuable in ensuring the game wasn’t done and dusted way too early. Tackled his heart out but did have a brain fart playing the nine just after his team got it back to 10-20. Was saved by Byrne failing to punish with a missed penalty.
6. Courtney Lawes – 8
As was the case with England at the World Cup, he showed up best when under the pump. Just look at the immense turnover penalty won off Joe McCarthy just metres from his line near half-time with his team 15 points down. There was another around halfway with his team 10 points down and fighting for their inspired last-quarter flourish.
7. Sam Graham – 6.5
The least known cog in his team’s back row, he stuck at it against the odds and can be pleased the tide had turned when he exited on 64
8. Juarno Augustus – 8
Back in the row with Lewis Ludlam sidelined, his vigilance in the 22 resulted in one chunky tackle on Lowe and another that forced a spill from Jamison Gibson-Park when things were looking bleak early on. Finished the game as his pack’s best ball carrier, with one second-half kick and chase from halfway showing his lovely footballing skills. An excellent showing.
Replacements:
Phil Dowson ran a smart operation, making changes that upped the effort of his team incrementally. He will be especially pleased with Tom Seabrook, who was a 74th-minute try-scorer, while the grand efforts of Sam Matavesi and Elliot Millar-Mills also caught the eye in showcasing their strength in depth.
Comments on RugbyPass
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
2 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
1 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
6 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
2 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
6 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
6 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
3 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to comments