Northampton Saints
News: Leinster Lazarus act sinks super Saints
By Howlin'
May 22 2011
We dared to dream What a stadium, what an atmosphere, what an occasion. As we strolled by the river Taff , through the park that lead us from the county cricket ground and the “black Pig” pub, the contrast could not have been more stark than what awaited us just ten minutes away in the home of Welsh rugby, The Millenium Stadium. And what more fitting home for what was to come. One of the most stunning , open and exciting finals to have ever graced the Heineken cup.
Heineken cup final 21st May 2011
Leinster v Northampton Saints
Millennium Stadium Cardiff
Leinster 33 northampton Saints 22
Leinster were the out and out favourites. Previous winners in 2009, filled with international stars, they had been there and done it. What chance the young pretenders from Northampton.
At the beginning of the season, I believed that Saints were not yet good enough to succeed in this competition. With a bit of luck along the way I though they could get to the premiership final and once there could triumph over any premiership club on their day. But Europe ? A different matter entirely. Just look at the teams who started in that competition back at the start of the season. Leicester, Wasps from England. The mighty Toulouse, Stade Francais , Claremont. The great Munster and of course Leinster themselves.
Experience counts in such auspicious company. Our squad were still learning. But as Saints battled through the quarter and semi finals I began to believe. The manner in which we dispatched Ulster and then Perpignan; particularly the way we dismantled the mighty Perpignan pack, gave me hope that we might, just might, win the whole damn thing. Saints were on the brink of becoming the first team to win the competition unbeaten. Nine from nine ! Join the elite band of multiple Heineken cup winners. What an achievement that would be.
But sitting in that massive crowd soaking up the atmosphere my nerves were shot. If the players felt anywhere near to the state I was in how could they even catch a ball, let alone play world class rugby ? But play rugby they did. And this supporter is swelling with pride in his team today.
Unless you come from planet Zog or are reading this report in the mistaken belief that Comeonyousaints.com is a religious site and think you are reading instructions on how to become canonised , you will know what happened next. You won’t get a blow by blow account here. Try Chris Wearmouth on the Offy he really is rather good at that.
No here I will recount that Saints played a blinder in the first half . They tackled like demons, often dislodging the ball and overturning possession. One tackle by Foden on the mighty BOD deserved to be, and on a different occasion may have been, a match winner. When in possession they played some great running rugby. Leinster found it hard to contain the rampaging Saints. The mighty Saints pack lived up to their reputation. Even when Mujati was sin binned for pulling a player back, the seven man Saints pack, containing one of our “weak bench” , pushed them back winning a penalty and won one against the head. Saints score three unanswered tries with Myler missing just the one conversion by hitting the post and adding a penalty. 22-6 to Saints at half time. We dared to dream.
We knew that Leinster would come back like a storm in the second half. Unfortunately we had turned the underdog tag around. There is not much in this world more dangerous than an Irishman with his back against the wall. The hope was that the third try might be enough to keep us in the lead but this would require holding out for at least the first ten or fifteen minutes of the second half.
Saints started well enough. The first wave was repelled with a turn over and a long kick to touch. But the tide had turned. The Leinster attack was relentless . Eventually the sea wall broke and the tries started coming. Sexton fully deserved his man of the match. He has grown in stature rapidly and one can see why he has stolen O’Gara’s international crown. When his first conversion hit the same post as Myler but instead of bouncing back as Myler’s had, went over, the signs were there that this wasn’t going to be our day.
In the end it was the classic game of two halves. The difference being when Saints were scoring their 22 points Leinster managed to stay in touch with a couple of pens and scored 6. When Leinster scored their 27 Saints could not respond.
So the better team won in the end. But Saints didn’t lay down. Once the Irishmen established their lead, the Saints rallied. The bench were used and there was still some rugby to be played. But Leinster still had enough gas to make the tackles and the breakdown penalties went their way allowing them to clear their lines. Saints closest chance of getting the score that may have instilled some doubt in the champions minds came when Foden, who had a wonderful match, galloped past O’Driscoll and fed Ashton. A fully fit Flash would have gone for the outside and maybe, just maybe reached the line. But late in this game, late in a long hard season, it was a break too far and he cut back inside looking for support and the chance was gone. So no trophy for Saints for the first season since Jim took the reigns.
Jim Dorien and Grayse have, in three seasons, brought the club from the first division to the brink of European glory. They have built a team that can stand toe to toe with the best in Europe, a team that was 40 minutes away from lifting the Heineken cup. Now they must build a squad, within the limitations imposed, that can stay the course. That building has already started as we saw from the performances of Callum Clarke, Tom Mercey and Alex Waller and the raft of signings arriving next season.
If you are a Saints supporter you will be hurting today and for some time to come. And why not you dared to dream. You had one hand on the Heineken cup, the greatest prize in club rugby; you nearly touched the sky. But remember you won’t be hurting any more than the battered and bruised players who went to hell and back to try and make our dream come true. They left nothing on that pitch Saturday, they more than earned our support. Thank you lads. In time, if you can, watch the match again. You will come to realise what most of the neutrals already know. That was a fabulous game of rugby. Possibly one of the greatest finals ever. No tight cagey rugby, but two wonderful teams going hammer and tongs at each other, playing exciting, breathtaking football. And remember we may have lost but it was your team in the final. Not the mighty Toulouse, not Stade Francais nor Claremont. Not Leicester or Wasps, not even Munster. No, it was Northampton………Northampton in the final of the greatest club competition on earth…………and we will be back.
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Stumbleupon22/05/2011 13:36
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And you are so right: Saints did not lay down, they fought and fought but were outfought.
A great match deserves such a report: well writ.
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
Well written Malcolm - hits just the right note
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Quote:And remember we may have lost but it was your team in the final. Not the mighty Toulouse, not Stade Francais nor Claremont. Not Leicester or Wasps, not even Munster. No, it was Northampton………Northampton in the final of the greatest club competition on earth…………
and we will be back.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:05:22:19:30:41 by HjS.
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Malcolm, thank you. One out of the top drawer, Sir!
There was always the feeling at half-time that the game was far from over. And as I queued for the loo’s and listened to the young kid just behind me on the phone to his friend saying how we were 'killing them' and how ‘easy' it was, I felt ill at easy.
As I took my seat for the second half I had the feeling that most of those around me felt the same. The remainder of the game is history.
However the reality is that the first half was on reflection, one of the best I've seen us play. The second half in contrast showed one of the most committed team performance I’ve seen from another club (what did they put in their H/T drink) and in terms of our team the culmination of a hard fought season – one step beyond.
The Saints faces on the big screen as we left said it all for me, Ben in particular.
As we walked back into the Black Pig pub, a Welsh guy came up to me and said 'you must be gutted'. That didn't begin to cover how I felt at that moment, but he went onto say 'you must be so proud' and he was so right.
I enjoyed my first visit to the Millennium Stadium and like you I can’t help but think we will be back.
I can't wait for the new season and the promise it holds.
Chris
Well done!
I guess the Leinster coach, like Rob, told his guys that they knew they could do better, and they did!
Amazing game of rugby overall, unlucky though!
We'll be back.
WE WILL BE BACK OH YES!
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