4 h. ago Maxime Lucu warns Bordeaux must ‘neutralise’ Henry Pollock threat

Pollock has starred on Northampton’s run to the Champions Cup final, earning a Lions call-up in the process.

Events

13 h. ago How Northampton can defy logic to triumph in the Champions Cup

European success has been the preserve of the French and Irish heavyweights in recent years but Northampton have hope of a second competition crown

Politics

36 h. ago Northampton’s Champions Cup final date with Bordeaux should be all

We can expect Phil Dowson’s Saints to hit the accelerator in Cardiff against a French side packed with creative talentHow do Northampton Saints go again? After pulling off a stunning upset to avenge last season’s semi-final defeat by Leinster and take their place in Saturday’s final, the question is how do Phil Dowson’s side overcome one of the French giants, Bordeaux, to clinch the Champions Cup?Had the final been a week later I’d have feared for Northampton but they are helped by the ability to distract themselves with Premiership action, and I think the manner of victory over Leinster plays into their hands. Northampton need to focus on being unashamedly themselves. In Dublin the gameplan was to put the car into fifth gear from the first whistle and that’s precisely what they did. When your approach is so authentic and in keeping with your culture, it makes it that much easier. Continue reading...

Sport

5 d. ago Saints’ fightback defies Itoje and provides perfect Champions Cup final sendoff

Comeback to see off Saracens highlights Northampton’s cutting edge – and how quickly a game can changeIt ended with the Lions captain in forlorn negotiation with the referee. Australians may be encouraged that Maro Itoje was unable to work his magic to save Saracens’ match, to save their season.They desperately needed the win – in a way that Northampton did not – but they were staring down the barrel of the most dramatic of last-minute defeats, 28-24, courtesy of Tarek Haffar’s second try. There were two passes in the buildup, both of which looked forward, but by the arcane procedures of the television match official protocols the decision-making was constrained by the referee’s initial instinct, which was that the try was good. Continue reading...

Sport

1 week ago Caelan Doris: Ireland captain could miss six months after shoulder injury wrecks Lions dream

Leinster confirm skipper facing at least four months out after surgery on shoulder issue suffered in Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Northampton

Events

1 week ago Can watching sport really improve your wellbeing? The science suggests it can | Sean Ingle

Couch potatoes and die-hard fans rejoice; all that time and money spent on your sports addiction may just be worth itAnd still the feast goes on. Since Rory McIlroy won a Masters for the ages, fans with multiple satellite TV subscriptions – and irregular sleeping habits – have been able to gorge on an extraordinary amount of dramatic sport. Seesawing shifts in momentum? Late twists? Huge shocks? We’ve had them all.It says something when Barcelona’s epic 3-2 victory against Real Madrid in a Copa del Rey final was only their third-most exciting match in the past month; and when my sober-eyed colleague Robert Kitson describes Northampton’s 37-34 Champions Cup win at Leinster as “one of the all‑time great knockout heists”. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Bordeaux set up Champions Cup final with Northampton after beating Toulouse

Louis Bielle-Biarrey stars with two tries in 35-18 winOwen Farrell hurt in Racing 92’s Challenge Cup defeatLouis Bielle-Biarrey’s stunning first try of two highlighted Bordeaux Bègles’ 35-18 win over Top 14 rivals Toulouse as they set up a Champions Cup final meeting with Northampton. Saints stunned Leinster in Saturday’s first semi-final.Bordeaux had raced into a 10-0 lead with a try from Pete Samu and a Matthieu Jalibert penalty, but Toulouse edged 11-10 up with a pair of Juan Cruz Mallia penalties either side of Dimitri Delibes’s try. Continue reading...

Sport

2 w. ago Northampton give Andy Farrell much to ponder before Lions unveiling

Henry Pollock impresses but can the British & Irish Lions head coach afford to leave him out the squad on ThursdayOne of the all-time great club knockout results could yet have big implications in the coming days. Northampton will now feel they have a genuine chance of lifting the Champions Cup for the first time in quarter of a century while Andy Farrell suddenly has much to ponder before Thursday’s British & Irish Lions squad announcement in London.Just as the Saints fully deserve to be contesting this month’s final against French challengers Bordeaux-Beglès so the prospects of several of their players have been significantly enhanced. It is now less a question, for example, of whether Henry Pollock and Fin Smith could make the plane and more whether Farrell can afford to leave them behind. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Brilliant Northampton hand Leinster more Champions Cup heartbreak in semi

Leinster 34-37 Northampton Saints: A sublime Saints performance saw the tournament favourites once again fall short of European glory to pose serious questions

Politics

2 w. ago Northampton stun Leinster with heroic victory to reach Champions Cup final

Leinster 34-37 NorthamptonSaints cling on for win following first-half blitzThis competition has seen a few remarkable results over the years but few to match this sweetest of Saints days. Maybe Leinster thought that a fourth successive Investec Champions Cup final appearance was a formality against supposedly outgunned English opposition. If so they were made to pay a heavy price as a triple whammy of tries from Tommy Freeman helped Northampton pull off one of the all-time great knockout heists.The Irish province, beaten in the final in the last three consecutive seasons, were stunned at the final whistle. But the Saints had led 27-15 at half-time and, even after Leinster had charged back to within three points the visitors came knocking again via a 62nd minute score from James Ramm. The final quarter was frantically tense, settled in contentious fashion after an aghast Leinster had a possible 79th-minute score disallowed. Continue reading...

Sport

3 w. ago Fin Smith and Sam Prendergast set for shootout in Champions Cup semi

Fly half hopefuls Smith and Prendergast will battle as Northampton take on a mighty challenge against Leinster

Events