How do Northampton Saints go again? Afterpulling off a stunning upsetto 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 forNorthamptonbut 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.
I also think we have two teams contesting the final after the heartache of last year – maybe even because of it. They bothlost knockout matchesin this competition in agonising circumstances and it often goes that you have to lose one to win one. Perhaps it will be a similar story for Bath in their Challenge Cup final against Lyon on Friday. Theylost the Premiership final last seasonand are now odds-on to complete a treble.
What I love about thisChampions Cupfinal is how both sides are set up to throw the ball around. Bordeaux have some frightening physicality, though Northampton do too, and in Josh Kemeny they have an outstanding performer who does not get the credit he deserves. But this match is going to be won on attacking prowess. Bordeaux possess wingers to die for in Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey. Penaud has already set the record for most tries in the competition in a season and Bielle-Biarrey is the most dangerous finisher on the international stage. They provide incredible balance to the side.
For Northampton, on their budget, even to have earned the right to face them in a final is testament to the work of Dowson and his coaches. It is easy to forget Dowson is only in his third season as director of rugby. He has already guided Northampton to the Premiership title and now a Champions Cup final. We often hear that English clubs have no hope in this competition because of their lack of spending power and if you were to rank the competing teams on financial strength alone, Saints would be nowhere near.
But Northampton have a brilliant English model of recruitment, wonderful player retention and an effective academy system. Players such asTommy Freeman, Alex Mitchell, George Furbank and Fraser Dingwall have been there a long time but have continued to improve and that’s a credit to Dowson.
Perhaps the biggest difference is thatNorthampton’s league formhas shown how difficult it is to go the distance in the Premiership and the Champions Cup, all the more so when the spine of your team are England internationals. I don’t imagine Dowson sat down at the beginning of the season and made the Champions Cup the No 1 priority but they have shown an ability to peak at the right time in a competition with a staccato rhythm.
If they are to prevail they’ll need another statement performance from Fin Smith at fly-half, the kind he delivered in Dublin, and the kind he has been producing for every major challenge he has faced this season. Andy Farrell, the British & Irish Lions coach, will be watching the matches in Cardiff closely this weekend because while Bath are favourites to beat Lyon, Finn Russell – another contender for the Lions No 10 jersey – could do with a big performance in a final.
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I expect to see one because I have been so impressed with the messaging coming out of Bath. Every coach, every player regardless of experience or standing in the squad, has showcased Bath’s ability to shut out external noise. They are not saying anything groundbreaking or unheard of but it demonstrates such togetherness. They should be under pressure as they seek a treble but they do not show any signs of it.
They’ve plotted their way through a gruelling campaign and the only way you can do that is with a strong identity and a strong leadership group. To have that collective buy-in goes well beyond rugby intellect. It speaks to personal buy-in from the coach and it’s clear that Johann van Graan must really care for his players and they must really care for him.
The same can be said of Dowson; perhaps that is the best illustration of why their sides are in European finals this weekend.