Leinster made to fight all the way

UNDERDOGS Northampton will be rueing a disappointing error strewn opening 55 minutes because after that they were clearly the stronger side as Leinster clung on desperately to reach another final.

- BRENDAN GALLAGHER

Saints, who have played two epic Premiership games in the last fortnight while cash rich and centrally contracted Leinster rested virtually their entire 23, finished much the stronger and could even have nicked it.

With an irony that wasn’t lost on Saints or their supporters they were pinged, with 90 seconds left, for going off their feet at an attacking ruck in front of the Leinster posts. Correct call but Leinster had been doing precisely the same unpunished at virtually every ruck all game. Rugby can be a truly unfathomable game for spectators on occasions.

As it is, the record will show that an outstanding hat-trick by James Lowe who, with Jamison Gibson-Park, kept Leinster afloat at times in the second half, proved just enough to book at place in the final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against either Toulouse or Harlequins.

Northampton, having educated themselves as to the historical significance of Croke Park in midweek, had to travel without in-form wing Ollie Sleightholme who hasn’t overcome a recent concussion and barnstorming flanker Lewis Ludlum who suffered a shoulder injury when being “cleared out” at a ruck against Harlequins last week. Saints have good depth, but you fancied both players would be missed at one of sport’s great cathedrals.

Not since Dan Parks – remember him? – kicked a late penalty to see Scotland home 23-20 against Ireland in 2010 – has rugby taken centre stage at Croke Park which staged 14 Ireland Tests in four seasons between 2007 and 2010. There was also that Heineken Cup semi-final in 2009 when 82,208, then a world record for a club game, watched Leinster beat Munster 25-6.