However, Northampton made a load of mistakes when they were pressured by a very good Leinster defence in the first-half of their recent European Cup semi-final – and Saints were pretty naive in the way they stuck to their guns by trying to attack off everything, with their errors exploited for James Lowe to score a hat-trick of tries.
This will probably change as Northampton play more of these big high-pressure games, because sometimes you have to find ways to win that are not about always running the ball. It’s also about mixing your kicking game, and keeping the opposition guessing. All-out attack might win you some big knock-out games, but to my reckoning it will not win you the majority of them.
Saracens are like Leinster in the sense that they have a solid defence and know how to counter-attack very effectively, as they proved recently by outplaying Bristol at Ashton Gate. They move as a 15 with everyone understanding their roles, and there is a snap in the way that they switch into the mode required, whether it’s in attack or defence.
When Saracens are at their best they have a collective attitude and determination, and a synchronisation which has made them very difficult to beat. But, don’t get me wrong, because I’ve loved watching a Northampton attack which has combined flair and precision this season to such an extent that, with some of the tries they’ve scored, you just stand up and applaud.
Northampton have also got over a psychological barrier by beating Saracens both away and home in the Premiership this season. Those two wins could be significant, but Saracens have the advantage of being more familiar with the atmosphere surrounding semi-finals and finals than Northampton.
"Emotions will run high as Saracens will not want it to end without Farrell lifting the trophy"
Denne historien er fra May 26, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra May 26, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.
South America look to keep on building
AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.
Scarratt excited by new pathway
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Baxter: I want to make things better
ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.
New England group will cause uncertainty
SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.
Galthie turns his sights to the future
FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.
New faces take the plaudits for Saints
NORTHAMPTON handed out a thorough lesson to a tame Leicester team in this one-sided East Midlands derby to launch the Premiership Cup.
