Lowe Hat-Trick Vital As Leinster Survive Saints Fightback

An Investec Champions Cup record crowd of 82,300 watched Leinster come through a frantic finish at Croke Park to qualify for their third successive EPCR top-tier final.

A James Lowe hat-trick of tries, combined with player-of-the-match Jamison Gibson-Park steering the ship from scrum half, got Leo Cullen’s men over the line as 20-17 winners – but only just in the end.

Trailing by 17 points, Northampton Saints showed exactly why they are top of the Gallagher Premiership with a rousing comeback. George Hendy touched down before Fin Smith also converted replacement Tom Seabrook’s 73rd-minute effort.

Cian Healy was on the pitch at that stage, overtaking Ronan O’Gara with a record 111th Champions Cup appearance, and Jimmy O’Brien made his return from injury, as Leinster stood firm to keep their European dreams alive.

Hoping to add to their 2018 title and put a fifth star on the jersey, the province will face Toulouse, who were 38-26 winners over Harlequins, in a mouth-watering final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, May 25 (kick-off 2.45pm). Ticket details are here.

The first rugby match to be held at GAA headquarters since the 2010 Six Nations, and the first club rugby fixture at the Jones’ Road venue since Leinster’s memorable 2009 semi-final victory over Munster, had a slightly delayed kick-off to allow the capacity crowd to take their seats.

Northampton’s decision to take a quick lineout inside the opening minutes backfired, with Alex Mitchell knocking on under pressure from Joe McCarthy. Jordan Larmour then knocked on a cross-field kick from Ciarán Frawley, who had to react smartly to a loose Lowe pass.

Lowe picked up two early possessions, threading a fine touchfinder through on the left, but the handling errors continued for both teams. In addition, Leinster, who were captained by Caelan Doris, had to tidy up their scrum following an initial penalty against them.

A Gibson-Park kick over the top was fumbled by Hendy, giving the province prime scrum position. They drew a penalty from a bout of carrying, and Gibson-Park took it quickly in the 10th minute, as his scooped pass put Lowe over past Hendy.

Ross Byrne made it a full seven-pointer, and it was his interception that put Leinster on course for a 14th-minute score. Doris went close, before a brilliantly instinctive slap by Gibson-Park saw him bat the ball wide for Lowe to double his tally. The near post denied Byrne from the tee.

Early in the second quarter, a big tackle by Curtis Langdon on Josh van der Flier lifted Saints, along with a territorial gain with the boot. Nonetheless, handling errors continued to frustrate them in attack.

Van der Flier and Juarno Augustus showed their skills at the breakdown and in the tackle area, respectively, to force turnovers, but Leinster extended their lead in the 29th minute. Trevor Davison collapsed a scrum, and Byrne knocked over the kick from 13 metres out.

As Leinster, with Tadhg Furlong offering a big physical presence, came hunting again following another strong scrum, Northampton skipper Courtney Lawes won the breakdown battle to earn a relieving penalty, and his team certainly improved approaching the interval.

Good covering and kicking from Lowe and Larmour got Leinster out of their own 22. They breathed a sigh of relief when James Ramm knocked on a pass that was slightly behind him, blowing a near certain try.

Saints did manage to get on the board late on, with out-half Smith closing the gap to 15-3, yet with McCarthy and Ross Molony eking out every inch with their carries, the English outfit had to absorb more pressure before heading back to the dressing rooms.

Playing towards Hill 16 for the second half, Leinster stung Northampton early. A terrific burst from Ryan Baird started it, Robbie Henshaw did really well to stay in play, and a key offload from Dan Sheehan set up Frawley to send Lowe over in the left corner.

Eager to mount a swift response, Northampton lost a promising position when McCarthy ripped the ball away from Langdon. Frawley’s well-timed leap also prevented Smith from finding touch from a penalty.

Saints pressed again soon after, only for Leinster to made it scrappy ruck ball and McCarthy was first to it on the ground. Even when a steepling Mitchell kick led to Augustus and George Furbank threatening down the right wing, the hosts had the answers.

Replacement Jason Jenkins stole a lineout, and he then played a big role in Leinster winning a scrum penalty when Northampton had the feed, just five metres out.

Northampton’s endeavour did eventually lead to a try with 58 minutes on the clock. They got the ball wide to Hendy who chipped over Lowe, and the retreating Larmour and Andrew Porter failed to deal with the bouncing ball as it broke for the Saints winger to score.

Following a peach of a conversion from Smith to leave it 20-10, his opposite number Byrne missed a penalty from just outside Northampton’s 10-metre line. The intensity and tempo lifted again with just 10 points in it.

A tense spell of tactical kicking ensued, with Gibson-Park continually probing down the Cusack Stand side with some success. McCarthy, and impressive centres Jamie Osborne and Henshaw, remained hungry for work as some of Leinster’s most effective players around the pitch.

Healy came on to a huge ovation with just under nine minutes remaining. It was all hands to the pump defensively for Leinster, as Gibson-Park got back to cover Freeman’s dangerous kick through, and Frawley picked up a knock as he beat Furbank to Smith’s cross-field kick.

Saints made sure to convert the pressure into points, though. With Frawley down receiving treatment, they battered down the home defence, and Fraser Dingwall’s skip pass released Seabrook for the left corner.

Smith’s crisp conversion made it a three-point game, and Northampton supporters were suddenly dreaming of a repeat of their team’s pool win over Munster at Thomond Park in January when they came from 20-10 down to prevail.

Still full of running, Phil Dowson’s charges looked threatening in the wide channels. Lively replacement Jack Conan made some big defensive plays as Leinster scrambled hard, and he combined with Doris, at the breakdown, to win what proved to be the clinching penalty.