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| Northampton 24-29 Saracens: Premiership play-off semi-final – as it happened! | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.01pm BST16:01 | |
| FULL-TIME! Northampton 24-29 Saracens | |
| 80 min: No, they cannot. After almost a dozen phases of impressive defensive play, Greg Garner’s whistle goes. And Saracens are on their way to Twickenham! Revenge for last year’s final is theirs. Thanks for reading, I’ll be back shortly for the second semi-final. Bye! | |
| 3.59pm BST15:59 | |
| PENALTY! Northampton 24-29 Saracens (pen: Myler) | |
| 80 min: But from the scrum they concede a penalty, which Myler drives over. Five in it but this is the final play. They can’t, can they? | |
| 3.57pm BST15:57 | |
| 79 min: Farrell now produces another huge hit on Ken Pisi, who spills it and Sarries have a scrum entering the final minute. | |
| 3.56pm BST15:56 | |
| PENALTY! Northampton 21-29 Saracens (pen: Farrell) | |
| 78 min: That is amazing from Farrell. Nerves of steel. He extends the gap to eight points, or more importantly two scores. And that, you feel, is curtains. | |
| 3.54pm BST15:54 | |
| 77 min: But Northampton cannot continue and they concede a penalty on the 10. Farrell will go for the posts … This could be decisive. | |
| 3.54pm BST15:54 | |
| 75 min: Dickinson on for Clark. And when play restarts Kruis wins the lineout for Saracens. They work it through the phases, trying to draw a penalty in but are eventually turned over and Burrell makes some ground before bouncing off Farrell. Fotuali’i kicks from a ruck near the 10. It’s not great but Elliot somehow manages to retrieve. | |
| Updated at 4.03pm BST | |
| 3.52pm BST15:52 | |
| 72 min: Another Saints knock-on near halfway and Sarries have a free-kick after a failed attempt at the scrum. Farrell drives the ball so far into the air that it may have been seen in Allianz Park with a decent set of binoculars and the visitors get possession back. The ball works its way to Taylor, who finds touch on the right, a couple of metres outside the 22 – exactly where Sarries will want it. | |
| 3.48pm BST15:48 | |
| 70 min: Fotuali’i sends a delightful kick into the corner and the pressure is back on Saracens but they take their own lineout and clear the danger as far as the 10 where Ken Pisi will go again. He gives it to Elliot near the 22 but he spills it and we will scrum it on down. | |
| 3.45pm BST15:45 | |
| 69 min: Lawes takes the second lineout down, he feeds Manoa. Hartley takes it from the bottom of the ruck but is halted immediately. Seven phases later Lawes in front of the posts makes some yards but Saints are driven further left. Myler sends it back towards his right right and in the 12th phase Waller is punished for going in off his feet. That could be a big moment as the pressure was building to a level where Sarries may not have been able to handle it much longer. | |
| Updated at 4.02pm BST | |
| 3.44pm BST15:44 | |
| 67 min: From the lineout Saints get their maul on again, but Mako Vunipola is penalised for offside and we go back to the corner once more. | |
| 3.41pm BST15:41 | |
| 66 min: Before the lineout can be taken, Itoje replaces Wray. | |
| 3.40pm BST15:40 | |
| 65 min: Penalty count now reads 8-16, the latest from Saracens results in Myler kicking to the corner. | |
| 3.38pm BST15:38 | 3.38pm BST15:38 |
| PENALTY! Northampton 21-26 Saracens (pen: Farrell) | PENALTY! Northampton 21-26 Saracens (pen: Farrell) |
| 62 min: Pressure does not affect Owen Farrell. He sends a long-range kick over and the gap is now five. | 62 min: Pressure does not affect Owen Farrell. He sends a long-range kick over and the gap is now five. |
| Updated at 3.56pm BST | |
| 3.36pm BST15:36 | 3.36pm BST15:36 |
| 61 min: Denman, off his feet, concedes a penalty in the scrum near halfway. | 61 min: Denman, off his feet, concedes a penalty in the scrum near halfway. |
| 3.36pm BST15:36 | 3.36pm BST15:36 |
| 60 min: Du Plessis is replaced by Figallo for the final quarter. | 60 min: Du Plessis is replaced by Figallo for the final quarter. |
| 3.34pm BST15:34 | 3.34pm BST15:34 |
| TRY! Northampton 21-23 Saracens (try: Wood) | TRY! Northampton 21-23 Saracens (try: Wood) |
| 57 min: What a game we have. This has come entirely against the run of play since half-time but – AGAIN – from a lineout Saints get their roll on in the maul. It’s unstoppable and Tom Wood makes it over. The referee spots Hartley and George having some afters and refers to the TMO but concludes that “I don’t see much in this”. With a chance to level proceedings again, Myler’s testing conversion is shanked wide to the right. | 57 min: What a game we have. This has come entirely against the run of play since half-time but – AGAIN – from a lineout Saints get their roll on in the maul. It’s unstoppable and Tom Wood makes it over. The referee spots Hartley and George having some afters and refers to the TMO but concludes that “I don’t see much in this”. With a chance to level proceedings again, Myler’s testing conversion is shanked wide to the right. |
| Updated at 3.43pm BST | |
| 3.28pm BST15:28 | 3.28pm BST15:28 |
| PENALTY! Northampton 16-23 Saracens (pen: Farrell) | PENALTY! Northampton 16-23 Saracens (pen: Farrell) |
| 52 min: Saracens are really beginning to dominate proceedings now. Northampton’s pack look increasingly tired and badly missing the services of Corbisiero. Stephenson is penalised for not rolling away and Farrell uses the advantage to send a hail Mary to his right. It is claimed by Pisi, we go back for the penalty. Farrell does not break sweat, sending it over with ease. Denman comes on for Ma’afu in the Saints’ front row. | 52 min: Saracens are really beginning to dominate proceedings now. Northampton’s pack look increasingly tired and badly missing the services of Corbisiero. Stephenson is penalised for not rolling away and Farrell uses the advantage to send a hail Mary to his right. It is claimed by Pisi, we go back for the penalty. Farrell does not break sweat, sending it over with ease. Denman comes on for Ma’afu in the Saints’ front row. |
| 3.25pm BST15:25 | 3.25pm BST15:25 |
| 50 min: Dickson is off to have a head injury assessed, Fotuali’i is on for him. It may well be permanent. | 50 min: Dickson is off to have a head injury assessed, Fotuali’i is on for him. It may well be permanent. |
| 3.23pm BST15:23 | 3.23pm BST15:23 |
| 49 min: Mako Vunipola kicks the ball away on halfway as Dickson tries to recycle from a ruck. That’s the 12th penalty conceded by Sarries compared to Northampton’s five. | 49 min: Mako Vunipola kicks the ball away on halfway as Dickson tries to recycle from a ruck. That’s the 12th penalty conceded by Sarries compared to Northampton’s five. |
| 3.22pm BST15:22 | 3.22pm BST15:22 |
| TRY! Northampton 16-20 Saracens (try: George, con: Farrell) | TRY! Northampton 16-20 Saracens (try: George, con: Farrell) |
| 47 min: That lead did not last long, though! Saracens are back in front through a Jamie George try but the credit must go to his pals in the pack after a terrific maul from a lineout in similar territory to where Saints earned their penalty try in the first half. A difficult conversion from Farrell is perfectly struck. The home forwards are looking a little jaded. | 47 min: That lead did not last long, though! Saracens are back in front through a Jamie George try but the credit must go to his pals in the pack after a terrific maul from a lineout in similar territory to where Saints earned their penalty try in the first half. A difficult conversion from Farrell is perfectly struck. The home forwards are looking a little jaded. |
| Updated at 3.31pm BST | Updated at 3.31pm BST |
| 3.17pm BST15:17 | 3.17pm BST15:17 |
| PENALTY! Northampton 16-13 Saracens (pen: Myler) | PENALTY! Northampton 16-13 Saracens (pen: Myler) |
| 43 min: It’s been a similarly attritional start to the second period but Sarries have conceded a penalty inside their own 22 after a strong maul following a Saints lineout. Myler does not have any problems converting his fourth kick from four. | 43 min: It’s been a similarly attritional start to the second period but Sarries have conceded a penalty inside their own 22 after a strong maul following a Saints lineout. Myler does not have any problems converting his fourth kick from four. |
| Updated at 3.25pm BST | Updated at 3.25pm BST |
| 3.14pm BST15:14 | 3.14pm BST15:14 |
| Peep! | Peep! |
| 41 min: Farrell gets us going again. Saints change: Stephenson on for Wilson, who had replaced Tuala early on but picked up an injury. | 41 min: Farrell gets us going again. Saints change: Stephenson on for Wilson, who had replaced Tuala early on but picked up an injury. |
| 3.08pm BST15:08 | 3.08pm BST15:08 |
| It was 18-1 that this would finish level at 80 minutes! It wouldn’t be a bad shout now. | It was 18-1 that this would finish level at 80 minutes! It wouldn’t be a bad shout now. |
| Updated at 3.14pm BST | Updated at 3.14pm BST |
| 2.56pm BST14:56 | 2.56pm BST14:56 |
| PENALTY and HALF-TIME! Northampton 13-13 Saracens (pen: Myler) | PENALTY and HALF-TIME! Northampton 13-13 Saracens (pen: Myler) |
| 40 min +3: The final act of a heavy opening half sees Myler level it up again. | 40 min +3: The final act of a heavy opening half sees Myler level it up again. |
| 2.54pm BST14:54 | 2.54pm BST14:54 |
| 39 min: Forty seconds to go until the break and Myler kicks to touch. Saints take a quick lineout in an attempt to catch Sarries out but they cotton on near the 22 and the maul is halted. Ken Pisi fails to break the line from Dickson’s pass, they recycle 111 times without making any yards but this substantial level of pressure finally comes to an end when Burger pummels Ken Pisi and then gives away a penalty for not rolling away quick enough. What! A! Hit! | 39 min: Forty seconds to go until the break and Myler kicks to touch. Saints take a quick lineout in an attempt to catch Sarries out but they cotton on near the 22 and the maul is halted. Ken Pisi fails to break the line from Dickson’s pass, they recycle 111 times without making any yards but this substantial level of pressure finally comes to an end when Burger pummels Ken Pisi and then gives away a penalty for not rolling away quick enough. What! A! Hit! |
| Updated at 3.28pm BST | Updated at 3.28pm BST |
| 2.49pm BST14:49 | 2.49pm BST14:49 |
| 37 min: We’re enduring a little bit of a lull in the past couple of the minutes with some non-descript kicking back and forth but you’ve got to say the story of the half has been the phenomenal level of ferocity in the tackle. | 37 min: We’re enduring a little bit of a lull in the past couple of the minutes with some non-descript kicking back and forth but you’ve got to say the story of the half has been the phenomenal level of ferocity in the tackle. |
| Updated at 2.56pm BST | Updated at 2.56pm BST |
| 2.45pm BST14:45 | 2.45pm BST14:45 |
| 35 min: Taylor is punished for a deliberate knock-on, deliberately slapping away a George Pisi pass, and Myler dispatches the kick to touch near Sarries’ 10. | 35 min: Taylor is punished for a deliberate knock-on, deliberately slapping away a George Pisi pass, and Myler dispatches the kick to touch near Sarries’ 10. |
| 2.43pm BST14:43 | 2.43pm BST14:43 |
| 34 min: Alex Corbisiero’s game is over with a shoulder injury – he is being replaced by Alex Waller, who scored the winning try in last year’s final. | 34 min: Alex Corbisiero’s game is over with a shoulder injury – he is being replaced by Alex Waller, who scored the winning try in last year’s final. |
| 2.43pm BST14:43 | 2.43pm BST14:43 |
| PENALTY! Northampton 10-13 Saracens (pen: Farrell) | PENALTY! Northampton 10-13 Saracens (pen: Farrell) |
| 32 min: Dylan Hartley produces a massive hit on Billy Vunipola. But Greg Garner gives a penalty for not rolling away afterwards. He also refers Hartley’s tackle to the TMO to see if he attempted to bind and after some debate it was judged to be fair. Farrell goes for the posts from 40m and swings it over to put the visitors back in front. | 32 min: Dylan Hartley produces a massive hit on Billy Vunipola. But Greg Garner gives a penalty for not rolling away afterwards. He also refers Hartley’s tackle to the TMO to see if he attempted to bind and after some debate it was judged to be fair. Farrell goes for the posts from 40m and swings it over to put the visitors back in front. |
| Updated at 2.46pm BST | Updated at 2.46pm BST |
| 2.38pm BST14:38 | 2.38pm BST14:38 |
| 30 min: Almost immediately Northampton concede an unnecessary penalty for not rolling away quickly on their own 10 after good play from Itoje and Barritt. It’s a difficult one for Farrell, though, far on the right, and he hooks it too far left. That’s his first miss of the day and we remain tied. | 30 min: Almost immediately Northampton concede an unnecessary penalty for not rolling away quickly on their own 10 after good play from Itoje and Barritt. It’s a difficult one for Farrell, though, far on the right, and he hooks it too far left. That’s his first miss of the day and we remain tied. |
| 2.35pm BST14:35 | 2.35pm BST14:35 |
| PENALTY! Northampton 10-10 Saracens (pen: Myler) | PENALTY! Northampton 10-10 Saracens (pen: Myler) |
| 27 min: Saracens denying Saints another score when down to 14 was a big psychological boost for the visitors but they cannot lead for long as from the restart they concede a penalty and Myler makes it 10-10. | 27 min: Saracens denying Saints another score when down to 14 was a big psychological boost for the visitors but they cannot lead for long as from the restart they concede a penalty and Myler makes it 10-10. |
| 2.33pm BST14:33 | 2.33pm BST14:33 |
| PENALTY! Northampton 7-10 Saracens (pen: Farrell) | PENALTY! Northampton 7-10 Saracens (pen: Farrell) |
| 26 min: Saracens rapidly clear their lines from the lineout and are up quickly to stop Saints advancing. Taylor is the fastest one up and forces a knock-on 35 from the posts. Farrell splits the posts. | 26 min: Saracens rapidly clear their lines from the lineout and are up quickly to stop Saints advancing. Taylor is the fastest one up and forces a knock-on 35 from the posts. Farrell splits the posts. |
| Updated at 2.33pm BST | Updated at 2.33pm BST |
| 2.31pm BST14:31 | 2.31pm BST14:31 |
| 23 min: From the lineout the ball works across to Wilson, who replaced the injured Tuala, and his delayed kick is almost blocked down. Myler, via Corbisiero’s collection, sends a second kick to touch. Itoje has returned with Barrington coming back off now Vunipola has returned. | 23 min: From the lineout the ball works across to Wilson, who replaced the injured Tuala, and his delayed kick is almost blocked down. Myler, via Corbisiero’s collection, sends a second kick to touch. Itoje has returned with Barrington coming back off now Vunipola has returned. |
| Updated at 2.44pm BST | Updated at 2.44pm BST |
| 2.29pm BST14:29 | 2.29pm BST14:29 |
| 22 min: Saracens concede a penalty and Farrell kicks to touch near halfway. Meanwhile, Mako returns. | 22 min: Saracens concede a penalty and Farrell kicks to touch near halfway. Meanwhile, Mako returns. |
| 2.27pm BST14:27 | 2.27pm BST14:27 |
| 22 min: Garner doesn’t like the first attempt, so it will be reset. | 22 min: Garner doesn’t like the first attempt, so it will be reset. |
| 2.26pm BST14:26 | 2.26pm BST14:26 |
| 21 min: Saracens deal with it this time and send it to halfway but Saints are soon on their bike and back on the front-foot. Dickson makes the key break and motors into the 22. Corbisiero, Burrell and Wood are denied by big tackles as Saracens get their defensive shape back quickly before the hosts concede a penalty for obstruction. This is an important scrum … | 21 min: Saracens deal with it this time and send it to halfway but Saints are soon on their bike and back on the front-foot. Dickson makes the key break and motors into the 22. Corbisiero, Burrell and Wood are denied by big tackles as Saracens get their defensive shape back quickly before the hosts concede a penalty for obstruction. This is an important scrum … |
| 2.22pm BST14:22 | 2.22pm BST14:22 |
| 18 min: Saints get a move on in the scrum and win a penalty. Myler buries it into the Sarries 22. | 18 min: Saints get a move on in the scrum and win a penalty. Myler buries it into the Sarries 22. |
| 2.20pm BST14:20 | 2.20pm BST14:20 |
| 17 min: Before the scrum and due to Mako Vunipola’s sin binning, Barrington is on temporarily for Itoje. | 17 min: Before the scrum and due to Mako Vunipola’s sin binning, Barrington is on temporarily for Itoje. |
| 2.19pm BST14:19 | 2.19pm BST14:19 |
| 16 min: Sarries go back on the attack but Barritt is judged to have given a forward pass to Taylor after a neat feed from Farrell. | 16 min: Sarries go back on the attack but Barritt is judged to have given a forward pass to Taylor after a neat feed from Farrell. |
| 2.18pm BST14:18 | 2.18pm BST14:18 |
| TRY! Northampton 7-7 Saracens (penalty try, con: Myler) | TRY! Northampton 7-7 Saracens (penalty try, con: Myler) |
| 14 min: Third time lucky! The maul is interrupted once more and Garner has had enough, awarding a penalty try – Saints’ sixth of the season. The extras are added from under the posts by Myler. | 14 min: Third time lucky! The maul is interrupted once more and Garner has had enough, awarding a penalty try – Saints’ sixth of the season. The extras are added from under the posts by Myler. |
| Updated at 2.29pm BST | Updated at 2.29pm BST |
| 2.16pm BST14:16 | 2.16pm BST14:16 |
| YELLOW CARD! Mako Vunipola | YELLOW CARD! Mako Vunipola |
| 12 min: The lineout soon becomes a maul and it has enough behind it to make it over the line but Greg Garner says there’s no try, instead penalising Billy Vunipola for entering at the side. The following lineout turns into another ferocious maul and this time it is Mako who concedes the penalty and trudges off for 10 minutes with a bloodied nose to boot. | 12 min: The lineout soon becomes a maul and it has enough behind it to make it over the line but Greg Garner says there’s no try, instead penalising Billy Vunipola for entering at the side. The following lineout turns into another ferocious maul and this time it is Mako who concedes the penalty and trudges off for 10 minutes with a bloodied nose to boot. |
| Updated at 2.28pm BST | Updated at 2.28pm BST |
| 2.13pm BST14:13 | 2.13pm BST14:13 |
| 10 min: Burger produces a massive hit on Elliot and Saracens turn it over briefly before losing it again. Then Myler sends the ball into touch near the left-sided corner with a beautiful kick. From there Saints steal the lineout but Sarries defence repel them for 10 phases before conceding a penalty for not moving away quick enough. Does Myler go for the posts? No – it’s for the corner. | 10 min: Burger produces a massive hit on Elliot and Saracens turn it over briefly before losing it again. Then Myler sends the ball into touch near the left-sided corner with a beautiful kick. From there Saints steal the lineout but Sarries defence repel them for 10 phases before conceding a penalty for not moving away quick enough. Does Myler go for the posts? No – it’s for the corner. |
| 2.11pm BST14:11 | 2.11pm BST14:11 |
| 8 min: But Mako Vunipola has turned it over after two phases before the ball ends up in the Saints 22, from where it is kicked back again. | 8 min: But Mako Vunipola has turned it over after two phases before the ball ends up in the Saints 22, from where it is kicked back again. |
| 2.10pm BST14:10 | 2.10pm BST14:10 |
| 7 min: A Burger knock-on results in the first scrum of the game but from it the hosts display some more nervy handling. Burrell eventually kicks and wins a lineout on the Sarries 10 which is taken down by Wood. | 7 min: A Burger knock-on results in the first scrum of the game but from it the hosts display some more nervy handling. Burrell eventually kicks and wins a lineout on the Sarries 10 which is taken down by Wood. |
| 2.09pm BST14:09 | 2.09pm BST14:09 |
| 6 min: Northampton have yet to really settle but you get the sense there will be helluva lot of kicking throughout this contest. Ahsee Tuala, the Saints full-back, has left the action for treatment on what appears to be an arm injury. | 6 min: Northampton have yet to really settle but you get the sense there will be helluva lot of kicking throughout this contest. Ahsee Tuala, the Saints full-back, has left the action for treatment on what appears to be an arm injury. |
| 2.07pm BST14:07 | 2.07pm BST14:07 |
| TRY! Northampton 0-7 Saracens (try: Strettle, con: Farrell) | TRY! Northampton 0-7 Saracens (try: Strettle, con: Farrell) |
| 2 min: What a start! Strettle takes a poor pass from Barritt on the right touchline inside his own 10 and chips down the line. The ball bounces kindly, Taylor reaches it first, finds Strettle behind him. Burger tries to stop him advancing but the Sarries wing makes it across the line. Greg Garner checkes with the TMO but it’s never really in doubt. Farrell adds the extras. | 2 min: What a start! Strettle takes a poor pass from Barritt on the right touchline inside his own 10 and chips down the line. The ball bounces kindly, Taylor reaches it first, finds Strettle behind him. Burger tries to stop him advancing but the Sarries wing makes it across the line. Greg Garner checkes with the TMO but it’s never really in doubt. Farrell adds the extras. |
| Updated at 2.21pm BST | Updated at 2.21pm BST |
| 2.03pm BST14:03 | 2.03pm BST14:03 |
| 1 min: Saracens send it back to where it came from and are up quick with a couple of solid early tackles to deny Saints any progress. It goes back and forth for a bit without either troubling. | 1 min: Saracens send it back to where it came from and are up quick with a couple of solid early tackles to deny Saints any progress. It goes back and forth for a bit without either troubling. |
| Updated at 2.11pm BST | Updated at 2.11pm BST |
| 2.01pm BST14:01 | 2.01pm BST14:01 |
| Peep! | Peep! |
| Stephen Myler gets us underway! | Stephen Myler gets us underway! |
| 2.00pm BST14:00 | 2.00pm BST14:00 |
| The teams are emerging from the changing rooms to a lively welcome from a packed Franklin’s Gardens. Almost set! | The teams are emerging from the changing rooms to a lively welcome from a packed Franklin’s Gardens. Almost set! |
| 1.37pm BST13:37 | 1.37pm BST13:37 |
| There is one change on the Saracens bench – Jared Saunders steps into the place of Schalk Brits, who is ill – but both will start as announced. | There is one change on the Saracens bench – Jared Saunders steps into the place of Schalk Brits, who is ill – but both will start as announced. |
| 1.15pm BST13:15 | 1.15pm BST13:15 |
| Rub you hands together, lick your lips in preparation for what’s to come. | Rub you hands together, lick your lips in preparation for what’s to come. |
| Northampton are the reigning champions and this year finished top of the table. They have a hex over Saracens, having beaten them in last year’s final – thanks to a try from the replacement prop Alex Waller in the final minute of extra-time – but the omens for them to retain their title do not look good. Only four of the past dozen champions finished the season on top of the table and only Leicester and Wasps have successfully defended their titles. | Northampton are the reigning champions and this year finished top of the table. They have a hex over Saracens, having beaten them in last year’s final – thanks to a try from the replacement prop Alex Waller in the final minute of extra-time – but the omens for them to retain their title do not look good. Only four of the past dozen champions finished the season on top of the table and only Leicester and Wasps have successfully defended their titles. |
| Saracens, meanwhile, are still hurting from losing both the Premiership final to the Saints and European showpiece formerly known as the | Saracens, meanwhile, are still hurting from losing both the Premiership final to the Saints and European showpiece formerly known as the |
| Very Average Dutch Lager | Very Average Dutch Lager |
| Heineken Cup against Toulon 12 months ago. Those wounds have not yet healed and while today’s battle could be considered a revenge mission, especially having lost the past three Premiership meetings between the two, reaching Twickenham next weekend will be a step towards redemption. They have also finished the season in top form – even if many in the camp will insist this is a clean slate and what has gone before matters for little in the buildup to this. | Heineken Cup against Toulon 12 months ago. Those wounds have not yet healed and while today’s battle could be considered a revenge mission, especially having lost the past three Premiership meetings between the two, reaching Twickenham next weekend will be a step towards redemption. They have also finished the season in top form – even if many in the camp will insist this is a clean slate and what has gone before matters for little in the buildup to this. |
| This is a recently developed rivalry but one that has grown more ferocious with each passing fixture. Those with longer memories will recall the play-off semi-final at this venue in 2010, when Sarries won 21-19 with a last-minute conversion from the boot of Glen Jackson and they infuriated their hosts by celebrating through the medium of an irritating celebratory song. Will we be hearing this belted out again at the end of what promises to be an absorbing 80 minutes? Or will Northampton be heading for south-west London again? Email and tweet me your predictions, then sit back and enjoy. | This is a recently developed rivalry but one that has grown more ferocious with each passing fixture. Those with longer memories will recall the play-off semi-final at this venue in 2010, when Sarries won 21-19 with a last-minute conversion from the boot of Glen Jackson and they infuriated their hosts by celebrating through the medium of an irritating celebratory song. Will we be hearing this belted out again at the end of what promises to be an absorbing 80 minutes? Or will Northampton be heading for south-west London again? Email and tweet me your predictions, then sit back and enjoy. |
| The teams | The teams |
| Northampton: 15 Ahsee Tuala; 14 Ken Pisi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Jamie Elliott, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson; 1 Alex Corbisiero, 2 Dylan Hartley (capt), 3 Salesi Ma’afu; 4 Courtney Lawes, 5 Christian Day, 6 Tom Wood, 7 Calum Clark, 8 Samu Manoa. Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Sam Dickinson, 20 Jon Fisher, 21 Kahn Fotuali’i, 22 Tom Stephenson, 23 James Wilson. | Northampton: 15 Ahsee Tuala; 14 Ken Pisi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Jamie Elliott, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson; 1 Alex Corbisiero, 2 Dylan Hartley (capt), 3 Salesi Ma’afu; 4 Courtney Lawes, 5 Christian Day, 6 Tom Wood, 7 Calum Clark, 8 Samu Manoa. Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Sam Dickinson, 20 Jon Fisher, 21 Kahn Fotuali’i, 22 Tom Stephenson, 23 James Wilson. |
| Saracens: 15 Alex Goode; 14 Chris Wyles, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 David Strettle; 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Petrus Du Plessis; 4 George Kruis, 5 Alistair Hargreaves (capt); 6 Maro Itoje, 7 Jacques Burger, 8 Billy Vunipola. Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Chris Ashton. | Saracens: 15 Alex Goode; 14 Chris Wyles, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 David Strettle; 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Petrus Du Plessis; 4 George Kruis, 5 Alistair Hargreaves (capt); 6 Maro Itoje, 7 Jacques Burger, 8 Billy Vunipola. Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Chris Ashton. |
| Referee: Greg Garner. Assistant referees: Luke Pearce and Matthew Carley. TMO: Sean Davey. | Referee: Greg Garner. Assistant referees: Luke Pearce and Matthew Carley. TMO: Sean Davey. |
| Kick-off: 2pm BST. | Kick-off: 2pm BST. |
| Updated at 1.55pm BST | Updated at 1.55pm BST |