Summary

  • FT: Saracens 38-15 Northampton

  • Saracens play Sale or Leicester at Twickenham on 27 May

  • Maitland scores twice for Sarries, Van Zyl and Malins also score plus penalty try

  • Mitchell and Ramm gave Northampton hope in second half before Sarries eased clear

  • Saracens finished top of the Premiership table, Northampton fourth

  • Get involved using #bbcrugby on Twitter

Live Reporting

Adam Lanigan

  1. Saracens 'almost error-free'

    HT: Saracens 21-3 Northampton

    Paul Grayson
    Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    There is always a way back. Saints can score at a furious rate if their mind turns to it or desperation makes them flick the switch in their attacking play, but Saracens look their ruthless best.

    They're comfortable in possession, even more comfortable out of it, Northampton haven't tested them at all.

    Saracens are winning all the collisions and are turning they ball over at will. They've been almost error-free - they have been brilliant.

  2. HT: Saracens 21-3 Northampton

    Lovejoy Chawatama
    London Irish prop on BBC Radio London

    You felt Northampton had to score, it was one of the best phases they have had.

    The Saracens defence has been fantastic today. They have been working hard, people have been doing their jobs at the right time.

  3. Half-time

    Saracens 21-3 Northampton

    Ivan van Zyl celebrates his try against NorthamptonGetty Images

    The scoreline underlines what we have seen over that first 40 minutes. Saracens have dominated in defence and attack.

    Northampton have the proverbial mountain to climb.

  4. Saracens 21-3 Northampton

    Eighth phase of play for Northampton but Ben Earl is in the thick of it again for Saracens as he is adjudged to have stopped Alex Mitchell from releasing the ball.

    An eighth turnover of the half for Saracens.

  5. Saracens 21-3 Northampton

    Northampton averaged 31 points per game in the regular Premiership season, but they have not been allowed to showcase that attacking game here.

    Even when they get near the line, Saracens clean it up and clear to halfway.

  6. Saracens 21-3 Northampton

    Lovejoy Chawatama
    London Irish prop on BBC Radio London

    Saracens are on fire today.

    If Northampton want to play rugby today they have to fix the breakdown.

  7. Saracens 21-3 Northampton

    Almost a fourth try for Saracens!

    But Ivan van Zyl knocks on when the line was beckoning after more sharp rugby that began with an audacious long pass from Owen Farrell.

    Sarries may feel they have let five points slip there.

  8. Saracens 21-3 Northampton

    Northampton are really under the pump now.

    Even when they get into Saracens territory, the home defence stands firm as Ben Earl turns the ball over to huge cheers from the home crowd.

  9. Saracens 21-3 Northampton

    Lennie Newman
    Former Northampton Saints player and manager on BBC Radio Northampton

    Alex Waller gives away the penalty, turns his back, remonstrates with the referee and leaves a gaping great hole for Van Zyl to go through.

    Saracens are looking unstoppable.

  10. converted try

    Converted try Saracens 21-3 Northampton

    Ivan van Zyl, con Owen Farrell

    Ivan van Zyl scores for SaracensGetty Images

    And from that penalty, Ivan van Zyl punishes Saints.

    Alex Waller gives away the penalty and rather than get back into position, he hands the ball to the scrum-half.

    The South Africa number nine is a livewire and doesn't need a second invitation as he bursts through the defence to sprint to the line.

    Owen Farrell then adds a simple conversion.

  11. Saracens 14-3 Northampton

    Saracens' big-match experience is starting to show and Owen Farrell is running the show from number ten.

    They go through the phases in Saints' half before Northampton concede a penalty.

  12. Saracens 14-3 Northampton

    Lennie Newman
    Former Northampton Saints player and manager on BBC Radio Northampton

    The ball's a hot potato for the Saints at the moment. It doesn't look structured, it doesn't look flowing, it looks a bit panicky.

  13. Saracens 14-3 Northampton

    Time is on Northampton's side, but the scoreboard is not.

    They cannot afford to ship any more tries before half-time if they are to have any chance of getting back into this.

    Throwing the ball into touch like they do there will not help much, though!

  14. Saracens 14-3 Northampton

    Paul Grayson
    Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Just when you thought the maul was fizzling out and Northampton had done their job of splintering it and then repelling the secondary drive, Saracens swept from right to left.

    Owen Farrell took the ball to the line, there was no obvious pass on and he dropped it on to his left foot, it was a perfect touch and a great finish from Sean Maitland.

  15. converted try

    Converted try: Saracens 14-3 Northampton

    Sean Maitland, con Owen Farrell

    Oh, Owen Farrell that is absolutely magic!

    Saracens go on the short side after they win a line-out and Farrell produces a beauty of a grubber kick on his left-foot.

    Sean Maitland reads it and is able to touch down in the corner for his second try of the match.

    To go with his wonderful set up, Farrell then nails the conversion from out on the line.

  16. Saracens 7-3 Northampton

    Saracens are having a lot of joy with high kicks, first from Ivan van Zyl and then Owen Farrell.

    It is putting Northampton under real pressure as they are forced to defend and retreat within their own half.

    The home team on top as we reach the halfway point of the half.

  17. Saracens 7-3 Northampton

    Then a great tackle of his own from Fin Smith as Max Malins looked to be charging towards the try line.

    Saracens then knock the ball on and Northampton have a scrum put-in.

  18. Saracens 7-3 Northampton

    Lovejoy Chawatama
    London Irish prop on BBC Radio London

    Saracens are winning every physical battle at the moment. They are different beast when it comes to semi-finals. You can see their intensity is different.

  19. Saracens 7-3 Northampton

    A great hit from Owen Farrell on his opposite number Fin Smith - a real bone cruncher.

    Nick Tompkins then backs it up and Saracens turn the ball over.

  20. Saracens 7-3 Northampton

    It's worth remembering that we are playing on an artificial 4G pitch at the StoneX Stadium.

    A couple of the Saracens players are wearing underlayers on their legs, presumably to protect themselves from cuts and bruises.

    I know my knees would be cuts to ribbons if I was diving and sliding on that surface!