Summary

  • Northampton Saints into Champions Cup final as they stun Leinster 37-34 in all-time classic semi-final in Dublin

  • Read Jonathan Bradley's match report

  • The Premiership side reach their first Champions Cup final since 2011, while Leinster fail to make the final for the first time in four years

  • First half: Freeman hat-trick and Pollock scores for Saints; O'Brien and Van der Flier respond for Leinster

  • Second half: Doris, Sheehan and Lowe tries for Leinster; Ramm hits back for Saints

  • Controversial last-minute refereeing decision as Leinster denied try

Live Reporting

Mantej Mann

  1. Leinster 22-27 Northampton

    Northampton haven't had lots of opportunity to attack since the interval but they win the penalty as Leinster try to play the ball at the breakdown.

    Fin Smith lining up a long shot at goal.

  2. Leinster 22-27 Northampton

    Jonathan Bradley
    BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist

    We've come to expect 50:22s from James Lowe. Not so much from Caelan Doris, it must be said.

    The Leinster maul just hasn't got going today, though.

    This is the sort of semi-final where those moments feel like such huge swings of momentum.

  3. Replacement

    Leinster 22-27 Northampton

    New Zealand's Jordie Barrett is onto the field for Leinster. The World Cup winner replaces Robbie Henshaw at inside centre.

  4. Leinster 22-27 Northampton

    From try-scorer to deadly kicker.

    Caelan Doris rips the ball in the tackle before spinning and firing a 50:22 down the other end.

    The Leinster faithful like that but their side then make a hash of the subsequent line-out.

    This semi-final is so finely poised.

  5. try

    Converted Try - Leinster 22-27 Northampton

    Caelan Doris (con Sam Prendergast)

    Clever.

    Leinster reshuffle their options before taking a quick tap penalty for Caelan Doris to power over.

    The captain delivers for his side and Sam Prendergast adds the conversion.

  6. Leinster 15-27 Northampton

    Caelan Doris makes a slight break but he loses control of the ball as he tries to force the offload.

    Sam Prendergast then drops a low pass by Jamison Gibson-Park.

    Leinster are masters of their own misfortune at the moment.

  7. Leinster 15-27 Northampton

    You have to wonder how Leinster will respond.

    The Irish province were favourites to reach a fourth consecutive Champions Cup final, but it all looks very different now.

  8. Leinster 15-27 Northampton

    Fin Smith gets us back up and running...

  9. HT: Leinster 15-27 Northampton

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

    Sensational stuff from Northampton. They've taken every single opportunity presented to them, created by themselves.

    Breathtaking counter-attack try for Tommy Freeman first, Fin Smith makes the break and nudges the ball through.

    And then the offload for the last Freeman try, Juarno Augustus, one-handed over the top, and Freeman's finish was world class.

  10. HT: Leinster 15-27 Northampton

    It's been the Tommy Freeman show...

    Tommy FreemanGetty Images

  11. HT: Leinster 15-27 Northampton

    Jonathan Bradley
    BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist

    With the likes of RG Snyman, Jordie Barrett and Rabah Slimani all added to the squad for this season, and their subsequent dominance of the two knock-out rounds so far, there has been a sense of 'if not now, when?' about Leinster's quest for a first European title since 2018.

    Well, after Tommy Freeman's first-half hat-trick, if they are to maintain hopes of getting their hands on the trophy again next month, they're about to face a serious examination of their title credentials.

    The Saints have been superb in Dublin!

  12. HT: Leinster 15-27 Northampton

    Leinster are intent on reducing the deficit before the interval but Saints stem the tide and manage to win the penalty.

    Fin Smith pops it into touch and that will be that after a thrilling first half.

    Don't. Go. Anywhere!

  13. try

    Try - Leinster 15-27 Northampton

    Tommy Freeman

    What is happening?!

    Tommy Freeman has a first-half hat-trick. He can probably start packing his suitcase for a few weeks Down Under later this year.

    Juarno Augustus gathers the loose ball and dummies one offload before getting the pass away to Freeman.

    The England wing won't be stopped from there.

    Northampton Saints are in a European dreamland.

  14. try

    Try - Leinster 15-22 Northampton

    Tommy Freeman

    Tommy Freeman at the double.

    Northampton's hands are crisp and each pass hits its intended target before the ball arrives with Freeman, who does the rest out wide.

    Fin Smith is unable to add the conversion but Saints are roaring in Dublin.

  15. Leinster 15-17 Northampton

    I missed it in the melee after Josh van der Flier's try but Northampton hooker Curtis Langdon was sent to the sin-bin for his role in trying to disrupt the Leinster attack.

    I've only realised he was shown a yellow card because he has just returned to the field after serving his 10-minute punishment.

    Oh the joys of being a live-texter when it's end-to-end!

  16. Leinster 15-17 Northampton

    Jonathan Bradley
    BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist

    With a certain squad being announced next week, there's even more focus on the positional match-ups than normal this weekend.

    So how about that passage from the two open-side flankers?

    Josh van der Flier caps his strong start to this one off with a try but then Pollock shows exactly why he's been making so many headlines of late.

    An engrossing half an hour here!

  17. try

    Converted Try - Leinster 15-17 Northampton

    Henry Pollock (con Fin Smith)

    This kid is a bit special, isn't he?!

    Everything Henry Pollock touches turns to gold.

    The young starlet launches onto a flat pass from Alex Mitchell to glide through a hole close to the breakdown.

    He then has the gas to round final Leinster defender Sam Prendergast.

    Fin Smith adds the conversion but that was all about Pollock.

  18. try

    Converted Try - Leinster 15-10 Northampton

    Josh van der Flier (con Sam Prendergast)

    Relentless.

    The blue shirts pour forward with unforgiving intensity. Sam Prendergast loops the pass to Max Deegan, who is hauled down but still able to offload to his back row partner Josh van der Flier.

    The Ireland flanker gets over and Prendergast adds the conversion.

  19. Penalty - Leinster 8-10 Northampton

    Fin Smith

    Northampton win the penalty inside the Leinster 22 and Fin Smith bangs it over from the tee.

    The visitors regain the lead.

  20. Leinster 8-10 Northampton

    James Burridge
    BBC Sport rugby commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    This game is exhilirating to watch already