Greatest games: Superb Leinster comeback stuns Saints

We take a look at the best ever games from years gone by and today head back to 2011 where Leinster beat Northampton Saints in a Heineken Cup final thriller.

Lead-up to the fixture

Northampton were the coming force in English rugby. Relegation in 2007 had stunned the Midlanders but, under the guidance of Jim Mallinder, they gradually rebuilt and put together an outstanding squad ahead of the 2010/11 campaign.

Although their domestic season ended in disappointment following a semi-final defeat to Leicester Tigers, hopes were high that they could put that frustration to bed in the European showpiece event a week later.

It had a primarily youthful English core with Courtney Lawes, Dylan Hartley, Chris Ashton and Ben Foden all becoming a key part of Martin Johnson’s national squad, but they were joined by some impressive foreign imports.

Future Red Rose skipper Hartley was key, providing a solidity at both the lineout and scrum, but the hooker was sandwiched in between a Tongan, Soane Tonga’uiha, and a South African, Brian Mujati, to form one of the great front-rows in Premiership and Heineken Cup history.

They were in good form heading to the Millennium Stadium, despite their league loss to Leicester, but they were facing one of the best ever European sides in Leinster.

The Irish province claimed their first title in 2009, ironically after overcoming the Tigers, before succumbing to Toulouse in the semi-finals a year later, but Joe Schmidt’s men were back on track in ’11, gaining revenge against Les Rouge et Noir in the knockout stages.

Leinster’s spine was that of the Ireland team and, as a result, it was always going to be a mightily tough ask for the Saints. At the age of 32, legendary centre Brian O’Driscoll was still playing outstanding rugby, while Cian Healy, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip and Johnny Sexton had established themselves as some of the best players in Europe.

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Memorable players involved

It was all Northampton in the first half, stunning a Leinster side that had gone into the match as clear favourites. The Saints’ formidable pack was utterly dominant with the front five getting the upper hand at the scrum, while back-row trio Calum Clark, Phil Dowson and Northern Irishman Roger Wilson carried strongly.

The Saints also had excellent control from half-backs Lee Dickson and Stephen Myler, who initially got the better of their more illustrious opponents. It allowed Dowson, Dylan Hartley and Ben Foden to all get on the scoreboard and help the Midlanders into a dominant position.

Jim Mallinder’s men were rampant but the experience of their opponents came to the fore in the second period. Johnny Sexton, as was so often the case for the Irish province, was the inspiration, touching down twice in quick succession to bring them back into the contest.

The momentum also changed up front, with Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss and Mike Ross somehow finding a way to put the Saints under significant duress at the set-piece. Strauss in particular had a stunning game, with his work in the scrum matched by his contribution in the loose as the hooker enjoyed his evening in Cardiff.

Northampton had no answer as the power of Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip continually enabled Leinster to get over the gain line. However, it was Sexton that was regarded as the star of the contest and was named man-of-the-match after scoring 28 of the team’s points.

Why it will live long in the memory

As well as being a hugely entertaining encounter, which is rare in big finals, it will be remembered for Leinster’s incredible comeback after seemingly being out of the contest at the interval.

Northampton were absolutely outstanding in the opening period, while the Irish province were shell-shocked, and the English outfit controlled the contest. They dominated every facet, playing some excellent rugby in the process, and deservedly went 22-6 ahead at the interval.

Tries from Dowson, Hartley and Foden was just reward for their efforts to leave their opponents with plenty to do after the interval. However, a rousing half-time speech from Sexton inspired Joe Schmidt’s men into action after the break.

Thanks to the fly-half, whose on-field performance matched his oratory skills, the Dubliners were transformed in the showpiece event. An early try from the pivot signalled their intent before the Ireland international went over again to reduce the arrears to two points.

All of a sudden, Leinster were in control and the Saints were fading, leading to successive penalties from their star playmaker as the province went in front for the first time in the match.

It was an advantage they would not relinquish with Nathan Hines confirming the victory thanks to a third try. In total, the Irishmen scored 27 unanswered points to claim a 33-22 triumph in a wonderful match that saw the 2009 champions seal their second Heineken Cup win.