Northampton v Clermont: Five takeaways as ‘lethal’ Tommy Freeman makes Lions statement as Saints’ eggs stay in European basket
Tommy Freeman scored a hat-trick for Northampton Saints.
Following a 46-24 win for Northampton over Clermont in the Investec Champions Cup last-16, here’s our five takeaways from cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Garden.
The top line
Northampton booked their ticket to the last-eight and it will be a home meeting as they got the better of Clermont in a much-needed result that saw them score seven tries.
Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman (3), Juarno Augustus (2) and Henry Pollock all crossed the whitewash as they put this season’s Premiership woes aside with an impressive outing.
The Saints will now await the winner of the Castres v Benetton match to find out who they will meet at Franklin’s Gardens next weekend as they look to go deep in Europe.
For Clermont their tries came via George Moala, Alivereti Raka and Folau Fainga’a as they came up short, despite a promising opening to the Champions Cup round of 16 game. Their evening in the East Midlands was soured further by a serious injury to Fritz Lee who was stretchered from the field after sustaining a heavy hit in the second half.
Northampton alive and kicking
After a hugely disappointing defence of their Premiership title, all of Northampton’s focus has now switched to Europe and this subsequently was win or bust for them.
Eight defeats and just five victories thus far in the English top flight has left them in eighth place and 13 points off fourth position, which made this game all or nothing.
Despite a concerning start that saw them go 10-0 down after 12 minutes, the Saints deserve massive credit for how they regrouped and scored 27 unanswered points in the first period. It was just the tonic for their players, coaching team and passionate supporters that secures them another home tie next weekend in the quarter-finals.
With Easter just around the corner, all of Saints’ eggs are now in the Champions Cup basket and this result and showing will give them huge confidence moving forward.
England contingent impress
With all their England internationals swapping the white shirt for green and returning after impressive Six Nations campaigns, Northampton got a major shot in the arm.
Alex Mitchell, Smith, Freeman and Pollock were on fire throughout and played a part in their own unique way. Their superb form tonight is positive for both club and country.
Of course the aforementioned trio will hope for a Lions call-up in the coming weeks – Pollock maybe later in 2029 – but if they don’t make it England will be beneficiaries.
Freeman in particular thrust his name into the Lions frame and if he wasn’t already nailed on for the tour he certainly is now as his hat-trick demonstrated his lethal edge.
Concerning end for Fritz Lee
One of Clermont and European rugby’s greats was carried off on a stretcher on 66 minutes after receiving a stinging, legal hit from lock Tom Lockett that sounded horrific.
The TV broadcaster’s decision not to show a replay is always a sign of the seriousness of an injury and we hope this is not the final game the former Chiefs back-row plays.
He was given the best care on the field and no doubt that will continue in the coming hours and days and we hope that Lee makes a full recovery. If this is the end of this incredible warrior’s career he can hold his head high as Lee was a rock for the Chiefs and later Clermont, signing as a medical joker and becoming one of their true greats.
Unsung heroes
We’ve mentioned their internationals who stood up tall but, like in many Northampton games, it was their unsung players who contributed so much to this crucial triumph.
George Hendy consistently impresses on the wing and his assist for Augustus’ second score early in the second half was out of the top drawer and he was busy throughout.
Augustus too can hold his head high after a destructive performance as the former Stormers number eight looks to sign off his final season at the Saints with the ultimate prize while Curtis Langdon again got through a ton of work and looks likely to tour Argentina with England if Jamie George or Luke Cowan-Dickie travels to Australia.
