This competition has seen a few remarkable results over the years but few to match this sweetest of Saints days. Maybe Leinster thought that a fourth successive Champions Cup final appearance was a formality against supposedly outgunned English opposition. If so they were made to pay a heavy price as a triple whammy of tries from Tommy Freeman helped Northampton pull off one of the all-time great knockout heists.
The Irish province, beaten in the final in the last three consecutive seasons, looked stunned at the final whistle. But the Saints had led 27-15 at half-time and, even after Leinster had charged back to within three points, the visitors came knocking again via a 63rd-minute score from James Ramm. The final quarter was frantically tense, settled in contentious fashion after an aghast Leinster had a possible 79th-minute score disallowed.
