Well that brings an end to a brilliant day. It’s a cliche to say that a game had everything, but, well, this one sort of did.
A red card. Blockbuster tries. Breathtaking attacks. Heroism on defence. Shredded nerves. A comeback. A youngster winning the player of the match with a wriggling run and a scrappy steal at the death. What more could you ask for?
Here’s Rob Kitston’s report from Twickers. With that I’ll sign off. Thanks for sticking with me. Hope you enjoyed that as much as I did.
Lewis Ludlum and Courtney Lawes lift the trophy!
They topped the league. They beat Saracens in the semis. They dazzled on attack and added heft, guile and tenacity to their defence. No one can deny that they deserve their flowers. A fantastic team throughout the campaign.
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The teams are now making their way for the podium presentation.
Referee Christophe Ridley gets a warm reception. He had a great game.
Bath’s wait for a Premiership win goes on, but this is a side that is capable of ending the drought sooner rather than later. Credit to Bath’s supporters and their players. And a word for their South African coach, Johan Van Graan who has instilled belief throughout the organisation.
Now here’s the departing Alex Waller after 15 years and 370 plus Premiership games for Northampton:
I’m struggling to put this in words. We didn’t make it easy. Credit to Bath. It wasn’t our best performance of the year by any stretch, but hey, a win’s a win and I’ll take that as my last ever game.
This is why you play the game, to win trophies and we were without one for a long time.
I’m going to celebrate with the lads and my family and then disappear into the sunset. I don’t have to worry about preseason anymore. There’s massive things to come from these boys and I’m massively excited to watch on from the stands as a fan.
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Here’s a calm looking George Hendy who is our player of the match and a Premiership champion. How does that sound?
It sounds pretty good, it sounds pretty good. I can’t complain at all.
To be honest I have no clue [on what he’s feeling]. A bit of everything. I really don’t know what to think to be honest.
[After the red card] we just tried to be us. We didn’t want to change how we’d played all season.
If you’d had told me how this season has gone – at the back of last season – I’d have bitten your hand off and called you a liar.
He’s the youngest player, and the only every replacement, to win the player of the match award in the Premiership final. What a story.
Heartbreak for Bath. But they can be proud of themselves having gone down to 14 men with just over an hour left on the clock. This would have been the most remarkable victory but it wasn’t to be. Titanic performances from Russell, Underhill, Du Toit and many others.
Triumphs for three departing Northampton legends in Lawes, Waller and Ludlum, but it’s a 21-year-old who was the hero this afternoon!
With Saints struggling, George ‘Bendy’ Hendy blitzed through an ocean of defenders to set up Mitchell’s decisive score and then it was his final rip of the ball who secured the win and the official player of the match award.
Full-time! Northampton 25-21 Bath
Northampton are champions!
They’re checking the rip from Hendy. Was it forward? I don’t think so. Northampton are celebrating.
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Loose down the line, Bath spill the ball!
Bath win the ball and maul. It’s a solid base…
80+1 min: Bath win a scrum penalty. Gallagher has to get this kick to the corner. Do Saints try and nick it in the air or stay on the ground ready for a counter-shove?
10 metres out.
Around 30 metres out. Can Bath stick it?
80 min: Northampton knock-on from the line-out so Bath have one final chance. They can’t make use of the advantage so will have a scrum. It’s now or never.
79 min: Lawrence does so well to secure the ball from a cross-kick under pressure. One last chance for Bath. Oh but the ball is into touch as Bath can’t stick the final pass as Redpath tries to off-load. But no one is there to receive it.
77 min: Northampton win a scrum penalty. Is that the game? The ball got stuck under the Bath second row and that gave Saints the chance for a second shove. Another massive moment in a game filled with them.
76 min: Bath with a scrum on Saints’ 22 to the left. Both teams are going for the penalty. It’ll be a re-set instead.
TRY! Northampton 25-21 Bath (Mitchell, 74)
George Hendy breaks the game open! What a sensational run. He was at fault for Muir’s try but that was pure magic. They call him ‘Bendy-Hendy’ and that’s why. Wriggling past one, two, three, four defenders before off-loading in contact for Mitchell on the support line and the scrumhalf who has been poor all game bags a massive try. Furbank adds the extras. Bath need a try to get this back.
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72 min: Saints win a penalty after securing the ball from the line-out. Furbank hoofs it into Bath territory. The most electric English team all season need to find a spark.
71 min: Smith is off. Furbank goes to 10. James comes on to wing and Hendy moves to fullback.
70 min: Bath win a scrum penalty in their own 22. Iyogun too eager to make an impact and he loses his shape. Gallagher clears to halfway. Bath are getting closer.
69 min: Saints within five after a tap and go from Mitchell (why did he do that?). They’re hurling themselves into contact. Smith is out of action being treated for a suspected calf injury. He might have to leave the field . Bath defending for their lives and there’s a knock-on! Lawes spills it after getting thwacked.
Penalty! Northampton 18-21 Bath (Russell, 67)
Bath take the lead! Can they do it?? Surely they can’t hold on with 14 men?
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66 min: Bath with the line-out throw inside Saints territory. They’re struggling to find holes in midfield so go with the forwards and short carries. Augustus doesn’t roll away after the contact so Bath have a penalty bang in front of the poles. Surely they have to go for poles. After an age Russell points to the sticks and a shot at an unlikely lead with just under a quarter of an hour to play.
64 min: Another steal from a Bath player. This time it’s Redpath. Perfect technique over the ball, rolling Coles the ball carrier and picking his moment to pounce. Quality from the midfielder who also made the tackle on the rampaging second rower.
63 min: Now Saints have a proper chance to clear as Russell puts his hands where they don’t belong at the back of a ruck and it’s a penalty to Northampton.
62 min: A forward pass ends Bath’s ineffective move from the line-out. They go left, then right, but barely make a yard forward. Eventually a speculative pass drifts forward. Northampton have the scrum in their own 22.
60 min: Du Toit with a mighty turnover on the ground. He has been Bath’s best player (maybe). And rather than go for points, Gallagher hoofs it into Northampton’s 22 for a line-out. I’m genuinely stunned by Bath’s performance. They’ve been so good. Northampton have to sharpen up or a dream season could blow up in their faces.
59 min: Bath get the ball out the scrum and they’re fizzing it down the line. A delicious off-load from Lawrence to Cokanasiga almost works. The winger perhaps wasn’t expecting it to come so fast. Either way, he can’t hold on so Saints will get the chance to clear.
57 min: Bath’s line-out move doesn’t work despite Underhill and Cokanasiga lining up to carry. A poor pass means Russell has to mop up which he does. Bath still have it and are now having to regenerate from outside the 22. Gallagher carries but he has it pinched from him by Freeman. Oh my word, Saints have coughed the ball. Langdon – who was flattened by Underhill earlier on – can’t get his hands in order and knocks on. Saints had an overlap forming. Instead they’ll have to defend a scrum on their 22.
55 min: Underhill has just bulldozed a tackler in the carry. That was staggering! Now Russell lands a majestic 50-22 and Bath have all momentum behind them. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. Northampton look rattled. This is an astonishing performance from Bath.
54 min: Alex Waller is subbed and that’s the final act of his 15-year career with the club. What a champion.
TRY! Northampton 18-18 Bath (Muir, 52)
What a moment! They’ve levelled it. With a penalty advantage Spencer, from the back of the ruck, kicks to the corner for Muir. Hendy is back-peddling and leaps up, flaps at it, and knocks it back into his own goal area. Muir simply has to fall on it to make it 18-18.
Russell drags his conversion but this is a proper contest now. Bath are playing the game of their lives!
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Has Muir scored a try?! They’re checking the grounding. A cross-kick Spencer. Did Muir knock-on or was it Hendy who had the touch?
51 min: Another pendulum shift as bath win a free-kick from the scrum and so will get the ball inside Northampton’s 22.
50 min: A wonderful carry from Lawrence takes the ball into Northampton’s 22. bath recycle and shift the ball from coast to coast. Gallagher takes it on with a stiff carry himself but Northampton are defending well. Gallagher again – he’s everywhere – but this time he’s held up and smothered by men in green and black. Superb from Saints who win the ball back on their own 22.
Penalty! Northampton 18-13 Bath (Smith, 48)
Back to a five point gap. Nice strike from Smith.
47 min: Now it’s a scrum penalty for Saints. Smith points to the poles. Lawes and co. know that this is a tight game, despite the man advantage, and points on the board are needed.
46 min: Messy line-out from Bath but they get lucky as Northampton spill the ball so we’ll have a Bath scrum.
45 min: Odendaal has been hooked for Hendy. The South African midfielder is being helped off the field after that double thwack from Russell and Underhill. And now Bath win the scrum penalty on their own line! My goodness, this team is refusing to lie down.
44 min: Northampton have a line-out five out after Bath give away a penalty shortly after the restart. Saints win the ball but there’s an almighjty tackle from Underhill and Russell doubles up by ripping the ball from Odendaal. Fantastic work from two superstar players. Bath need their big players to step up and that was a shining example to the rest.
Penalty! Northampton 15-13 Bath (Russell, 43)
A two point game. Russell slots it without fuss and now all eventualities take shape.
42 min: Russell straightens and links with Cokanasiga on a lovely angle. He’s charging up field through tacklers and Bath win a penalty on the deck. Should be an easy three for Russell.
41 min: Ding-dong kicking from both teams. Feeling each out early on, probing for mistakes in the back field.
The players are back on the field. I’m 100% neutral but I hope Bath score first and somehow get a lead. I fear if Saints add another try in quick time this could end in a rout.
Here’s the Obano red. No questions, right?
🟥 Red card for Beno Obano after 21 minutes pic.twitter.com/RNOmzdLdGc
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) June 8, 2024
Half-time: Northampton 15-10 Bath
And breathe…. These are seldom dull events but this Premiership final has been a cracker. Three tries – two blistering moves by the Saints backline, one a muscular shove from a Bath forward – has provided talking points. But the headline goes to Bath’s prop Obano who was red carded for a dangerous tackle.
Northampton have bossed it but Bath have stuck in there. Can they pull off a miracle? We’ll find out after the break.
40 min: Bath survive. Northampton off their feet. Pearson the guilty party. Sloppy from Saints. They had all the momentum but lost their accuracy at a crucial moment.
39 min: Saints five out. Mitchell everywhere. Odendaal with a big carry. Lawes with one himself. One final shot before half-time…
38 min: Saints, for all their brilliance in the tries, haven’t been faultless. There’s another knock-on in the backline. Actually, it’s a double knock-on. The first was from Bath so Saints have the scrum.
37 min: Bath give away the scrum penalty. Maybe too eager to get stuck into the collision. So Saints kick back into Bath’s territory and have the line-out.
35 min: Bath secure the line-out but it’s a mess as they go down the line (a drive with the maul might have been the better option). But Northampton knock-on as the blitz on defence so Bath get the scrum feed just outside the 22 in centre field.
34 min: Now Du Toit comes up with turnover steal! Bath are scrapping. Loving this energy from them. They’re back in Northampton’s 22 as Russell lands a great touch finder.
TRY! Northampton 15-10 Bath (Du Toit, 32)
Now then! The Saffa powers over. Bath get themselves up into Saints’ red zone and from close range the man they call the Tank punches past close-in tacklers and wrestles the ball over the line.
Russell makes it a five point game with a classy kick from the right. Game on!
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TRY! Northampton 15-3 Bath (Sleightholme, 28)
Another beauty! The league’s leading try-scorer has scored in the final. Slick hands, lovely touches and he’s free down the left. His kick to himself was actually meant for Freeman running through the middle but he shanked it so had to chase it himself. There were questions over the grounding but I think it was fine. Smith misses the conversion.
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27 min: Oh, so close! Gallagher almost had a sniff. It started with Russell launching a high kick that was expertly plucked from the skies by Muir. Then a cross-field kick bobbles and bounces but won’t fall kindly for Gallagher rampaging down the wing. That’s the second awkward bounce that went against Gallagher. Bath won’t go away without a fight.
TRY! Northampton 10-3 Bath (Freeman, 24)
Stunner! They’ve been ripping teams apart all season and that’s another beauty. From a solid base in midfield they go right but back left with a lovely against-the-grain pass from Lawes – in contact - to Furbank who burst through a gap and then all he has to do is find Freeman on the support line.
Smith slots the extras and this could start getting messy for Bath.
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24 min: With a man advantage Northampton get the shove at the scrum and Sleightholme is charging ahead, making huge gains as he carries. But Underhill starts the ball under the shade of his own poles. My goodness that’s an important intervention. Schoeman gets over it and Bath clear with a kick.
What do Bath do now? Schoeman has come on to secure the scrum and Barbeary is subbed. How unfortunate for him. Ewels and Underhill are giving their thoughts in robust team talks. If they win it from here it’ll be a show for the ages.
RED CARD! Bath (Obano, 22)
Bath have to play with 14 for an hour. No debate here. He’s flown in at pace, smashed Augustus high, it’s just a red card. Not even a diehard Bath fan could make a case against the decision. What a massive moment.
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Obano could be in trouble here. A high shot on Augustus. Head on head. I think we’re about to see a red card in the final.
Drop-goal! Northampton 3-3 Bath (Smith, 21)
Who needs a tee? Northampton were keeping the ball but going nowhere. So Smith dropped into the pocket and slotted a sweetly struck drop-goal to restore parity.
20 min: Saints are building their way back into Bath territory. Smith is popping short balls off the shoulder for runners, he’s dropped back in the pocket now…
18 min: Smith misses a sitter! He’s hit the post from 30 yards and that’s a big let off for Bath.
18 min: Saints get lucky with a free kick at the scrum, so they tap and go. Down the line but it’s a little messy. Spencer is putting immense pressure on Mitchell at every ruck. The message is, stop Mitchell and you stop Northampton. But he went too early on this occasion and it’s a penalty for Saints within range.
16 min: Scrum for Northampton just inside their half after Muir knocked on. Augustus has to pick up at the back as Bath’s pack get the shove on. So rather than front-foot ball, Mitchell hoists a high box. Freeman does well to gather and now Saints can launch an attack. But a blitz from Cokanasiga forces a knock-on.
14 min: Northampton into Bath’s 22. Underhill obliterates Mitchell. Bath are defending so well. They’ve now turned the ball and are countering thanks to Spencer’s pressure on Mitchell at the back of the ruck. Muir is flying down the wing but Freeman makes a wonderful covering tackle. Electric stuff from both teams. Cracking start to this match.
11 min: Ewels flattens Furbank! The Saints fullbank gathered a high kick and set off for a counter, but he didn’t spot the Bath flanker who nailed the tackle. Oh, but Saints get a penalty (hit looked ok to me) and Smith hoofs up-field. Good platform here for Northampton to strike.
Penalty! Northampton 0-3 Bath (Russell, 9)
He could have back-heeled that over from there. First points of the final go to the magic man from Scotland.
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8 min: Now Lawes is pinged for not rolling away. This is bang in front of the poles so Russell should have no issue slotting the three. Questions over Barbeary losing his feet though…
7 min: Bit of argy-bargy as Langdon and Redpath get into a scrap. It’s a penalty for Bath bang in the middle of the pitch thanks to some secure work over the ball from Obano (that’s his second big contribution).
Now a standing ovation for the rugby league legend Rob Burrow.
6 min: Russell grimaces the moment he hit it. That was not a good looking strike and the ball spiralled away to the left of the poles.
5 min: Scrum penalty for Bath! That’s a mighty shunt from Obano. Their set-piece is ferocious. Russell will take aim from about 40 out on the angle.
4 min: Mitchell clears with an impressive box-kick. It was his sharp pick-up at the base of the scrum that gave his team front-foot ball. They have it back as Dunn’s throw the line-out wasn’t straight so Saints have a scrum 10 metres out from the half-way line.
2 min: Big shove from Bath. They try to force the penalty but Saints manage to hold their shape and it’ll be a re-set.
1 min: HUGE MOMENT! Gallagher almost scores. Northampton cough the ball up from a line-out and Bath boot ahead. Gallagher chases but can’t gather the bouncing ball. Furbank makes a crucial tackle and Gallagher knocks-on. Scrum to Saints five out from their own line.
Peeeeep! Bath in blue, black and white. Northampton in green, black and gold. Smith kicks off, Bath collect and hoof back to half-way.
Right then, five minutes to go. Two teams in red hot form. Two teams that have been the standouts across the league campaign. Two teams stacked with match winners and supported by fans who have waited a long time for a crack at England’s top prize.
In case it isn’t clear, I’m buzzing for this.
So, what’s been Saints’ secret sauce?
Of course their attacking flair, led by the brilliant Finn Smith with jet-heeled magicians out wide providing the finishing touches on some staggering scores. But, deep a little deeper, and it’s actually a more robust S&C programme and an added grit on defence that has taken them to the final.
Don’t believe me, well let fullback George Furbank set the record straight:
Ugo Monye - now there’s a fella who knows a thing or two about running rugby.
The former Harlequins, England and British & Irish Lions winger has penned a column calling on Saints and Bath to have a go, leave nothing to chance and let the ball do the talking.
It’s always a special moment when teams pull up to the grand old stadium.
WEDGED: Bath fans have piled into Twickenham hoping to see their just-arrived team crowned champions of England for the first time since 1996. #GallagherPrem #NORvBAT #rugby pic.twitter.com/dd9riNwIi0
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 8, 2024
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Before we get stuck into the festivities, allow Rob Kitson to offer some perspective.
I promise, unless something crazy happens, it’ll all be upbeat from here on.
Can Finn take Bath to the promised land?
Rugby is a team sport, but it’s hard not to focus on Finn Russell. There’s a case to be made that he’s the world’s best 10 and he’s had an instant impact in the West Country, steering Bath to a first final since 2015 and 80 minutes away from a first title in 28 years.
If that loose trio gets on top he’ll have a field day and with a midfield of Cameron Redpath and Ollie Lawrence forming a formidable duo, Bath will fancy their chances of an upset.
Bath: Gallagher’ Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Redpath, Muir; Russell, Spencer (c); Obano, Dunn, Du Toit, Roux, Ewels, Hill, Underhill, Barbeary.
Replacements: Annett, Schoeman, Stuart, Stooke, Bayliss, Schreuder, Bailey, Reid.
𝙏𝙀𝘼𝙈'𝙎 𝙐𝙋! 💥🔵⚫️⚪️
— Bath Rugby (@BathRugby) June 7, 2024
Captain Ben Spencer will lead the Blue, Black and White out at Twickenham tomorrow at the Gallagher Premiership Final.
All eyes are on the prize. Make sure you bring the noise! 👊
Final showdown for Courtney
Will it be a famous final act for one of England’s modern greats? The giant Courtney Lawes skippers the side that starts as favourites this afternoon.
Around him is a mobile pack that will look to give their blistering backline enough front ball to cause chaos. And keep an eye on the 21-year-old with ginger hair, George Hendy, off the bench.
Northampton Saints: Furbank; Freeman, Odendaal, Dingwall, Sleightholme; Smith, Mitchell; Waller, Langdon, Davison, Moon, Coles, Lawes (c), Pearson, Augustus.
Replacements: Matavesi, Iyogun, Millar Mills, Mayanavanua, Graham, Ludlam, James, Hendy.
🖤💚💛
— Northampton Saints 😇 (@SaintsRugby) June 7, 2024
Here are your Saints for the Gallagher Premiership Final.https://t.co/Ah10HhskAT pic.twitter.com/ZpeL0mNveN
Preamble
Today, years of hurt finally come to an end. How many exactly will be determined by which captain hoists aloft English club rugby’s most glittering prize.
Should Bath’s Ben Spencer climb the podium as Premiership champion, he will erase a 28 year itch. It was 1996 the last time this famous club claimed top honours in the league. Back then it was simply called Division 1 and the game was barely professional. It’s been a long old wait for those who fill The Rec every week.
The drought hasn’t been as prolonged for Northampton, who were Premiership champions in 2014. But a decade is a long time in this sport and, after sitting on top of the league since December, there’s an expectation that Phil Dowson’s freewheeling side, one that can cut any opponent to shreds on their day, will get the job done.
This is the first title decider without either Exeter or Saracens in 11 years, so the occasion already has a fresh feel to it. This could be the start of a generational rivalry that dominates the Premiership for years to come.
But first, one of them has to etch their name on the trophy.
Kick-off at 3pm at Twickenham.
Teams, updates and other bits to come.
