What a difference six months makes. The stakes, and temperature, were significantly lower but if Northampton Saints travelled to the StoneX Stadium on Saturday hoping for a measure of revenge from their semi-final defeat there in May, then an outstanding defensive performance and an 18-12 win ensured that a few Saracens ghosts were appropriately exorcised.
“It’s a tough place to come,” centre Tommy Freeman beamed afterwards. “They’ve been at the top for a long time, reigning champions for the last decade. We knew we had to throw the first punch.
