image source, Getty Images
- author, mantei man
- role, bbc sports journalist
Northampton Saints director of rugby Phil Dawson says his side's inaccuracy in the first half cost them a memorable comeback against Leinster in the Investec Champions Cup semi-final.
Leinster took control at Croke Park, James Rowe scoring a hat-trick and George Hendy kick-started their comeback with Saints' first try in the 58th minute.
With six minutes left, Finn Smith set up Tom Seabrook to pull Saints within three points, leading to a tense final game, but four-time champions Leinster held on to win 20-17 and take the lead. They reached the European final for the third time in as many years.
Dawson said he was “incredibly proud” of Saints, who had “so much work to do” in their first Champions Cup semi-final since 2011.
“We lacked precision in the first half and gave a very good team a 17-point lead,” Dowson told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“They shut us down effectively with set pieces and our attack stagnated as we were unable to win the ball quickly from the breakdown.
“This is our first European semi-final in a while against a very good Leinster defense and we made some uncharacteristic mistakes.
“Those things happen, there were a lot of them, but we stuck with it and gave ourselves a chance.”
Premiership leaders Northampton have been praised for their attack this season, but Dowson said he was “frustrated” by his side's inability to push themselves through.
He added: “Our defense, collision and effort were outstanding, which allowed us to still be in the game.
“This speaks volumes about the character of the group and it is clear how passionate the players are about each other.
“We slowly caught up in the second half, but it wasn't enough.”
Saints now turn their attention to strong domestic form and securing a place in the Premiership semi-finals at home.
Dowson said the heartbreaking defeat in Dublin was another lesson to be learned from recent history.
“We knew where we had to be on an emotional and technical level,” he said.
“We weren't quite there from a technical point of view, but mentally we're in a very good place.
“The quality of our consistency this season is based on the bitter experience of the past few years away against Saracens.” [in 2022] They then lost to Leicester in the Premiership semi-final.
“This is another scar, but we will be better.”
