Saints Team Named For Champions Cup Semifinal Showdown With Leinster
Saints Team Named For Champions Cup Semifinal Showdown With Leinster
Northampton faces Leinster in the Champions Cup semifinals at Aviva Stadium, aiming to avenge last year's loss and end a 12-year winless run in Dublin.
The Northampton Saints will return to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday looking to avenge last season’s narrow semifinal loss as they take on Leinster Rugby in the Investec Champions Cup semifinal (kickoff: 5:30 p.m. local time).
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Phil Dowson’s men arrive in Dublin riding high after a dominant 51-16 quarterfinal victory over Castres Olympique.
That win booked the Saints a second consecutive semifinal appearance, where they once again face a familiar foe in Leinster. The Irish giants edged Northampton 20-17 in a tense clash at Croke Park last year.
This year’s matchup brings added motivation for Dowson’s side, which has not won in the Irish capital since 2013. That historic win – an 18-9 triumph over Leinster – featured Dowson himself in Saints colors.
Now serving as the club’s director of rugby, he’ll look to lead from the sidelines this time at the same venue.
Dowson has made minimal changes to the lineup that convincingly beat Bristol Bears in Premiership action last weekend.
The only switch to the starting XV sees tighthead prop Trevor Davison return to the front row after missing the Bristol clash. He joins Emmanuel Iyogun and Curtis Langdon, who both crossed the line in a six-try performance against the Bears.
Saints’ second-row pairing of Temo Mayanavanua and Alex Coles remains unchanged, as does the dynamic back row trio of Josh Kemeny, Juarno Augustus and Henry Pollock – the latter recently earning a nomination for the 2025 Investec Player of the Year award.
England internationals Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith continue to build their chemistry in the halves, combining for 16 points in last weekend’s rout.
Captain Fraser Dingwall links up in midfield with Rory Hutchinson, while a back three of Tom Litchfield, Tommy Freeman and James Ramm round out the unchanged backline.
Northampton will operate with a 6-2 bench split, preparing for a physical battle up front.
Among the replacements, Tom James is set to make his 100th appearance in black, green and gold, offering experienced cover alongside Tom Seabrook in the backs.
Leinster, a perennial contender in European competition, enters the clash well-rested and hungry for another shot at continental silverware.
With last year’s heartbreak fresh in mind, the Saints will need to be at their absolute best to rewrite history in Dublin.
The stage is set for a titanic clash at the Aviva, as Northampton seeks to reach its first Champions Cup final since lifting the trophy in 2000.
Northampton Saints Lineup
15 James Ramm, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Fraser Dingwall (c), 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Tom Litchfield, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Henry Pollock, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 Alex Coles, 4 Temo Mayanavanua, 3 Trevor Davison, 3 Trevor Davison, 2 Curtis Langdon, 1 Emmanuel Iyogun
Replacements: 16 Henry Walker, 17 Tom West, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Tom Lockett, 20 Chunya Munga, 21 Angus Scott-Young, 22 Tom James, 23 Tom Seabrook
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