Leinster Rugby will look to book its place in a fourth straight Investec Champions Cup final when hosting the Northampton Saints at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

The Irish powerhouse has been in imperious form during the knockout stages, scoring 114 points and conceding none in dominant wins over Harlequins and the Glasgow Warriors. 

Head coach Leo Cullen has named a near full-strength side, with Caelan Doris captaining from the back row and All Black Jordie Barrett set to provide firepower from the bench.

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Fly-half Sam Prendergast continues to impress in his breakthrough season and will go head-to-head with England international Fin Smith in one of the most anticipated matchups of the weekend. The pair, who share a friendly off-field rivalry, are seen as key playmakers for their respective sides.

Northampton, which claimed the Premiership title last season, arrives as the underdog, but in strong form. 

The Saints have climbed back into playoff contention domestically and are coming off a commanding six-try victory over Bristol. 

Northampton Director of Rugby Phil Dowson has named a settled side, with Henry Pollock, recently nominated for 2025 European Player of the Year, expected to play a pivotal role at the breakdown.

The key question heading into Saturday’s match is whether Northampton’s pack can withstand the relentless physicality of the Leinster forwards. 

With world-class options across the park and off the bench, the hosts are widely tipped to advance.

Kickoff is set for Saturday afternoon in Dublin, with the match streaming live, and exclusively, on FloRugby for viewers in the United States and North American territories.

The winner will advance to the Champions Cup final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on May 24.

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FULL-TIME REPORT

In one of the most dramatic semifinals in Investec Champions Cup history, the Northampton Saints pulled off a seismic upset by edging four-time runner-up Leinster 37-34 at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

The reigning English Premiership champions defied the odds, withstanding a furious second-half fightback and surviving a frantic finish that saw Leinster camped on their try-line in the dying moments. 

Despite playing the final 10 minutes with 14 men following a yellow card to Josh Kemeny, Northampton’s defense held firm, forcing a final turnover with the game on the line.

Tommy Freeman was the hero of the first half, producing a sensational hat trick as the Saints took a 27-15 lead into the break. 

The England winger exposed Leinster’s vaunted defense repeatedly, finishing off slick wide plays to stun a capacity Dublin crowd.

Pollock, the 20-year-old sensation, also crossed for the Saints in the first 40 with a stunning solo try, while fly-half Fin Smith added 10 points with the boot.

Leinster, which came into the match as the heavy favorite following dominant knockout wins over Harlequins and Glasgow, responded with second-half tries from captain Caelan Doris, Dan Sheehan and James Lowe. 

The latter’s 69th-minute score, converted brilliantly from the touchline by Sam Prendergast, brought the Irish giants within three.

Momentum appeared to be swinging fully Leinster’s way, when Kemeny was sin-binned for a high tackle. But despite wave after wave of blue pressure, the Saints hung on.

In the game’s final act, Leinster was awarded a penalty on the Saints’ line and looked certain to score, only for Northampton to force a remarkable turnover at the ruck and spark wild celebrations.

Leinster led briefly in the first half after tries from Tommy O’Brien, Josh van der Flier and a Prendergast penalty, but the team's defense couldn’t contain Northampton’s width and tempo.

It marks Leinster’s fifth consecutive semifinal or final exit, and perhaps the most painful, as the wait for a fifth European title continues. 

For Northampton, it’s a famous triumph - one of the greatest in their modern history - and a return to the Champions Cup final for the first time since 2011.

Final Score: Northampton Saints 37, Leinster Rugby 34.

Will Northampton now go all the way and lift the trophy?

NORTHAMPTON WINS!

Who would've predicted that! 

The Northampton Saints have come to Dublin and knocked Leinster out of the Investec Champions Cup! What a victory for the Premiership champions! 

Leinster had the game in its hands with a late penalty, but it got turned over once again! What a disaster for Leinster and what a moment for the Saints! It ends here! Northampton Saints 37 - Leinster Rugby 34.

WILD SCENES! 

That would've been the most dramatic ending to a Champions Cup semifinal of all time. 

Ross Byrne thought he had scored, as did the Aviva Stadium fans. Instead it is a Leinster penalty on the Northampton line. The Saints get another yellow card but still are at 14 players, as Kemeny has come on.

TRY! James Lowe! Min 69

Back within a score! 

A second exceptional set play from a tap penalty gets the home side over the line. This time, it is James Lowe. 

Sam Prendergast drills the touchline conversion to bring Leinster back within three points! Game on! LEI 34 - NOR 37.

YELLOW CARD! Josh Kemeny Min 68

Northampton is in for a nervous final 10 minutes here. Backrow Josh Kemeny has been shown a yellow card for a clear high tackle, and Leinster has gone on the offensive. 

TRY! Dan Sheehan! Min 59

That's more like it from the Leinster pack, which gets a big-time rolling maul going! 

Sheehan finds Ryan Baird at a line-out moments after the replacement backrow won the turnover penalty. 

Sheehan then latched on to the rapidly moving Saints maul to dot down. Prendergast misses the conversion, but the home side is back within three points. LEI 27 - NOR 30.

PENALTY! Fin Smith! Min 55

Reclaiming a two-score lead, Fin Smith nails a penalty from 40 meters out following an Andrew Porter penalty concession at the breakdown. The big loosehead went through on his hands and offered the Saints a chance to take the two-score lead. LEI 22 - NOR 30.

TRY! Caelan Doris! Min 47!

The captain stands up and powers over the Saints defense from a quick-tap penalty to bring his side right back into the contest. Prendergast converts, and the home side is back within a score. LEI 22 - NOR 27.

Second Half Underway

Leinster starts this half a little shaky but has grown into things and got into the Saints 22 with a penalty to come.

HALFTIME REPORT

England winger Tommy Freeman delivered a stunning first-half hat trick as the Northampton Saints ripped through Leinster’s vaunted defense to lead 27-15 at halftime in a pulsating Investec Champions Cup semifinal at the Aviva Stadium.

In front of a sold-out crowd basking in Dublin sunshine, Saints silenced the home support with a blistering attacking display, capitalizing on every opportunity handed to them by a Leinster side that struggled to contain Northampton’s width and tempo.

Freeman’s third try came in the 38th minute, capping a sensational seven-minute blitz in which he crossed the whitewash twice to flip momentum firmly in the Saints' favor. 

Exploiting the edge defense yet again, Freeman finished clinically after quick hands from the backs. Although Fin Smith missed both conversions following Freeman’s second and third tries, the damage was done.

It was Freeman who also opened the scoring in the eighth minute, latching onto a perfectly weighted kick from Smith after James Ramm ignited the counterattack from deep. Smith nailed that touchline conversion to give Northampton an early 7-0 lead.

Leinster, which had enjoyed the lion’s share of early possession, responded through a Sam Prendergast penalty and a well-worked try from Tommy O’Brien following a quick tap from Jamison Gibson-Park. 

Prendergast then converted Josh van der Flier’s 25th-minute score, the flanker barreling over after sustained pressure, as the hosts took a brief 15-10 lead.

But young Saints phenom Henry Pollock struck back five minutes later with a sensational solo effort from halfway, evading Prendergast on the outside before racing clear to level the scores. Smith’s conversion nudged the Saints ahead once more, and from there, Freeman took over.

Northampton’s defense also stood tall at key moments, particularly during Curtis Langdon’s stint in the sin bin, awarded for persistent team infringements. Despite being down a man, the Saints held firm and counterpunched with ruthless efficiency.

Leinster now faces a 12-point deficit and a fired-up Northampton outfit heading into the second half. Leinster now needs a massive response to avoid a fourth consecutive season with a late exit, while also denying the Saints a famous place in the final.

TRY! Tommy Freeman! Min 38

That's a first half hat trick for Freeman! Exposing the best defense in the competition three times out wide! The England winger is blitzing Leinster here! Smith misses the conversion! NOR 27 - LEI 15.

TRY! Tommy Freeman! Min 37

The Saints expose Leinster again out wide, and it's Freeman again! Smith just misses the conversion, but the Saints have a seven-point lead! NOR 22 - LEI 15.

TRY! Henry Pollock! Min 30

The most talked about young talent in pro rugby scores a scorcher! 

Breaking from the halfway line, Pollock skins Prendergast on the outside to race away for a match-tying try. Smith nails the conversion, and the Saints are back in front! NOR 17 - LEI 15.

TRY! Josh van der Flier! Min 25

Leinster is going through the gears here, working through some quick phases, before the ball goes wide to Josh van der Flier, who powers through two Northampton defenders! Prendergast nails the conversion! 

The Saints get a double whammy, with Curtis Langdon being shown a yellow card following an accumulation of Saints penalties. LEI 15 - NOR 10.

TRY! Tommy O'Brien! Min 18

Bang! Just like that Leinster strikes! 

The home side has held the majority of the possession and territory. Packing down for a scrum, Leinster is awarded a free kick, and Jamison Gibson Park goes quickly to find Sam Prendergast. 

The young fly-half flings a superb ball out wide to Tommy O'Brien, who goes over untouched! Prendergast just misses the conversion off the right upright. LEI 8 - NOR 7.

PENALTY! Sam Prendergast! Min 13

Leinster get its first points of the match, with Henry Pollock being caught off his feet at the breakdown. Prendergast sneaks the ball in close to the upright. NOR 7 - LEI 3.

TRY! Tommy Freeman! Min 8

The Saints take the lead in Dublin! 

Sam Prendergast kicks long to fullback James Ramm. The Australian immediately breaks away from Prendergast and finds Fin Smith. The fly-half kicks forward, and the ball bounces up perfectly for Tommy Freeman. Smith nails the conversion touchlin,e and the visitors are up and running. NOR 7 - LEI 0.

First Scrum Of The Match

The Saints did incredibly well to hold up a powerful Leinster maul and immediately win a free kick from the ensuing scrum. Cian Healy went early on the engagement, and the Saints kicked long.

Kickoff

Sam Prendergast gets us underway at a sold-out Aviva Stadium under glorious Dublin sunshine! 

What The Bookies Are Saying

Leinster has crushed all comers in this season’s knockout rounds, and the squad looks set to overwhelm Northampton, too. 

Leinster's 62-0 demolition of Harlequins and 52-0 mauling of Glasgow underline just how dominant the Irish side has been, with a relentless defense orchestrated by Jacques Nienaber. 

Backing Leinster -21 at 10-11 (2pts) looks solid value, given the gulf in physicality and form, especially with Leinster at home and eyeing a fourth straight final. 

For those hunting a player angle, Dan Sheehan to score a try at 10-11 (2pts) also stands out. 

The dynamic hooker has dotted down in both knockout games and was Ireland’s leading try-scorer in the Six Nations. 

With Leinster’s pack likely to boss proceedings, Sheehan is well-placed to cross again. 

Expect the hosts to turn the screw late on and cover the handicap as Saints struggle to match the intensity.

Lions Places On The Line

Today's semifinal between Leinster and the Saints features several tantalizing individual matchups that could define the outcome. 

Chief among them is the back-row battle between young phenom Henry Pollock and former World Rugby Player of the Year Josh van der Flier. 

Pollock’s ability to disrupt at the breakdown will be crucial against Leinster’s powerful ruck game. 

On the flanks, James Lowe and Tommy Freeman go head-to-head in a clash of British and Irish Lions hopefuls, both capable of turning the match with a single moment of brilliance. 

At scrumhalf, Jamison Gibson-Park’s speed and precision will be tested by Alex Mitchell’s sniping threat and tempo control. 

However, the spotlight may shine brightest on the fly-halves - Leinster’s Sam Prendergast and Northampton’s Fin Smith. 

Two of the brightest young playmakers in the game both possess exceptional poise and vision, and whichever of the pair can control territory and tempo may well lead his side to victory.

How To Watch Leinster Vs. Northampton In The Investec Champions Cup Semifinals

The match is streaming live on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States and all of North America.

When Do The Investec Champions Cup Playoffs Begin In 2025?

The Investec Champions Cup Playoffs kick off with the Round of 16 on April 4, as the Northampton Saints take on Clermont Rugby. The remaining seven games of the round will be played April 5-6.

The quarterfinals will follow from April 11-13, with a short break until the semifinals on May 2-4.

The Champions Cup Final will take place at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on May 24.

Investec Champions Cup Semi Final Fixtures

Saturday, May 3

• Leinster Rugby vs. Northampton Saints - Aviva Stadium

Sunday, May 4

• Union Bordeaux-Begles vs. Stade Toulousain- Matmut Atlantique Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Weekends

• Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
• Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
• Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
• Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
• Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
• Quarterfinals – 11/12/13 April 2025
• Semifinals – 2/3/4 May 2025
• 2025 Investec Champions Cup final – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Investec Champions Cup Format 

Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:

• A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season
• 24 elite clubs - eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 - in four pools of six
• Sporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stage
• Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the Round of 16
• The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, May 24.

How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby

FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to: 

• Investec Champions Cup
• EPCR Challenge Cup
• Currie Cup
• Top 14
• Super Rugby
• And more

FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

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