Northampton Saints are the champions of English rugby and have survived an exciting comeback against 14-man Bath at Twickenham Stadium. Here’s how both sets rated players.
Noordampton
15 George Furbank
Great to chase back to deny Gallagher early. Forced one offload as Saints tried to beat the Bath defense but he mixed in some flat passes and set a top line of support for Freeman’s effort. 8/10
14Tommy Freeman
I couldn’t have asked for an easier first score. The way he wanders around the field to create mismatches only ruins defensive plans. One quality turnover in defense too and such a threat in the air. 8/10
13 Citizen Odendaal
Just as threatening as a dummy runner and a carrier, especially for the Sleightholme try. Running into Russell and Underhill can’t be fun and unfortunately that ended his afternoon. 7/10
12 FraserDingwall
With Bath’s defense firing up, he was getting a lot of carries for little gain. Strong work in a choke tackle to stop and graft away a dangerous Bath attack. 7/10
11 Ollie Sleightholme
The early leak almost allowed Bath to get in, but an excellent clearer and chase from the competition’s best try scorer left Bath with a mountain to climb. Defenders often just can’t handle him. 8/10
10 Finn Smith
Smart option to grab the prematurely dropped goal after a penalty miss just before. Some of his passing was rushed or just wide, but there were also some top level tactical kicks. 6/10
9 Alex Mitchell
Lost the ball in an early ruck and almost paid for it, and his box kicking was good until one attack. Overall, though, he was quiet – and then he emerged when it mattered most to finish Hendy’s break. 6/10
1 Alex Waller
Felt the heat from Du Toit who gave up a penalty, and was later pinged for wheeling, leading to Muir’s try. That said, what a great ambassador he has been for this club. 4/10
2 Curtis Langdon
Guilty of a few unlucky penalties, both in attack and defense. Has performed so well this season, but that was less here compared to especially the semi-finals. 5/10
3Trevor Davison
Crucial for Northampton in that scrum, they fared better against Schoeman than Obano, forcing a collapse that netted three points. Tourist in England this summer? Hard to question his form. 7/10
4 Alex Moon
He came in with some blistering runs in a match where his job was to clear rucks and quickly, which isn’t easy against this Bath defence. Can suffocate people on defense. 6/10
5 Alex Coles
Killer penalty near half-time went up as Northampton came close to the line, and was also turned over for a penalty. But very busy defensively with 10 tackles. 5/10
6 Courtney Lawes (captain)
So close to an early turnover – he was always going to be busy in his 283rd and final game, right? Quality pass to make the break for the first attempt. 9/10
7Tom Pearson
Up on his feet at an early ruck, but his carrying ability is much improved, consistently cracking the gain line and beating defenders. Brilliant first season at Northampton and his game has few weaknesses. 7/10
August 8 Juarno
Early drop, but has great burst from a standing start and can absolutely confuse people on defense as Gallagher found out. Great defensive engine, but one great penalty put Bath ahead. 6/10
Replacements
Hendy couldn’t beat Muir with an airborne ball that led to the draw for Bath, but more than made up for it with that wild break on the outside to set up Mitchell’s try. And came up with the final turnover in a great cameo. Saints’ front row had a huge impact with late scrum dominance. 9/10
Bath
15 Matt Gallagher
Safe as houses at the back. Some of his communications and plans with Spencer bordered on telepathic. If he were to receive an Italian cap in the summer, it would be no less than he deserves. 7/10
14 Joe Cokanasiga
Strangely enough, it was the demolition work on the large wing that was most noticeable. There was some brutal counter-reaction and, especially before Obano’s dismissal, he disrupted the Saints’ rhythm and pace on the floor. 6/10
13 Ollie Lawrence
Quiet by his usual standards, but the energy was never in question; Apart from a spirited strike against Sleightholme, the England center struggled to impose himself – on both sides of the ball. 5/10
12 Cameron Roodpad
He doesn’t necessarily rush to play Pearson again soon after taking a bit of a battering on defense, but stormed back late with a critical turnover. 6/10
11 Will Muir
Skinned by Sleightholme for the game’s eye-catching score, but his work in the air – chasing Russell’s bombs – was sublime. Dragged Bath back into it by picking Hendy’s pocket. 7/10
10 Finn Russell
In the second half, as Bath had adjusted to the one-man deficit, Russell began to spin. The kicking on goal was shaky but the tactical pushes were flawless, with one setting Twickenham ablaze 50:22. 7/10
9 Ben Spencer (captain)
Terrorized Mitchell at the base and should certainly be in the mix for Monday’s England squad selection. Some of his kicking was diabolical and it was really a shame that he did not reap a greater reward. 7/10
1 Beno Obano
We will never know what effect his departure had on his side, but the devastation on his face was palpable. A clear red card in fairness, but his scrunch work was powerful for the exit. 3/10
2 Tom Dunn
His willingness to take on the dirty work and thankless tasks is to be applauded, and after putting aside two dodgy lineout throws, he barely put a foot wrong. But is there better around? Certainly. 6/10
3 Thomas Du Toit
Tries, tackles, counter-attacks, devastating destruction – on both sides – and the best of Bath. Russell’s arrival attracted a lot of attention, but Du Toit was without a doubt the signing of the season. Colossal. 9/10
4 Quinn Roux
Steady as ever, with an unquenchable desire, and some of his clean-ups at the rucks were thunderous. Ultimately, though, Bath’s engine room needs attention. 6/10
5 Charlie Ewels
He was playing some of his best rugby in recent times and there were a few crucial defensive interventions, but little in the way of an all-round offering. 6/10
6 Ted Heuvel
Rumor has it he is the fastest at Bath so it was a shame he was never released. Behaved ruthlessly in the tight situation, despite the fact that it is not his forte. 6/10
7Sam Underhill
He was chosen to hit people like crazy and he couldn’t have played his role more devastatingly. Steve Borthwick, watching from the stands, must have licked his lips. 8/10
8 Alfie Barbeary
Sacrificed after Obano’s red who, on the biggest stage, is stripping. That said, he was fairly ineffective with ball in hand until his first-half send-off, although work rate cannot be faulted. 5/10
Replacements
Schoeman couldn’t quite match Obano’s brutality during the scrum, but he wasn’t far off. Annett, Stuart and Reid provided momentum as Bath found themselves desperately mired in the battle with a missing man. 7/10