Lowe fires Leinster into Champions Cup final despite Northampton's late rally

04/05/2024 20:47

• Leinster 20-17 Northampton
• Irish side survive late fightback after Lowe's superb hat-trick

They were not given much of a chance – and sure enough, for most of the match they did not have one. But Northampton, having looked completely lost in front of 82,000 at Croke Park, burst into life in the final quarter to give Leinster something of a scare.

The home side, though, are too packed to the rafters with international quality to lose from such a position. They have had their wobbles in the recent past, but letting slip a 20-3 lead early in the first half would really have been too painful to contemplate. As it is, with a hat-trick for James Lowe – one of the very best players in the Six Nations, let alone the Champions Cup – they march on to London for the final at the end of the month.