Northampton Saints 45 Leicester Tigers 31: Tom Vickers' review and player ratings

It was almost like attending a philosophy and psychology seminar as he spoke to the assembled media about what he wanted to see from his side against Leicester Tigers four days later.

"The one thing I don't want us to do is get tight," Dowson said.

"I want us to be free to go and express ourselves and play our game because generally when we play our game we're a really good group."

Dowson went on to add a story from his own playing career to reinforce that he wanted his players to be fully active rather than passive on the big occasion.

"I can only talk from my own experience but when I was at Newcastle and I'd just made my debut, a guy called Gareth McClure, a winger, asked me how I'd got on," Dowson reflected.

"I told him it was alright and I didn't make any mistakes, but he was like ... (making a noise like air coming out of a balloon). He said 'did you do anything good?' and I was like 'no'.

"I was just ticking a box, whereas actually I want to go out and melt somebody, I want to run with the ball, do something decent, execute my job, and that's different for different people.

"Henry (Pollock) never went into a game thinking 'I don't want to make any mistakes', he's like 'I need to score three tries'. It's really fun to see that journey from different people."

Those words would have been ringing in the ears of everyone who had heard them in the build-up to the game.

And they would come to fruition during the 80 minutes that unfolded.

Because rather than being hamstrung by fear, Saints channelled the nervousness they later admitted they felt in the best way possible.

They used it to fuel every ferocious hit, every forceful carry.

What they did not let it do was seep into their skills.

Fin Smith didn't let it stop him when he went charging forward and unleashed a perfect kick for Tommy Freeman to get on the end of.

Freeman didn't let it stop him when he grounded the ball with a sensational one-handed flying finish.

Tom Litchfield didn't let it stop him running rings around Tigers defenders.

Henry Pollock didn't let it stop him doing what he does best in yet another all-action display.

And it was all summed up so perfectly, when, four minutes from time, with the game still very much in the balance, Smith found Freeman with a perfectly-executed crossfield kick and he delivered a superb try assist for the onrushing George Furbank to score a truly memorable Gardens try.

At the same end of the field but in the other corner to the one where Tom Wood landed a decisive blow the last time Saints hosted Tigers in a PREM play-off semi-final, Furbank dived over, sprung up and roared in delight.

And just when it looked like he was heading back to the halfway line to get on with his next job, Fraser Dingwall astutely made sure his skipper soaked up every possible second, pushing him towards the packed South Stand to lap up the acclaim.

It was an emotive moment on a night when Furbank wore the Saints colours at the Gardens for the final time.

The Academy graduate is a microcosm of this Saints side: he has bravery by the bucketload and skill oozing from every pore.

He spoke about earning his fairy-tale ending in his final Gardens game and, as ever, he did just that, delivering two tries for his team in a magnificent personal performance.

But he was one of so many who delivered here.

This Tigers team packed a real punch, proving so hard to stop when they got anywhere close to the Saints line.

They were able to blast their way to try after try, keeping themselves in the game right until Furbank put them on the canvas for one final time.

Saints knew pure style wouldn't be enough. They had to have so much substance, too.

Their set piece stood strong, putting previous lineout problems behind them, while also securing enough ball against an imposing pack at scrum time.

They resourced the breakdown so much better than they had during their horrible 41-17 defeat at Tigers little more than a month earlier.

Every time they saw a Tiger in their way, they showed their own teeth and shoved them back.

It was a breathtaking show of brutality and brilliance on a night when nothing less would have been enough.

And Saints didn't only have the physical side of the game, they had the mentality, too.

That fear that could have crept in, the enemy of freedom, wasn't allowed through the Gardens gates.

This team doesn't carry the scar tissue previous Northampton sides had after so many painful derby-day losses to a Leicester team that ruled the East Midlands roost.

This team shrugs off those setbacks and doesn't let the past shape the future, unless it is in a positive way.

They only draw lessons from defeat, not letting the poison linger.

They showed that in 2024 when they suffered a heartbreaking Investec Champions Cup semi-final loss at Leinster only to use that big-match experience to help them beat Bath in the PREM final.

They showed it a year later when they again used those Croke Park lessons to ensure they wouldn't suffer the same fate at the Aviva Stadium, claiming a sensational semi-final success against the formidable Leinster side.

And now they have showed it again, ensuring that painful loss at Leicester last month has been washed away so quickly.

Saints, as a club, are so forward thinking these days.

They don't dwell on the past, they just focus on the future.

And thanks to that attitude, this fearless team's future includes a Gallagher PREM final at English rugby HQ on Saturday.

How they rated…

GEORGE FURBANK – the skipper got his fitting Gardens farewell on a night when he scored two second-half tries to propel his team to victory… 10

TOMMY FREEMAN – ridiculously good. This guy is just off the charts at times and some of his set-up play was truly sensational. Oh yeah, and he added a world-class one-handed finish… 10

TOM LITCHFIELD – what a first half, what a season, what a player. This guy was a behemoth once again as he refused to be stopped on his way to a hat-trick before half-time… 10

RORY HUTCHINSON – some truly sublime handling and not only that, also some jackhammer hits as he once again punched above his weight. So strong and so skillful here… 9.5

GEORGE HENDY – one scything run during the second half showed the threat he possesses, but Tigers were able to deny him the chances in space he thrives on… 8.5

FIN SMITH – delivered some real moments of magic for his team, with two of his kicks proving so key to such important tries. Also had that physicality, too… 10

ARCHIE MCPARLAND – could have gone into his shell after an early forward pass gave Tigers a big chance to pile the pressure on, but he didn’t let that bother him as he shrugged it off to produce yet another massive scrum-half performance that included a try… 9.5

MANNY IYOGUN – led the team out on his 100th appearance for the club and though he was involved in a couple of high collisions, he overcame them to produce another huge showing for his club… 9

CURTIS LANGDON – how good is it for Saints to have this man back at it. Brings such energy and also that security at lineout time. A lovely moment as he celebrated at the end with it having been such a tough season for him due to injury… 9

ELLIOT MILLAR MILLS – the prop was so close to a memorable try but it was ruled out for a George Hendy knock-on in the build-up. He thundered around the field and showed no shortage of poise on his way over the line… 9

ALEX COLES – the athlete did what the athlete does as he racked up so much work for his team, keeping them steady when he needed to and delivering an incredible level of physicality on both sides of the ball… 9.5

ED PROWSE – the big man got a big chance to shine, and he didn’t let his team down as he turned in a performance that showed just how far he’s come in Saints colours… 9

JOSH KEMENY – such an elusive runner, he kept Tigers on their toes as he was a real threat when he got the chance to charge forward. Did all of the dirty work he always does, too… 9

TOM PEARSON – has had an incredible season, and this was another page in the book. Broke the Tigers line with a thunderous run that opened the door for a key second-half try and he was full of physicality all night… 9.5

HENRY POLLOCK - CHRON STAR MAN – absolutely everywhere for pretty much the entire 80 minutes. This guy is just electric and he had such a huge impact on this game… 10

Replacements (who played more than 20 minutes)

DANILO FISCHETTI (for Iyogun 53) – came on and helped to make an immediate impact in defence as he disrupted Tigers ball, and he continued to pop up with good contributions… 8

CRAIG WRIGHT (for Langdon 53) – such a dynamic presence, he powered around the pitch in typical fashion before eventually taking a yellow card late on, which was actually quite good for Saints as they stemmed the Tigers tide at a dangerous time… 7.5

FRASER DINGWALL (for Litchfield 57) – what a player to bring off the bench as he adds such security to his team and he kept a cool head amid the chaos… 7.5