The ‘what might have been’ moment firing up Freeman and Northampton

Saints were gripped by stage fright as they allowed Leinster to build a 20-3 lead in last month’s semi-final in Dublin. Eventually gaining their composure in front of an 82,300 crowd, they fell just short with a final-quarter rally, losing 20-17.

It has become a ‘what might have been’ moment for the club, had they shown greater conviction from the start, but Tommy Freeman has insisted the experience will be invaluable when they face Bath at a sold-out Twickenham.