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Northampton stun Leinster with heroic victory to reach Champions Cup final

This competition has seen a few remarkable results over the years but few to match this sweetest of Saints days. Maybe Leinster thought that a fourth successive Investec Champions Cup final appearance was a formality against supposedly outgunned English opposition. If so they were made to pay a heavy price as a triple whammy of tries from Tommy Freeman helped Northampton pull off one of the all-time great knockout heists.

The Irish province, beaten in the final in the last three consecutive seasons, were stunned at the final whistle. But the Saints had led 27-15 at half-time and, even after Leinster had charged back to within three points the visitors came knocking again via a 62^nd minute score from James Ramm. The final quarter was frantically tense, settled in contentious fashion after an aghast Leinster had a possible 79^th-minute score disallowed.

Scotland talisman Finn Russell enjoyed a fruitful return to his homeland as Bath eventually wore down spirited Edinburgh to reach their first European final in 11 years with a 39-24 Challenge Cup semi-final victory.

The runaway Premiership leaders – undermined by losing players to untimely yellow cards in each half – trailed 17-12 in the third quarter at The Hive.

But Bath's power ultimately paid off, with all six of their tries scored by forwards, as they set up a showdown with the winner of Sunday's semi-final between the Top 14 sides Lyon and Racing 92 in the final at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on 23 May. PA Media

As well as being a memorable contest in its own right, it was also a heavy-duty final trial for assorted contenders on both sides with Thursday’s British & Irish Lions squad announcement looming. Is Andy Farrell’s mind already made up? If not here was some compelling additional 11^th-hour evidence, not least from a couple of Englishmen who played central roles in the throbbing drama.