'Every moment ached with importance as Northampton win compelling final'

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Northampton Saints' two recent Prem triumphs in 2024 and 2026 have come either side of an appearance in the Champions Cup final By Mike Henson BBC Sport rugby union news reporter Published 9 minutes ago It wasn't always top-quality rugby. But Northampton's 26-17 win over Exeter was a final of the highest calibre nonetheless. A sweat-greased ball proved difficult to tame, even for two of the deftest teams in the league. George Furbank spilled one simple chance to stroll in in the first half, shortly after Stephen Varney had juggled another at the other end, allowing a Northampton defender to sweep in and steal his legs from under him. Saints' scrum-half Alex Mitchell shelled another gilt-edged opportunity as he slid in after the interval Forty-seven minutes into the game, there had already been 19 handling errors - 11 from Northampton and eight from Exeter. Line-outs and scrums alike were glitchy. Defences were too tight and attacks too inaccurate to conjure the sort of free-scoring tryfest that has characterised some matches this Prem season. Rugby Union Weekly: Saints beat Exeter to the Prem title Northampton beat Exeter to win Prem Rugby title Published 14 hours ago Can 'best Northampton team ever' become one of English rugby's greats? Published 12 hours ago Instead, every moment ached with importance. Every margin seemed like the knife-edge that might split the spoils one way or the other. The final try summed it up. Exeter captain Dafydd Jenkins had served out his 10 minutes in the sin bin. He was waiting only for the next stoppage to rejoin the fray. But ahead by two points, Northampton kept the ball, and their powerplay, alive for 13 phases. When Fin Smith put his kick in behind the Exeter defence it was tracking towards the touchline, but a rogue bounce took it back infield. George Hendy dived and dotted down. Saints led by nine. And still did so at the final whistle. Every small moment seemed to have a big impact on the outcome. It was compelling viewing. Smith recovers from Roots rattling to dominate Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Smith has aimed to add a running game to his weaponry this season Fin Smith was only 12 years old at the time, but he will remember the thunderous viral hit put in by Saints legend Courtney Lawes on France fly-half Jules Plisson back in 2015. , external On an adjacent patch of Twickenham pitch, Smith got a taste of something similar, being levelled by a flying Ethan Roots 25 minutes into the game. , external No matter. Smith dusted himself down, got back to his feet and was undeterred in playing physical and flat to the line. He weighs in at less than 14 stone, but his appetite for the physical stuff is Jonny Wilkinson-esque at times. Six minutes after Roots' shuddering shot, its victim was barging through Stephen Varney at short range for a try. Overall, he carried 12 times and made 13 tackles, putting him third-highest in the Northampton ranks for both cate