English Cup final: An English cup final was won by the Irish on an afternoon when a South African outwitted a New Zealander in shades of the 1995 World Cup final.

The London Irish rugby director and centre Brendan Venter came on as a replacement that day as South Africa, the underdogs, defeated the All Blacks in Johannesburg. And on Saturday he made his first and probably last appearance at Twickenham, leaving an indelible mark on the match which pundits had expected Northampton and their New Zealand coach Wayne Smith to dominate.

It was not the power of the Saints which decided the day but the know-how accumulated by Venter and disseminated to his players as Irish played on the front foot from the start.

Northampton fielded 14 internationals but the selfless attitude demanded by Venter of his squad manifested itself throughout and seven minutes from the end, as Geoff Appleford set off on an 80-metre run which confirmed victory for his side, Venter ran to the touchline and replaced himself with Rob Hoadley.

Venter was the architect of Irish's first two tries, appearing at outhalf and confounding defenders not only by his change of position but because he stood so close to the breakdown that he was able to free runners outside him.

In defence he felled opponents with a ruthlessness occasionally bordering on the reckless. One blow to Matt Dawson's head also left the Northampton scrumhalf with two stud marks which looked like bullet holes on his left hand; he left the pitch with a cut above his left eye and a nick on his left ear, his puffed face suggesting a boxer after 12 rounds.

"As a player it is time for me to take a step back now," said Venter. "It is time for the younger generation at the club, and as long as they have the attitude they will make it. I will not let a player come into the side unless he has answers to questions. It is a privilege to play for London Irish and if guys do not perform they leave.

"This was a big day for London Irish. I played in a World Cup final, and winning the Powergen Cup, the first major trophy in the club's history, was right up there with that, but we must keep it going, starting with Pontypridd in the Parker Pen Shield semi-final on Saturday."

Venter was one of nine thirtysomethings in the London Irish squad. What did they take from this all-action performance? "Mondays off," replied captain Ryan Strudwick, proof that the humour that has marked out the Exiles has not been lost.

"We have shown that we are up there with the big boys," said number eight Chris Sheasby, who at 35 was the oldest player on the field. "Brendan has done an amazing job and I cannot take my hat off to him enough times for the leadership he has shown. Our supporters have waited a long time for this day, but we still have to achieve our goal of making the Heineken Cup."

If Venter was the indisputable winner of the man of the match award, his South African compatriot alongside him in the centre, Appleford, ran him close, scoring two tries and showing considerable coolness under pressure. Qualified to play for England through a maternal grandparent, he has already appeared for them in sevens tournaments.

"I have never spoken to Clive Woodward but I hope that someone involved with England has noticed me," he said. "I have learned a lot playing outside Brendan, especially in terms of attitude."

It was Smith's biggest setback since he took over at Northampton last November. "They overwhelmed us from the start," he said. "Brendan has done a superb job with them and they played with a passion and a spirit we did not have. It was pretty embarrassing."

Smith said his side had been "too hyper" and admitted he "didn't do a very good job at managing the players. I am still learning about them and it is something I will have to improve on".

London Irish's only other appearance in the final was back in 1980 when their team-sheet sported names such as McKibbin, O'Donnell, Murphy, Sheehan and O'Driscoll. They may now be more cosmopolitan, but led by a Brendan the core values remain, and the biggest surprise about Saturday was why they were underdogs. Under Venter they have shown far more bite than yap.