THE MOST exciting non-Irish game of the weekend took place in Murrayfield as the Northampton Saints turned around a 24-13 Edinburgh lead with a direct and controlled second-half display to win 27-31.
Actually, there were a few Irishmen on display as James Downey continued his fine season in the centre for Northampton with a crucial try just before the interval while Roger Wilson was part of a powerful pack led by Dylan Hartley.
“I told our players some home truths at half-time – they had to sharpen up their defence and look after the ball better although our attacking was pretty good,” said Saints coach Jim Malinder.
“We had to stop Edinburgh’s offloading game and although we had been hesitant in the first half we stepped that up after half-time.
“The try just before half-time was crucial and it showed that if we got quick ball we would score.
“Our pack played up the middle well and although there was no bonus point I was really only thinking about securing the win as we were going through the final 20 minutes.”
It was a remarkable opening half-hour with the free-wheeling home side crossing for three tries, all born out of excellent continuity play where the Blair brothers, Mike and David, featured prominently from halfback.
But the Northampton forwards upped the intensity thereafter with winger Paul Diggin crossing for a try and Steve Myler, having replaced Shane Geraghty in the side, finishing with 16 points off his boot. Edinburgh now appear out of contention to make the knockout stages having lost their opening two games.
Racing Metro beat a depleted Clermont Auvergne, 16-9, in Paris as Leinster’s main rivals for qualification met in this French affair that was ultimately decided by a try from Fijian winger Sereli Bobo just before half-time.
Bath kept their challenge alive in Pool Four with a bonus-point win away to Italian side Aironi, while Toulouse continued their march through Pool Six with a comprehensive 40-19 away victory over the Newport Gwent Dragons.
Despite scoring 40 points, they didn’t manage a fourth try with most of their points coming off the boots of David Skrela (19 points) and Florian Fritz (six points).
