Hendy’s double downs Munster and sends Saints into Champions Cup semis
George Hendy wasn’t yet born the last time this famous ground in Northampton hosted a Champions Cup knockout match. Back in 2000, the Saints beat Wasps by just three points in the semi-finals. Three weeks later they edged Munster by a point to lift the cup and three years after that a future flying winger entered the world.
This was a contest dripping with narrative but the headline was supplied by Hendy who scored two breathtaking tries as a substitute to win an epic contest for his team. Having just come on at the hour mark with the game locked at 14-14, he flew down the tram with his first touch of the ball to finish with a flourish in the corner. Then with seven minutes to play he gathered a bouncing loose ball and beat two defenders to touch down again.
Hendy’s cameo was merely one chapter across a gripping saga. Munster were brilliant and would have beaten most teams in the Premiership with this performance. Their relentless energy at the breakdown coupled with quick ball out the back was a dizzying sight. It was reminiscent of the Irish national team at their best. Even after going behind to a James Ramm try, they looked the more threatening side and were 14-7 up after 30 minutes.
Five minutes after Ramm’s try Sean O’Brien refused to be tackled as he wriggled over from close range. Munster’s second, to Mike Haley, was similar in design as it was produced by a series of dominant carries. By the time the full-back gathered the ball at the base of the ruck just a few metres from the line, there was no one left in the Saints green wall to stop him.
Previous iterations of this Northampton side would have crumbled after such a prolonged passage on the back foot. Not this lot. Even under pressure in their own red zone they gave the ball air. Courtney Lawes was magnificent again, crashing over bodies round the fringe and providing options in the wide trams. One carry in Munster’s 22 sucked in defenders which gave Fin Smith the space to find Tommy Freeman on a blind run. Smith’s extras restored parity before the break.
The second half began in more circumspect fashion. Perhaps it was the prize of a quarter-final that prompted a shift down gear but that only ratcheted up the tension. But just as the narrative demanded a shift, the Saints delivered.
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Northampton had a lineout in their own 22 – close enough to the opposition’s try line for this freewheeling outfit. With quick ball off the top, Smith was soon straightening the line with Fraser Dingwall drawing the tackle. Ollie Sleightholme then offered a superb supporting gallop and away he went. With an overlap forming he found Freeman who had the ability to catch and pass at full tilt before Hendy completed the score with a dive.
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Smith missed the conversion and later fluffed a penalty shot at goal. Both kicks required a teammate to hold the ball still rather than risk it being blown off a tee. That kept Munster within arm’s reach and now the reigning URC champions had just over 10 minutes left to rescue the game. It was not to be. Hendy’s second stunner capped off a breathless exhibition. It’s been a long wait for days like this in the east Midlands and now, thanks to a 21-year-old’s magic contribution, they’re starting to believe that the good times are here to stay.