Samoa’s Kahn Fotuali’i produced two fine pieces of skill as Northampton beat English rugby rivals Harlequins 18-10 on Friday to keep alive hopes of a European Challenge Cup and Premiership double.
In the Challenge Cup semi-final, halfback Fotuali’i set up one try with a precise cross-kick and scored another before a touchdown from veteran Harlequins back-rower Nick Easter frayed the nerves of home fans at Franklin’s Gardens.
But Northampton held on and will face the winners of Sunday’s second semi-final, another all-English affair between Wasps and Bath, in the final of European club rugby’s second-tier tournament in Cardiff next month.
Northampton were on top in the first half even though the Saints were briefly down to 14 men after just three minutes when Jamie Elliott was shown a yellow card after tackling Mike Brown while the England fullback was in mid-air fielding a high ball.
But the hosts didn’t concede a point while Elliott was in the sin-bin, Ben Botica – standing in for Quins former New Zealand five-eighth Nick Evans – falling short with a 50m penalty attempt.
Northampton suffered a setback when Welsh winger George North limped off after 20 minutes but, barely 60 seconds later, Stephen Myler kicked the Saints into the lead in front of a crowd that included England coach Stuart Lancaster.
And 3-0 soon became 8-0 when, in the 25th minute, after Ross McMillan had burst through the visitors’ defence on the back of a quick pass from Fotuali’i, the half’s cross-kick was caught out on the left wing by North’s replacement Tom Collins for the opening try.
Myler added another three points before halftime before Botica put Quins on the scoreboard to make it 11-3 to Northampton at the break.
Brown, who appeared to suffer a knee injury in his collision with Elliott, didn’t come on for the second half.
Four minutes later, things worsened for Quins when Fotuali’i scored Northampton’s second try after the television match official decided he had not made contact with the ball as it came out of a ruck before running 25 metres to score.
Myler converted to make it 18-3.
But Quins fought back, Easter going over after a strong drive by Maurie Fa’asavalu.
Botica converted and it was 18-10 with 17 minutes left but Quins could not get any closer.
