Northampton Saints edged Bath Rugby 25-21 in a heart-stopping Gallagher Premiership final at Twickenham.
Alex Mitchell’s late try snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for the Saints, but other scores from Tommy Freeman and Ollie Sleightholme were enough to win Northampton’s first title since 2014.
Whilst Northampton came away as Champions, Bath really fronted up when reduced to 14-men, and pushed the Saints all the way.
Both teams saw stellar performances across the park, but which players stood out above the rest? Here are our six standout players from an enthralling Premiership final.
Six standout players from gripping Premiership final
Sam Underhill
What a performance from Sam Underhill yesterday. The back-rower was as imperious in defence as ever, with some enormous tackles; however his ball-carrying really came to the fore too. He was able to burst through the Saints line multiple times and was pivotal in getting Bath in the front foot for much of the game.
Thomas du Toit
If Bath won the final, du Toit would probably have been named Man of the Match. The prop really stood up for his team following Beno Obano’s red card, and if he wasn’t on the pitch Bath likely wouldn’t have been in the game. He was so important in getting Bath’s scrum on the front foot, imperious as ever around the park and he took his try well. Surely a Springboks recall is in his future?
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Ben Spencer
The Bath skipper had the better of opposite number Alex Mitchell, and he was at the heart of everything Bath did well. He executed his tactical kicking brilliantly, in particular with his assist to Will Muir, but his distribution and overall leadership were brilliant.
Ollie Sleightholme
Typically powerful with ball-in-hand, but he really helped swing momentum back towards his side in the first half. He scored a fine solo try, and put himself about in all areas of the game.
George Hendy
What an impact from Man of the Match Hendy. His break and assist to Mitchell eventually put Northampton back on top, but he was a constant threat in attack after his introduction. His rip at the end also cemented the win for his side.
George Furbank
Furbank really grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck yesterday. His leadership really came to the fore, which really helped calm things down after Northampton made a shaky start. His eye for a gap was also such a valuable weapon when Bath were reduced to 14, and he made several breaks to get his team on the front-foot. Shifting into 10 also proved how much of an asset he is.