Northampton take advantage of Taylor red card to hold on to win over Saracens

If these two were to meet in the semi-final in three weeks, we can safely say the shape of the contest will be different. Northampton claimed maximum points with this win over mighty Saracens to move into the fourth and final playoff spot with two rounds to go, but they do not have the look of champions about them. This was Saracens’ second team – and as if that were not qualification enough, the visitors played most of the match down to 14 after an early red card for Duncan Taylor.

Under those circumstances, Northampton were less than impressive, whatever the final scoreline might suggest. Indeed, Saracens finished the stronger, claiming a bonus point of their own with two tries in the last 10 minutes. Still, if the Saints can win at Newcastle next weekend, their last game of the regular season, they will have every chance of finishing in the top four.

Saracens, we know, will be hosting someone in the playoffs, most likely whoever comes fourth. A few might grumble – London Irish in particular – that they were not at full strength as the race for the top four reaches its conclusion. Irish sit out this week, but their next match is at the league leaders’ next weekend. Will they too be facing a second XV?

But we cannot complain about welfare one minute and grumble about players being rested the next. Northampton benefited from a dose of luck here, the way the fixtures have fallen, but they benefited from an even bigger one once the match was under way.

Taylor became the latest scapegoat for rugby’s brain-injury crisis in only the eighth minute. Saracens were actually a try up by then, embarrassing their fully loaded hosts with a nicely worked move off a lineout that saw Olly Hartley worked through a gap in midfield. Alex