Premiership semi-finals: Saints and Tigers must carry weight of history

N orthampton and Leicester will have to overcome increasingly hefty odds if they are to prevent the two regular season frontrunners Saracens and Sale Sharks from hosting an S club party at this year’s Premiership final at Twickenham on 27 May.

The away team has triumphed just six times in 37 semi-final attempts since the format was introduced in 2002-03 and there has been only one such instance in the past seven seasons. The exception to the rule was Harlequins in 2021, when they staged the biggest comeback in Premiership history to nudge aside Bristol at Ashton Gate.

On top of the sheer weight of history, the Saints and the Tigers must also factor in the specific challenges of winning in Salford and Barnet this weekend, with Saracens and Sale both in decent shape for the run-in. Sarries had the luxury of being able to rest almost all their frontline players for the final round of the regular campaign while the Sharks limbered up by sticking eight tries on bottom club Newcastle.

Northampton also had the benefit of a bye week before their visit to the StoneX Stadium but their regular season stats highlight the biggest issue they need to overcome against Sarries’ England-laden squad. Although Saints have scored the most tries of any team in the league this season, with 84 from 20 games, they have also conceded more than anyone else bar the low-flying Falcons.

It does not bode particularly well with Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and a fit-again Elliot Daly, back available in the nick of time for the playoffs, all keen to atone for last season’s disappointment when a last-gasp Freddie Burns drop goal saw Leicester steal the title in the closing moments at Twickenham. That said, Courtney Lawes is now restored to the Saints pack