Dawson and Pountney guide Saints into final

London Irish 9

Northampton gained emphatic revenge for their comprehensive defeat in last season’s Twickenham showpiece when they lost 38-7 to London Irish, by thrashing the Exiles in a one-sided semi-final at Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium.

Saints triumphed 38-9, scoring five converted tries from Pountney, his fellow flanker Darren Fox, lock Steve Williams, number eight Mark Connors and substitute centre Peter Jorgensen.

They will meet Gloucester, who defeated Leicester on Saturday, in the final on 5, Pountney and England scrum-half Dawson, back after suffering a calf injury, were architects of Irish’s demise.

“We have got two or three world-class players,” said Smith.

“Matt Dawson broke Irish open early on, which set a platform for us. Budge Pountney is a magnificent footballer and leader, and our forwards were fantastic. Irish were never in the contest. All their points came from outhalf Barry Everitt’s boot, and they were blown away when Saints rattled up 17 unanswered points in seven minutes just after the break.

“The performance was more disappointing than the result,” said Irish rugby director Conor O’Shea. “We couldn’t string the ball through more than one or two phases, no-one straightened the line and we looked average. LONDON IRISH: Mapletoft, Sackey, Burrows, Venter, Horak, Everitt, Martens, Worsley, Drotske, Hardwick, Casey, Kennedy, Gustard, Dawson, Sheasby.

London Irish scorers: Pens: Everitt 3.

NORTHAMPTON: Beal, Brooks, Hyndman, Leslie, Reihana, Grayson, Dawson, Smith, Thompson, Morris, Lord, Williams, Fox, Pountney, Connors.

Northampton scores: Tries: Williams, Pountney, Connors, Jorgensen, Fox. Cons: Grayson 5. Pen: Grayson.