Tommy Freeman grabs four tries as Saints overwhelm Saracens in high-scoring thriller

A classic had seemed to be on the cards and the players emphatically delivered. A pulsating encounter at the top of the Prem table ended with Northampton, who roared into an early 17-0 lead before somehow trailing at half-time, ultimately pulling Saracens apart with their scintillating attacking rugby.

The Saracens wing Noah Caluori had dominated the buildup, after his destructive five-try showing on his first Prem start in the previous round, but Tommy Freeman of England restated his class with a phenomenal four tries, while his international colleague Fin Smith orchestrated a vintage attacking performance. Northampton, who remain the only unbeaten side in the division, are supremely talented, extremely well coached by Phil Dowson, and look well equipped to repeat their title victory of 2023-24 having slumped to eighth last season.

There was one astonishing take by Caluori, soaring into the air to claim an Alex Mitchell box-kick in the first half, but aside from that he had a quiet night and certainly had plenty of defending to do against high calibre opponents.

Henry Pollock, never reluctant to attract attention, had bleached his hair a shocking blond as if to remind everyone he remains one of the coming men in English rugby. A touch of international class from Pollock’s fellow British & Irish Lions Freeman and Smith created the first score after a fiercely physical start. The fly-half floated a cross-kick right for Freeman where a clever dummy and burst of pace by the wing gained 50 metres. Northampton switched it left and Smith dinked a delicious grubber kick for the full-back George Hendy to pounce on.

Northampton’s Henry Pollock sported a new blond haircut against Saracens. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA

The 19-year-old Caluori dominated the news agenda during the week, but the pace and incisiveness of Northampton’s early attacking left Saracens suffering from a collective case of twisted blood. Maro Itoje looked worried but he also looked tired – the England captain urged his side to respond to the onslaught, but they were blowing hard.

Smith clipped another teasing grubber to the tryline where Saracens’ Max Malins tried desperately to touch down in-goal. The ball squirted out, allowing the Northampton openside Tom Pearson to score. A lengthy TMO check at least gave the visitors a breather.

Mark McCall’s side could not escape their own half. Smith whipped a sensational pass to Hendy, who fed Freeman for try No 3 and 17-0. But Saracens are serial champions for a reason and were soon on the scoreboard. First Fergus Burke raced under the posts, released by Nick Tompkins; then Burke’s perfectly weighted grubber allowed Jack Bracken to apply a scorching finish.

Pearson was shown a yellow card after some persistent infringing by Northampton, who were emphatically on the back foot at the time. Caluori contested a high kick, and could not get close to it, but Juan Martín González bashed over anyway. Owen Farrell’s conversion meant Saracens, almost unbelievably, led 19-17 at half-time.

Seven minutes after the break the Saracens lock Hugh Tizard crashed over and another Farrell conversion took the visitors 11 points ahead. Northampton needed something and Pollock provided it, intercepting superbly in midfield and recovering his balance to buy the field position that brought a yellow card for the Saracens prop Marco Riccioni and then a second try for Pearson.

Saracens led by two but not for long – Pollock nearly powered over – before Mitchell teed up Freeman, and Smith’s conversion had Northampton five points ahead. The action was relentless and it is difficult to imagine that any contest in the upcoming autumn internationals, in which many of these players will be involved, will be so compelling.

Northampton were rampant yet again and Freeman completed his hat-trick to send the Franklin’s Gardens faithful wild. Saracens were not done, and another phenomenal score put them back in it, Malins sprinting in at the corner. Farrell missed the conversion and almost instantly Smith’s perceptive kick sent Freeman sprinting to the tryline again for his fourth of the night. A stone-cold classic.