FREEMAN STARS AS SAINTS GO MARCHING INTO FINAL

Leinster 34 Northampton 37 Champions Cup semi-final

- BY ADAM HATHAWAY in Dublin

TOMMY FREEMAN rubbished the doubters after booking his ticket for the British & Irish Lions tour as Northampton pulled off one of the biggest shocks in European rugby.

Freeman's first-half hat-trick, in front of the tourists’ boss Andy Farrell, nailed down his spot Down Under and helped Saints to their first final since 2011 on May 24.

They will play Toulouse or Bordeaux-Begles, who play the other semi-final today, and will have a shot if they reproduce this display that came from nowhere.

Freeman made it 15 tries in his past 10 games as his hot run of form continued and a wonder score by Henry Pollock (below) gave him a shot at a Lions spot.

Saints led 37-32 with 19 minutes left but were hanging on for dear life at the end.