Live text updates & radio commentary as Northampton host Leicester in Prem semi-final (19:45 BST)
Tom Litchfield scores first-half hat-trick and George Furbank crosses twice as Saints score seven tries to beat Leicester 45-31 and reach final
Tigers battled well throughout to stay in the contest and scored five tries of their own
Bath play Exeter at the Rec in the second semi-final on Saturday (15:00)
The winner will meet Saints in the Prem Final on 20 June at Twickenham
Saints finished top of the table in the regular season, with East Midlands rivals Tigers fourth
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Image source, ShutterstockWell, what an evening we've had.
An extraordinary semi-final comes to an end and it's Northampton Saints who have booked their place in the Prem final at Twickenham next Saturday.
We've enjoyed your company and hope you can join us again tomorrow afternoon when we'll have live text coverage once more as holders Bath take on Exeter Chiefs in the second semi at The Rec.
Until then, it's goodbye for now!
Tell you what, I’m a Quins fan, and I’m ecstatic Furbank is coming to us next year. But the objective part of my brain thinks what on earth are you leaving this bunch of creative, skilful, brilliant young English players at Northampton.
Nick, London
1 Saint (me) vs 3 Tigers here. East Midlands Derby classic! LOVE IT!
Heather, Redhill
FT: Northampton 45-31 Leicester
Northampton Saints
Northampton head coach Sam Vesty speaking to BBC Radio Northampton:
"It was exhausting, the crowd this place was absolutely buzzing and that always helps.
"I thought our lads were right up for it and I think we wholly deserved that to be honest.
"We were good, obviously gave them a few ins that were a bit cheap a few times which we need to solve because we can't give good teams like Leicester good opportunities in the 22 because it's very hard to defend there.
"We let them into that zone where they are very good so we can work on being better on that. Teams are going to always get in there but it's restricting that number to something manageable and I think we gave a few away in there.
"I thought our attacks were fast and because our ball was fast Archie [McParland] had it off the floor so quickly that the defence could never get set and that was probably the difference in the end."
FT: Northampton 45-31 Leicester
Lennie Newman
Former Northampton Saints player and manager on BBC Radio Northampton
It was quite fitting that Henry Pollock kicked the ball off into the crowd at the end and I think he's been absolutely fantastic.
We mentioned Archie McParland and Tom Litchfield, but from one to 23 these boys have put themselves on the line.
Massive credit to Leicester, they got the game, they got their gameplan and they just wouldn't go away.
FT: Northampton 45-31 Leicester
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers boss Geoff Parling told TNT Sports following the full-time whistle:
"We are devastated. I feel like we've got an incredibly special group and the togetherness of this group is exceptional.
"Fair play to Saints, I thought they were outstanding. They looked like they had a little bit more zip.
"I'm really proud of the guys, I'm gutted to fall short. The players' effort was outstanding.
"This hurts, we have to come back next year and improve. Right now, I just want to sit the players down and have a beer with the group.
"The players have made the decision to fight for each other. It hurts, it hurts."
FT: Northampton 45-31 Leicester
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints director of rugby told TNT Sports after the full-time whistle:
"Massive relief. You spend all season getting your processes right, and once we got going [tonight], I think we found our rhythm.
"We tried to enjoy it but you just want to make sure the playing group - look at George Furbank - go out in the right way.
On Henry Pollock's performance: "You can see how super confident he is. I spoke to him in the week and he said to me he needs to focus on his own game rather than thinking about the opposition."
FT: Northampton 45-31 Leicester
Graham McKechnie
BBC Radio Northampton commentator
Saints have beaten Leicester Tigers who have played their part in a magnificent semi-final. All credit to Leicester, beaten on the night, it was a superb performance from them but it's Saints who rightly go through.
They were better tonight, they've been the best team all season in the Prem, the table will tell you that and they absolutely deserve their place at Twickenham next Saturday afternoon.
FT: Northampton 45-31 Leicester
Chris Ashton
Former England wing on Radio 5 Sports Extra
Without question Saints have been the best team all season and they'll feel they deserve to be in the final. What happened to them a few weeks ago at Welford Road seem to spur them on a little bit this evening, but just their backline is so good and so dangerous.
At times even when there was nothing on they created tries out of nothing and that is potential for a team to go on and win the Prem.
Leicester fought as they have done all season. Never gave up on anything, but they just didn't have enough tonight.
FT: Northampton 45-31 Leicester
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints fly-half Fin Smith told TNT Sports after the full-time whistle:
"A lot of relief with how this season has gone [finishing top of the league].
"If we hadn't have got there [to the Prem final], I think we would have felt like we had let ourselves down."
Northampton 45-31 Leicester
An extraordinary Prem semi-final comes to an end and Northampton will return to Twickenham for the final next Saturday!
What a fantastic match. The full-time whistle is greeted by an enormous roar from the home faithful.
Fin Smith pulled off a masterclass in fly-half play - what a game he had.
George Furbank will be the toast of everyone in Northampton, scoring twice on his final match at the Gardens. What a way to say goodbye to the old place.
Tom Litchfield scored a first-half hat-trick from outside centre for the Saints and they will have a chance to regain the Prem title they won two years ago.
Spare a thought for Leicester Tigers and Geoff Parling, who more than played their part in this East Midlands derby, and can be very proud of their own efforts, today and throughout the season.
Northampton 45-31 Leicester
It's at risk at boiling over at the end and there is a ruckus between the two sets of players with 30 seconds remaining.
Having to get updates via radio in Greece! Still time for Tigers to win!
Jez, Paxos
English rugby is brilliant, and we still have Exeter v Bath to play. Awesome rugby. Leicester fan.
Sean, Redhill
Northampton 45-31 Leicester
Adam Whitty
BBC Radio Leicester commentator
Time is running out for Leicester and an epic semi-final is nearing its conclusion.
Northampton 45-31 Leicester
Saints will play the final stages of this one with 14 men, replacement hooker Craig Wright is sent to the bin for a ball steal.
Northampton 45-31 Leicester
Sara Orchard
BBC Sport rugby union commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live
George Furbank with his final act in his final match here at Franklin's Gardens is to absolutely seal the deal. There is not enough time for the Tigers to come back.
George Furbank, missed con Smith
What a fitting moment for the departing George Furbank!
Leicester win a line-out on halfway but Saints steal possession from it.
Fin Smith's kick to the corner is outrageous - and Tommy Freeman picks out Furbank who dives over for his second try of the night.
The celebration following the try is phenomenal - you can see how much that meant to Furbank, who will join Harlequins following the conclusion of the season.
Fin Smith's accuracy is lacking with the conversion attempt, but his job was done by setting up the try.
Northampton 40-31 Leicester
Tom Varndell
Former England and Leicester wing on BBC Radio Leicester
That was the best of the bunch from the Tigers tries.
The execution was perfect and we're back on again.
That kick was a stinker, but in 10 minutes we've seen how quickly both these teams can score tries.
Ollie Hassell-Collins, missed con Searle
Absolutely fantastic from Leicester Tigers! Game on once more.
It's a gorgeous grubber kick from Billy Searle, who picks out Ollie Hassell-Collins, to score his second of the match from the left wing.
Searle misses the extras but we are set for a grandstand finish with 10 to play.
Northampton 40-26 Leicester
That try looks to have taken it out of Leicester a little bit but they will remain fighting until the end.
14 points in it, 12 minutes left. They have the put in at a scum and earn themselves a penalty which Billy Searle launches into Saints territory.
Northampton 40-26 Leicester
Graham McKechnie
BBC Radio Northampton commentator
Is that the moment Saints have finally broken Leicester?
It's another magical try!
Over to you TMO, what's wrong with that one?
