Fraser Dingwall says Northampton can “just go and attack it” when they face Bordeaux-Begles in the Investec Champions Cup final on Saturday.
Saints, fresh from a stunning semi-final victory over Leinster in Dublin, last won the tournament 25 years ago.
The Northampton line-up that day for a 9-8 victory over Munster included players like Pat Lam, Allan Bateman, Ben Cohen and Tin Rodber.
A quarter of a century on, the spotlight hovers above Saints’ four-strong British and Irish Lions contingent – Tommy Freeman, Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell and Henry Pollock – as spearheads for coveted silverware.
And if they topple first-time Champions Cup finalists Bordeaux – conquerors of Ulster, Munster and Toulouse in the knockout phase – Northampton will become the first English winners since Exeter in 2020.
Fixture
Investec Champions Cup
Northampton
Bordeaux
“In this week, it’s kind of addressing that semi-final, but also addressing the whole journey throughout this competition,” Saints captain Dingwall said.
“We beat the Bulls in Pretoria, and that was a massive emotional spike, but then we’ve kind of backed it up again.
“We beat Munster at home, then won the round of 16 and quarter-final against French sides.
“We’ve kind of proved to ourselves over and over again throughout this competition that we can play against the top opposition in big occasions, but have those emotional spikes at the right times.”
Saints won widespread acclaim following their performance against four-time Champions Cup winners Leinster.
A 37-34 triumph showcased Northampton’s attacking brilliance, led by hat-trick hero Freeman, but another huge challenge now awaits.
While Bordeaux might be relative Champions Cup knockout novices, they have looked a class apart at times this season, inspired by try machines Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
Dingwall added: “We can just go and attack it. I have got full belief if we have a good performance, that will get us to where we want to get to.
“As good as the semi-final was, it now becomes irrelevant, doesn’t it, really, because you’ve got a final step? No-one has won a trophy.
“As good as a day like that was, it means nothing if you don’t win the trophy as well. I think it becomes even greater if you go and back it up on Saturday.
“It becomes even more of a thing if you then go and beat a really good Bordeaux team, who also have got loads of great players, loads of great individuals who can do some great stuff.”
