New faces but same Saints DNA - Freeman

· Yahoo Sports

Two years after winning their second top-flight title, Northampton Saints will return to Twickenham for a shot at a third - though for much of their squad, Saturday's Premiership final will be a first.

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Of the 23 players in Saints' matchday squad for their thrilling semi-final victory over Leicester Tigers, 13 did not feature in the 2024 final against Bath.

Former skipper Courtney Lawes is among eight who played in that final to have exited the club since.

But while the personnel will have a different appearance for Saturday's final against Exeter (15:00 BST), winger Tommy Freeman still sees the same old Northampton.

"There's a lot of difference in terms of players and numbers and age but I wouldn't say it was too dissimilar on what we do," Freeman told BBC Radio Northampton.

"The DNA is the same, what we do is the same - everyone knows the plan so it's just about going and doing it."

Like in their 2024 title win, Northampton finished the regular season top of the league table, five points clear of second-placed Bath.

Freeman was one of Saints' try scorers in the final at Twickenham in 2024.

But while those memories undoubtedly linger at the back of the 25-year-old's mind, he's not absorbed by the gravity of the occasion. If anything, it's the opposite.

"There is nothing different [from an average game]," Freeman said.

"It's the amount of people, the occasion and the build-up of how big the game is, it's just controlling that side of it. When you're on the pitch, it's still rugby.

"As soon as you start diving into other things and overthinking the occasion, that's when you can get into trouble."

Pollock seeking the right balance

Henry Pollock came up through Northampton Saints' youth ranks to make his senior debut in 2022 [Getty Images]

Despite being just 21, Henry Pollock is no stranger to showing up on big occasions.

The flanker became England's youngest try scorer in Six Nations history, aged 20, last year and excelled in Saints' semi-final win over East Midlands rivals Leicester.

Pollock missed out on the 2024 final due to international duty - but he was still a winner as England took home the trophy from the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in South Africa.

They are all moments that have prepared him for his first Prem Rugby final.

"There is obviously a balance, you don't want to be too excited or under-excited," Pollock told BBC Radio Northampton.

"I've been lucky enough that I've been involved in big games. We played Bath away this year in the quarter-final of the Champions Cup and we played the final last year against Bordeaux in Cardiff.

"The lessons we can take from those games, it's only going to benefit us for these other big games. We are using those experiences but at the same time, it's just another game of rugby."

Pollock will likely draw plenty of attention during the match and not just due to his international pedigree and talent.

Often perceived as a 'wind-up merchant', the former England Under-18 captain knows how to ruffle feathers on the pitch to ensure he becomes a target for the opposition.

It's a role he's more than happy to take on again come the weekend.

"It's just something that kind of comes with me and my personality," the flanker added on the club's media call.

"I think there's two sides to it. If they're trying to target me, then there's going to be space elsewhere on the pitch.

"I do like the aggression side of the game, [it] gets the best out of me in terms of being in and around the contacts, in and around the collisions. I think that's where I'm at my best."

There will be live text commentary of the Prem final between Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs on the BBC Sport website on Saturday, 20 June as well as radio coverage from BBC Radio Northampton starting at 10:00 BST on BBC Sounds.

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