Leinster host Northampton in Champions Cup semi-final - listen & text
Leinster v Northampton (17:30 BST)
Let's hear from the Englishman now...
Speaking to BBC Radio Northampton, Fin Smith said: "We would like to think we are better prepared for this game than we were last year.
"In the same breath, Leinster are also a very different side to what they were and it doesn't make the task any easier but I would like to say we won't be overwhelmed by the situation.
"Since then a number of our squad have played in big international games in front of big crowds with loads riding on them, so hopefully all that experience will help us.
"It's obviously a real challenge and we have to give them respect but we are not going to bow down. We will have a crack and see how we go. It should be a great game and one I'm looking forward to.
"We are a side that is capable of beating anyone. We are definitely the underdogs and no-one is giving us a shot but we are one of the few teams that I believe can beat Leinster."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
4 hours ago
- Leader Live
Lando Norris completes practice double at the Hungarian Grand Prix
Norris trails McLaren team-mate Piastri by 16 points heading into Sunday's round at the Hungaroring – the final race before the summer break. But the British driver laid down an early marker in the first running of the weekend when he beat Piastri to top spot by just 0.019 seconds. He then extended his advantage to 0.291 seconds in the day's concluding session. Norris' world championship bid suffered a setback at last weekend's rain-hit Belgian Grand Prix when Piastri overtook him on the first racing lap and went on to claim a comfortable win. However, it was Norris – never previously out-qualified by a team-mate in six visits to the Hungaroring – who stole an early advantage with an impressive performance on Friday at a circuit he has declared among his favourites on the calendar. There was one moment of concern for Norris when he ran wide at the final turn. But he managed to retake control of his McLaren, and survived without ending up in the wall. Lando Norris flirts with the barriers as he rounds the final corner 😮 No damage done and he goes on his way#F1 #HungarianGP — Formula 1 (@F1) August 1, 2025 Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, four tenths off the pace, but three places clear of team-mate Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion, who has a record eight wins and nine pole positions in Hungary, was three tenths adrift of Leclerc. In the first session, Hamilton complained his car didn't 'feel good', and ran off the road at the first corner following a major lock-up. He was then beaten by both Aston Martin drivers in the second running. Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso were fourth and fifth respectively – the latter returning to his cockpit after he missed the opening session with a back injury – while George Russell ended the running in seventh. On Thursday, Max Verstappen ended speculation he could leave Red Bull at the end of the year by committing his future there for at least another season. However, he finished a distant 14th in practice, over 1.1 seconds slower than Norris. 'I don't know what is going on,' said Verstappen. 'It is just undriveable.' Verstappen is also facing a stewards' investigation after he threw a towel – seemingly left in the Dutchman's cockpit by accident – out of his car. Verstappen has been called to see the stewards at 6.20pm local time (5.20pm BST).
North Wales Chronicle
4 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Lando Norris completes practice double at the Hungarian Grand Prix
Norris trails McLaren team-mate Piastri by 16 points heading into Sunday's round at the Hungaroring – the final race before the summer break. But the British driver laid down an early marker in the first running of the weekend when he beat Piastri to top spot by just 0.019 seconds. He then extended his advantage to 0.291 seconds in the day's concluding session. Norris' world championship bid suffered a setback at last weekend's rain-hit Belgian Grand Prix when Piastri overtook him on the first racing lap and went on to claim a comfortable win. However, it was Norris – never previously out-qualified by a team-mate in six visits to the Hungaroring – who stole an early advantage with an impressive performance on Friday at a circuit he has declared among his favourites on the calendar. There was one moment of concern for Norris when he ran wide at the final turn. But he managed to retake control of his McLaren, and survived without ending up in the wall. Lando Norris flirts with the barriers as he rounds the final corner 😮 No damage done and he goes on his way#F1 #HungarianGP — Formula 1 (@F1) August 1, 2025 Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, four tenths off the pace, but three places clear of team-mate Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion, who has a record eight wins and nine pole positions in Hungary, was three tenths adrift of Leclerc. In the first session, Hamilton complained his car didn't 'feel good', and ran off the road at the first corner following a major lock-up. He was then beaten by both Aston Martin drivers in the second running. Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso were fourth and fifth respectively – the latter returning to his cockpit after he missed the opening session with a back injury – while George Russell ended the running in seventh. On Thursday, Max Verstappen ended speculation he could leave Red Bull at the end of the year by committing his future there for at least another season. However, he finished a distant 14th in practice, over 1.1 seconds slower than Norris. 'I don't know what is going on,' said Verstappen. 'It is just undriveable.' Verstappen is also facing a stewards' investigation after he threw a towel – seemingly left in the Dutchman's cockpit by accident – out of his car. Verstappen has been called to see the stewards at 6.20pm local time (5.20pm BST).
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Reece & Guest save game for Derbyshire at Northants
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, County Ground, Northampton (day four)Derbyshire 377 & 185-5: Reece 61*, Guest 60*; Keogh 2-37Northants 550-9 dec: Broad 171, Keogh 125*; ; Reece 3-114Northants (13 pts) drew with Derbyshire (13 pts)Match scorecard Brooke Guest and Luis Reece both made attacking half-centuries as Derbyshire salvaged a weather assisted draw on the final day of their County Championship fixture against Northamptonshire at Wantage heavy morning rain preventing play until 15:30 BST, Northamptonshire were unable to press home their overnight advantage, having reduced the visitors to 52-4 on the third evening, still 121 while Rob Keogh (2-37) removed nightwatchman Joe Hawkins without scoring in just the second over of the day, Guest and Reece quickly settled into their work, finding boundaries easy to come by as they posted a stand of 131 in 36.2 no further wickets falling, Derbyshire cleared the deficit and moved into the lead, the teams shaking hands at 17:30 with the visitors on 185-5, both teams taking 13 Northamptonshire opened with spin at both ends. Yuzvendra Chahal (2-79) had made a double wicket strike last evening and while he and Keogh both found turn and bounce to beat the bat, they were often inconsistent as Reece and Guest tucked in to the bad was Keogh who trapped Hawkins lbw as he attempted to steer to leg. But while he challenged Brook Guest outside off-stump, the right-hander found a way to score, sweeping him for consecutive boundaries before pulling Chahal for another a ring of close fielders and several shouts for lbw, Derbyshire started to accumulate quickly. Reece swept Keogh for four and reverse swept Chahal to take Derbyshire past 100 in the 37th over. Guest brought up the 50 partnership off 82 balls by pulling Chahal through midwicket before going back to cut Keogh through extra turned to the pace of Liam Guthrie and thought they had the wicket of Guest on 36, appealing for what looked like an excellent diving catch by Justin Broad at short midwicket, the umpires conferring before giving the batter the benefit of the switched ends, but with the ball growing softer on a damp outfield, Guest cut him away for four, Reece then sweeping to bring up his 50. With the game drawing to a conclusion, Guest cracked George Scrimshaw through extra cover and then ran a single to reach his own half century. Next over, Guest again powered Scrimshaw through the covers to take Derbyshire into the Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay.
