Northampton boss Jim Mallinder has paid tribute to his side following their 23-13 victory over Ulster on Sunday.
Cup win "a credit to the lads" says Saints director of rugby
Northampton boss Jim Mallinder heaped praise on his players following their hard-fought 23-13 victory over Ulster on Sunday.
Mallinder praised a strong all-round performance by Saints, who booked their place in the Heineken Cup semi-finals after a bruising encounter at stadium:mk.
French giants Perpignan await Northampton in the last four, and Mallinder cited a powerful display from his forwards as the key to victory.
"In a good team you need a powerful set of forwards and some class finishers out wide," he said.
"We're fortunate that we have both of those. In Ashton, Foden and Paul Diggin we have good finishers. Give them half a chance and they'll always be dangerous.
"We got stronger and stronger as the match went on. To see your pack scrimmage like that after 70 minutes and for your defence to be hitting breakdowns in numbers and getting turnovers is a credit to the lads."
Hooker Dylan Hartley added: "Week to week we go out to work hard knowing the rewards will come later in the game," said Hartley.
Growing force
"At half-time we said keep the tempo up and keep working hard and good things will come - and they did.
"Ulster didn't crack. They were in it for 80 minutes but we took our chance well for Lee Dickson's try. Our set piece pulled us through."
Malinder believes his side are a growing force in European rugby despite their lack of big-game experience.
"It can only help the more the team plays in these occasions, the more these lads play international rugby," said the Saints director of rugby.
"We're a young side and we don't have any players who have played in the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup.
"We're inexperienced in those terms but we're learning all the time."
Intensity
Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin admitted the best team had won and that his side had learned a lot from the encounter.
"At half-time we felt like we were still in the game but they upped their intensity a bit," he said.
"Our set piece wasn't on the money and they made us pay heavily for that.
"But you can't fault the effort the lads put in. The way they went about their job was exceptional.
"It's a position we haven't been in for an awful long time and we learnt a lot from it.
"Northampton were deserving winners. They're very good at what they do. Their set piece is excellent and they have some quality players. That told on the day.
"They certainly have the firepower to do exceptionally well in the competition."
