There are some local derbies in sport that, try as they might, don’t always live up to the billing, and aren’t quite as ‘fierce’ as some would have you believe.
That’s not an accusation that can be leveled at Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers, and ahead of the latest installment of the East Midlands derby, we take a look at five of their best-ever clashes, that show exactly why.
Northampton Saints 31 Leicester Tigers 36 – March 2017
You don’t have to look far to find classic encounters between two of rugby’s oldest rivals, and, promisingly for Saturday, their most recent clash was one for the highlights reel.
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Back in March of this year Tigers triumphed 36-31 at Franklin’s Gardens in Aaron Mauger’s emotional last game in charge of the club.
In a breathless match Saints scored tries through Nafi Tuitavake, Ahsee Tuala and Louis Picamoles but were undone by a late, long-range Owen Williams penalty befitting of any Hollywood movie.