"Kick on the boys" - Fraser Dingwall: Saints captain used 'writing off' against Leinster to reach Champions Cup Final

Heading into the match, the media, pundits and neutral fans alike were heavily backing the Dubliners to reach a fourth consecutive Champions Cup Final. Dingwall expressed this week, how his Northampton teammates embraced the underdog mentality, and threw caution to the wind in the famous victory.

"For the Leinster game, it was so obvious that we were huge underdogs and everyone was writing us off. And I think that was just so obvious to us, that was an easy one to kick on the boys. But I think (against Bordeaux-Begles) it won't be as clear. I'm not going to stand up and say to the boys, like, everyone's writing off, becuase, well, are they?

"We're actually in a really good spot. So you draw on different things. I think what I've spoken about already, the pleasing part, is that we've already shown ourselves throughout the tournament that we can back up performances and beat big teams.

"So as much as it's another big occasion, it's another game where we're going against good opposition, in a cool venue, a cool occasion, and we can just go and attack it. I've got full believe, if we get a good performance, then that will get us to where we want to get to."

The Northampton players understandably reached an emotional peak, after eliminating the Irish province from the Champions Cup in a remarkable semi-final. As captain of the black, green and golds, Dingwall led the emotional recovery, as Northampton's biggest hitters were handed a week off for the following weekend's trip to Exeter.

The Saints then went full-strength for their latest Premiership clash with Saracens, as they snatched a late win from the jaws of the Londoners. Dingwall, alongside his experienced Test match teammates, continue to gear back up to full intensity ahead of tomorrow's final against Bordeax-Begles.

"I think the biggest help was the whole of the next week afterwards. I don't think many boys played or backed up for the game, so that was a big help. So it gives a lot of time to recover physically, but also mentally. Then we had a good hit out at the weekend against Sarries as well, and that primes us in terms of just being game ready, basically.

"So there's obviously the race to play in the week before the game, and people picking up knocks, but I feel like we needed it, to get some movement into us, and that's important. In this week, it's kind of addressing that semi final (against Leinster) also addressing the whole, probably the whole journey throughout this European competition.

"I don't worry too much about us (emotionally) spiking again, because we've already done it throughout this competition. So we went to Pretoria and beat the Bulls there, and that was a massive emotional spike. But then we've backed up again, we beat Munster here, then won a quarter-final and a round of 16 here against French sides, and then we've had the semi final. We've proved to ourselves over and over again throughout this competition that we can firstly, play against opposition in big occasions, and have those emotional spikes at the right times."

Dingwall appreciates how special it is to be heading into the Champions Cup Final. The last time that Northampton Saints were in this position, Director of Rugby Phil Dowson was apart of the playing group for the 2011 Champions Cup Final. Rather poignantly, that dramatic defeat to Leinster was witnessed at Cardiff's Principality Stadium - the same venue for tomorrow afternoon's clash with Boardeax-Begles.

The last time Northampton actually lifted the pinnacle prize of club rugby, was all the way back at the turn of the Millennium. The Saints handed Munster a narrow 9-8 defeat in the 2000 Heineken Cup Final, as three Paul Grayson penalties proved pivotal in toppling the Irish province. Dingwall recognised the significance of a quarter-century wait, yet explained how the historical magnitude has been 'played down' to keep focus this week.

"This squad responds well from not feeling that. I think even as a player, it's always hard to realize what you're doing until it's already been. Because you're always moving to the next thing constantly. We'll kind of play that down a little bit, but it's in the back of my mind. I'm well aware that it's rare to get to a European Final, and so we're still very keen to go and seize that opportunity, because we don't know when the next one comes around."

Whilst Northampton Saints have not been to the Principality Stadium in 14 years, Dingwall ran out at the home of Welsh rugby just a few months ago. Apart of the England team that handed Wales their heaviest ever home defeat (68-14), Dingwall was joined by his Saints teammates Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman and Test debutant Henry Pollock in the famous win.

Cardiff will soon be awash in green, gold and black, in what could be an era definying weekend for the Saints faithful.