Northampton withstand Cardiff comeback to win Champions Cup opener 28-12

Northampton Saints defeated Cardiff 28-12 at Franklin's Gardens to open their Champions Cup campaign, surviving a second-half comeback before pulling clear. BBC Sport reported that the English champions were the only English team to win in the opening round. Their Pool Four victory came after Cardiff had reduced a 14-0 half-time deficit to just two points with around a quarter of the match remaining.

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James Pater and Toby Thame supplied Northampton's first-half tries in wet, slippery conditions. Full-back Pater finished a supporting run before centre Thame crossed after 20 minutes. Both teams also missed opportunities close to the line: Northampton number eight Callum Chick and Cardiff lock Tom Manz each knocked on while attempting to score. Saints consequently reached the interval with their visitors still without a point.

Cardiff changed the contest after the break. Harri Millard ran through for their first try, while the visitors' defence frustrated Northampton and helped draw handling mistakes. When Saints fly-half Anthony Belleau received a yellow card for a breakdown offence, Cardiff took advantage. Jarrod Evans sent the ball right for Mason Grady to score, bringing the Welsh side within two points on the hour and putting the home lead under serious pressure.

Hendy then made decisive contributions at both ends. The Northampton wing restored breathing room with a try after juggling the ball, and Pater added the conversion. Hendy subsequently caught Josh Adams to prevent a Cardiff try that had appeared likely. Those interventions stopped the visitors turning their recovery into a lead and left Saints in position to finish the match strongly.

Fraser Dingwall scored Northampton's fourth try in the 78th minute to complete the scoring. According to BBC Sport, Saints did not collect a bonus point, with a fifth try required for a five-point return. Their victory followed a difficult weekend for England's other representatives: Gloucester drew with defending champions Bordeaux-Begles, while six other English sides lost.

Cardiff were returning to the Champions Cup after two seasons in the Challenge Cup. With a United Rugby Championship match against Sharks at Cardiff Arms Park five days later, they held back several influential players. Taulupe Faletau and Adams nevertheless made their first appearances of the season following injury. Northampton also changed their team with Saturday's trip to Leicester approaching, but emerged with the opening victory.