Can 'best Northampton team ever' become one of English rugby's greats?
Northampton Saints are proving themselves to be the formidable force in English club rugby union.
For the second time in three seasons, they have been crowned champions.
But they did it the hard way, pushed all the way by Exeter Chiefs in the Prem final before eventually running out 26-17 winners at Allianz Stadium.
Were it not for George Hendy's quickfire second-half double when the Chiefs were down to 14 men following the sin-binning of Dafydd Jenkins, the story may have been different.
But nobody in Northampton will care. This is their third crown in all, and it would be hard to bet against more in the very near future.
BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones certainly thinks so.
"Northampton are building a dynasty," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"With 14 academy graduates in their 23, it's based on developing their own, and you can see the connection here between the players and their supporters who are in raptures in the Twickenham sunshine.
"With time on their side, they will feel they can add to their legacy and be talked about in the future as one of the great English club sides in history."
England World Cup winner and former Saints scrum-half Matt Dawson concurred: "This crop are the best Northampton team there has ever been. Period.
"The trophies, their style, what they've done for the town, for the fans is unrivalled. It has been a pleasure to watch them."
Rugby Union Weekly: Saints beat Exeter to the Prem title
Rugby Union Weekly: Saints beat Exeter to the Prem title
Furbank's perfect farewell
That youth production line has been the cornerstone of their success, and ex-Northampton and England winger Chris Ashton says it has allowed them to make bold decisions.
Captain George Furbank bowed out in style as he prepares to leave his boyhood club to join Harlequins.
"They are what every club in England is aspiring to be," Ashton said. "They've got it right.
"They have a group of players who inspire kids in their tone that makes them want to play for Saints, which then produces an amazing academy with all these players coming through.
"The club is run properly. They've made a business decision to let George Furbank go because it is right for the club. They can do that because they back the talent that is coming through.
"They are leading the way and are deserved winners."
Furbank admitted he was feeling a wave of different emotions as his Saints career comes to an end.
"I said to the boys I don't really know how to feel after the final whistle," he told BBC Sport.
"It was a mix of relief, happiness, sadness, all merged into one.
"It was a different feeling to the last time we won it - I think we're going to have a good few days to celebrate and it'll all sink in."
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It has been an incredible rise for Henry Pollock, the 21-year-old flanker who won player of the match.
Like Furbank, he represents that conveyor belt of Northampton talent, crowning a superb 18 months in which he has debuted for England and the British and Irish Lions.
"It is surreal," he told BBC Sport after the game. "This is something you dream of as a little kid. This is why you play the game, for these moments, eyes on you, pressure on you.
"This is right up there [as a career highlight]. You dream of being a boy playing in a Premiership final in front of a packed out Twickenham. I'm just delighted.
"We spoke all year about giving the boys who are leaving us a good send off, especially Furbank. He has been with us from day one through the academy and I'm so proud of the way we showed up for him."
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Could Dowson take charge of England one day?
Ashton also believes Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson deserves a huge amount of credit for how he has set up the team, not just tactically, but in terms of allowing it to flourish.
Northampton topped the league table this season and in 2024, going on to be crowned champions on both occasions.
But although their league form dipped last season, when they finished eighth, Dowson did lead the club to the Champions Cup final, where they were beaten by Bordeaux.
"He has got his environment right," said Ashton. "It seems really enjoyable. Academy coaches have all got their eyes on the next person coming through and nurturing them coming through."
The 44-year-old has now lifted two Prem titles and more seem possible. But perhaps a call from the national side could be in his future, according to Ashton.
"Without question, [the England job] should be in the making right now," he said. "He should already be being suggested.
"This is what we should be doing as a rugby country, getting coaches ready for international rugby and Phil Dowson has got to be top of that list."
Northampton Saints are not stopping here, and perhaps their success could lead to much more beyond even their own future.
