Scotland caps Rory Hutchinson and Elliot Millar Mills helped Northampton Saints book their place in the Prem final at Twickenham next weekend after a derby win over Leicester Tigers.
Hutchinson was instrumental as Saints, the 2024 champions, won a thrilling contest 45-31 at Franklin's Gardens, with the Scotland centre setting up two of the hosts' seven tries.
It was his grubber kick that was not dealt with by Freddie Steward and Billy Searle, which allowed Tom Litchfield to pounce for his second of a first half hat-trick.
Hutchinson was again the provider as his pass put departing captain George Furbank over for one of his two tries.
Millar Mills, meanwhile, got through just over an hour, held his own at the set-piece and chipped in with a dozen tackles on his final Franklin's Gardens appearance before his summer move to Newcastle.
Saints boss Phil Dowson said post-match: “We’re delighted and probably a little bit relieved as well. The expectation is you have a home semi and you’re supposed to win those.
“To put that performance together and to stick at it under some decent pressure – very proud, delighted and relieved.”
Also among the Northampton staff is Scotland defence coach Lee Radford, and he will join Gregor Townsend's staff on a full-time basis at the end of the season.
Radford joined Saints from rugby league ahead of their title-winning campaign two years ago and could now sign off with a second title.
They will face either defending champions Bath or Exeter Chiefs in the final next Saturday.
Bath are without the injured Finn Russell for their semi-final but do have Scotland duo Josh Bayliss and Cameron Redpath in their squad for the meeting with two-time former champions Exeter.
However, defeat for Leicester ended the chances of their Scottish contingent - Cam Henderson, Will Hurd and on-loan Hamish Watson - getting their hands on silverware.
And Tigers boss Geoff Parling admitted his side were "devastated" post-match.
He said: "The group has been an unbelievably good group that’s just worked hard for each other and just to fall now hurts.
“But also I’m incredibly proud because of the way the group has gone about the business over the year when everyone at the start of the season wrote us off."
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