Bitter taste of defeat is fuel for Saints – Foden

The Saints, unbeaten in Europe all season, had one hand on the trophy after storming into a 22-6 half-time lead with tries from Phil Dowson, Foden and Dylan Hartley.

There was seemingly no way back for Leinster, who had been crushed by a dominant Northampton pack. No side had ever overturned a half-time deficit of more than nine points in a Heineken Cup final.

But Leinster, inspired by a man-of-the-match performance from fly-half Jonathan Sexton, swept Northampton aside with a stunning second-half performance to lift their second European crown.

Sexton scored two tries in a personal haul of 28 points and Nathan Hines crashed over for the third try as Leinster racked up 27 unanswered points.

Northampton were left desolate on the final whistle, their players strewn about the field, some in tears. Foden had never experienced disappointment like it.

But the England full-back insisted the Saints would come back stronger next season.

“We will learn a huge lesson from this game. A lot of players haven’t been involved in games such as these. Our first taste of major silverware is a bitter one,” said Foden.

“We play this game to be in moments like this. We had one foot through the door.

“For Leinster to come back from that scoreline probably makes the taste of victory even sweeter, and for us that little bit more bitter.

“It builds character, and we are a good enough team to go away and build from it.”