'He's that good' – Northampton Saints star Courtney Lawes on similar level to Antoine Dupont, says Fin Smith

Courtney Lawes has been hailed as one of the two best players in the world by his Northampton Saints team-mate Fin Smith.

Forward Lawes was in fine form as Northampton fell just short of a stirring comeback in Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Leinster.

Saints fell 20-3 behind at a packed-out Croke Park in Dublin, but mounted a second-half fightback and came agonisingly close to snatching a famous win as they lost 20-17.

Lawes, who will depart his boyhood club for French side Brive at the end of the season, was singled out for praise by his team-mate Smith.

“He was so good. I think that’s why it was even more gutting afterwards,” Smith told The Rugby Pod.

“He’s leaving the club in such a good spot, and playing as well as he did, we couldn’t quite do it for him.

“I think it wouldn’t be outrageous to say he’s the best - if not just a close second after [Antoine] Dupont - player in the world this season, he’s been that good for us.”

Smith then explained how Lawes helped spark the second-half turnaround by giving a team talk in the changing room at the interval.

“Courtney pulled us in and said ‘lads, I don’t know if you’ve realised it, but these lot aren’t way better than us,’ like we may have built it up in our heads a little bit,” Smith said.

“He was like ‘we can properly go out and win this, regardless of the score. They’re going to find it hard to live with us.’”

Despite their European exit, Northampton could still make the 2023-24 season one to remember and send Lawes out on a high in the Gallagher Premiership.

Saints sit top of the table with two rounds remaining and face Gloucester at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday.

They finish up with a trip to Bath on the final day of the regular season, May 18, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

The final of the Investec Champions Cup between Leinster and Toulouse will also be live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on May 25.

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