Selby pings Ding for a Higgins fling

But it was all go for Jack Nowell, who warmed up for the tour to New Zealand by mauling Saints.

Lawes departed midway through the first half when he took a blow to the head following an attempted tackle on England and Lions colleague Nowell.

But the Chiefs were irresistible – they could have scored 10 tries – and will net MARK SELBY is homing in on a third world title in four years after handing out more Crucible pain to China’s Ding Junhui.

In a repeat of last year’s final Selby, 33, won a thriller 17-15 to reach the final of the Betfred World Championship in Sheffield. Just by getting to the this year’s showpiece Selby has taken his season’s earnings to a personal record of £718,000 and will go close to £1million if he pockets the £375,00 winner’s cheque tomorrow.

And Selby will play Scotland’s John Higgins in a repeat of the 2007 final.

It was further agony for world No.4 Ding, 30, who once again fell just short in his quest to become Asia’s first world champion. But it was Selby, who punched the air in delight and smacked the table during the winning break of 72, who went through.

He said: “It would be great to be only the fourth player to win this title back-to-back – but there’s a long way to go.

“Ding missed a blue in the last frame and I knew that was my chance to win the match, if he had got level at 16-16 anything could have happened. So I took my time, and gave a pint of blood to every shot on that last break.“

Ding said: “I am disappointed to have lost having played so well – but that is sport.”

Higgins closed out a 17-8 win over Barry Hawkins – finishing with a magnificent break of 120. The 41-year-old will be the oldest finalist since Ray Reardon, aged 49, lost to Alex Higgins in 1982.