NZ coaches thwarted in semis

Former Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd is heading home without a trophy after four years in England and Tabai Matson’s season has also ended without any silverware.

Boyd watched his Northampton Saints side lose 27-14 to the Leicester Tigers yesterday in his final game as the Midlands club’s director of rugby.

Matson took over the director of rugby role at champions Harlequins this term, but they lost their semifinal to Saracens, 34-17 on Saturday.

Saracens’ victory means former Crusaders wing Sean Maitland is set to play in another Premiership final at Twickenham.

The 33-year-old former Scotland international lined up on the right wing against Harlequins in a backline boasting England stars Owen Farrell, Eliot Daly and Max Malins and Wales test centre Nick Tompkins.

Openside flanker Ben Earl – the Premiership player of the year but unwanted by England coach Eddie Jones – scored a hat-trick of tries for Saracens, who had to overcome a nine-point deficit.

Boyd is returning to New Zealand to be nearer his family, but his dream of a Twickenham finale was dashed by a Leicester side inspired by George Ford.

The out-of-favour England firstfive scored a try and kicked a conversion, four penalties and a dropped goal.

Meanwhile, the inaugural United Rugby Championship final will be an all-South African affair between the Bulls and the Stormers.

A penalty try proved crucial in the Bulls’ 27-26 semifinal win over PRO14 champions Leinster in Dublin while Ulster surrendered a five-point lead to a 14-man Stormers side in Cape Town, falling to a 17-15 defeat.