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No wonder Northampton were so deflated at the end. That was their moment. That was their shot. That was when the stars aligned for the Saints and it may be some time before that happens again.
Having seemed down and out in Dublin on Saturday night, the East Midlands club were within three points and the force was with them, but they couldn't quite take the chance to claim the prized scalp of Leinster. After the Champions Cup semi-final ended in agonising fashion for the English visitors, their director of rugby, Phil Dowson, provided a realistic take on where it leaves them.
Asked if Northampton had proved that they belong at such an exalted level and could become regular contenders, he said: 'Of course we want to plan for that. We would love to be in that situation, but it is probably a bit soon to say because we are losing some players so (it's about) recruitment. Next season is a new story and we're going to make sure we finish this story first.'
This is the harsh reality for the Premiership teams attempting to break the recent dominance of Leinster and the powerhouse French clubs, led by Toulouse and La Rochelle. Their prime windows of opportunity don't stay open for long. The Saints are losing a core of their best pack at the end of this season, with the impending departure of the iconic Courtney Lawes, England flanker and regular captain Lewis Ludlam, Paul Hill, Alex Moon and the Waller brothers – Alex and Ethan.
Returning to the exalted heights of a last-four close encounter at sold-out Croke Park is no formality for Northampton. Their experience in eventually pushing Leinster to the precipice should provide a confidence boost as they seek domestic glory in the coming weeks and will serve the younger Saints well in years to come. But this pedigree team will partially disband so a rebuild is in prospect. Dowson has to recruit carefully, within a strict budget, and newcomers will need to be moulded.
Northampton agonisingly missed out on the Champions Cup final after losing to Leinster
They seemed out before clawing their way to within three points - but couldn't take the scalp
That's the difference between the English hopefuls and their rivals across the Channel and the Irish Sea. The French clubs can afford to keep signing proven Test superstars and Leinster have been able to lure a leading All Black in Jordie Barrett, for a career-prime sabbatical next season, while backed by a formidable talent factory and a player-management alliance with their union.
Contrasting systems and financial disparities mean that the capital-city province and pre-eminent Gallic teams are evolving, long-term contenders, but that status is beyond English clubs now. Saracens had to breach the salary cap to remain in the hunt for so many years. Exeter soared and conquered, but soon faded. Northampton suddenly found that the stars aligned and they had an unexpected shot. It didn't work out, but Lawes believes it will aid their Premiership prospects.
On Saturday, the Saints must shake off any emotional baggage to strive for a bonus-point win at home against Gloucester, to clinch a home semi-final. 'We've proved that we have got what it takes against one of the best teams in the world,' said Lawes, after his last ever Champions Cup game, before a summer move to Brive.
'We've got a lot of young lads who've not played in anything like that pressure before. It is fantastic for us and gives us confidence.' Soon though, the great back-rower will be gone, leaving a void which will be almost impossible to fill.
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