Northampton hold off Cardiff comeback to win Champions Cup opener 28–12

Northampton beat Cardiff 28–12 at Franklin's Gardens to open their Champions Cup campaign, BBC Sport reported. The hosts led 14–0 at half-time before Cardiff cut the deficit to two points. Late tries from George Hendy and Fraser Dingwall secured the result, making Saints the only English winners in the opening round.

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James Pater and Toby Thame scored Northampton's first-half tries. Cardiff replied through Harri Millard before Mason Grady crossed following Anthony Belleau's yellow card for a breakdown offence. Jarrod Evans supplied the pass for Grady's try as the visitors moved within reach of an upset.

Hendy then scored a try converted by Pater and chased down Josh Adams to prevent a Cardiff score. Dingwall crossed in the 78th minute. According to the BBC, Northampton finished with four tries but without the fifth required for a try bonus point.

Cardiff had announced nine changes for their European return after facing Leinster the previous weekend. In the club's selection announcement, Taulupe Faletau was named for his first appearance since March, having been withdrawn late from the Dublin fixture. Tom Manz was selected for his competitive club debut alongside Rory Thornton in the second row, while hooker Dafydd Hughes was appointed captain.

The changes extended to the backs. Cardiff said Evans would make his first start since rejoining the club in the summer, with Steffan Emanuel selected at inside centre and Tom Bowen returning on the wing. Adams was included among the replacements following his recovery from a calf injury. Head coach Corniel van Zyl said the club had planned for the five-day turnaround between Northampton and their next match against Sharks.

Cardiff's published European schedule now takes them back to home ground for a meeting with Bath on December 12. Their remaining pool fixtures include a trip to Paris to face Stade Francais and a home match against Montpellier on January 15. Those games offer further opportunities in a campaign that began with a defeat despite Sunday's second-half recovery.