Northampton Saints have clinched a Powergen Cup Final date with London Irish after sweeping Newcastle aside 38-7 at Franklin's Gardens.

Saturday night's Powergen Cup semi-final was delayed by an hour because of high winds - and when it finally started Newcastle were blown away completely.

The controversial selection policy of Northampton coach Wayne Smith was completely justified at Franklin's Gardens as the Saints routed sorry Newcastle to reach next month's Twickenham final.

Smith, disgusted by his team's display at Leicester two weeks ago, axed Tom Smith and Steve Thompson for the match.

And the international front-row duo were forced to watch from the sidelines as Northampton stamped their authority on the game with a thrilling four-try burst which stitched up victory before the interval whistle.

Dan Richmond was a revelation as stand-in for current England hooker Thompson, and even Robbie Morris acquitted himself well before giving way to dual Lion Smith at the break.

The only question burning in former All Black chief Smith's mind must be what has been going on during the rest of an otherwise dismal campaign.

A capacity 11,900 crowd, including owner Keith Barwell for the first time in two months following a recent illness, were dazzled by a thrilling display of attacking rugby which Saints haven't even come close to achieving before this term.

Number eight Grant Seely led the charge with a brace, with Peter Jorgensen and Craig Moir also crossing before half-time, Jorgensen adding another near the end.

With Paul Grayson adding 13 points with the boot and not a single Newcastle reply, the home supporters were able to spend their break discussing travel plans for their April 20 meeting with London Irish, when a new name will be added to the trophy.

Northampton had already served notice of their intent with both Richmond and Seely driving deep into enemy territory, before they swept in front after just three minutes.

The excellent Matt Dawson, pressing for an England place, created the opening with a sniping run down the middle. The ball moved left and Seely's 10-metre charge found a gaping hole in the visitors' defence.

Grayson landed the conversions, then a couple of penalties, the second after Newcastle lock Hugh Vyvyan had been sin-binned for kicking the ball in a ruck.

The visitors survived without further punishment, but was hit by a Northampton blitz as soon as he returned.

Ben Cohen burst to within a metre of the visitors line, but with the Falcons defence sucked in, Dawson flung out a 20-metre pass to Jorgensen, who strolled in unopposed.

On their next attack, Northampton were in again, this time Jorgensen turning provider to send Seely home for his second score.

Newcastle were on the rack, and didn't need Tom May to clatter Seely in the act of scoring, which earned Northampton an immediate penalty on the restart, which Grayson slammed over from halfway.

Jorgensen has his critics at Franklin's Gardens but the Australian former rugby league man produced a few glimpses of his class this evening.

And he was on hand again two minutes before the break, finding Moir on his right for try number four.

Grayson's touchline conversion increased the home lead to 33 points, and left Newcastle with the sole task of salvaging battered pride.

A scoreless second period at least looked like allowing Andrew's men some salvation, only for Jorgensen to burst through four minutes from time.

Michael Stephenson raced past Thompson to collect Gary Armstrong's kick for an injury-time Falcons consolation, but as they trooped off the field, one look at the scoreboard told the full horrific picture.

Not surprisingly, the impetus had largely gone out of the Northampton display, although not for any lack of effort from Smith or Thompson, who battled hard, the latter pointedly ignoring Richmond as he belatedly made his way onto the field.

Dawson left the field to a standing ovation, clearly back to his best, but the loudest cheers should have been reserved for the coach, whose impact on the club could hardly have been more marked.