STEVE DIAMOND and Kyran Bracken launched a fierce defence amid allegations of cheating during Saturday's fractious encounter at Franklin's Gardens.

A furious Budge Poutney, the Northampton head coach, claimed Saracens were trying to "cheat" when they attempted to bring on Moses Rauluni as a blood-replacement for Kyran Bracken in the 35th minute and the former Scotland international then branded Diamond an "absolute disgrace" after the Saracens head coach pushed the Northampton team doctor, Jon Raphael, in the heated exchange that followed.

Northampton are likely to report Diamond to the RFU for his behaviour but the hard-nosed Mancunian was in defiant mood in the post-match press conference.

"Kyran obviously sustained a nasty blow to his head and he thinks he perforated his ear drum so we were bringing him off legitimately, " explained the head coach. "The ref made us clear of the regulations that he couldn't go off so he soldiered on."

Added Bracken: "I don't know what was happening - I was out of it. I presumed I was coming off but then was asked to come back on so I don't know why they are calling me a cheat."

Diamond also defend his altercation with Raphael: "I was just getting him out of our technical area," he countered.

"There are strict guidelines that you have to stay in the technical area and the Northampton doctor was in ours and talking to our player. If we didn't have a doctor then I would be very impressed at his offer to come and help us, but he wasn't doing that, he was trying to make a point. He was in the wrong technical area and I moved him out the way."