Newcastle Falcons VS Northampton - Programme

IN OPPOSITION - NORTHAMPTON
Northampton Saints are playing their final game of the season this
evening, with the East Midlands having a bye for the final round of
matches.
The men from Franklin’s Gardens are still in the play-off picture
as they look to state their case for a semi-final place – a cause
aided significantly by last weekend’s 38-29 home win over leaders
Saracens.
The Saints came into the season with a fair degree of stability in
their playing squad, albeit with a change at the top as Phil Dowson
assumed the reins as director of rugby.
The former Newcastle captain succeeded experienced Kiwi Chris
Boyd at the helm after stepping up from his coaching role, taking
charge of a squad which saw a handful of key summer arrivals.
Australia lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was among the headline
signings, with fellow Aussie James Ramm signing from New South
Wales Waratahs. Angus Scott-Young was another Australian putting
pen to paper, while Italy scrum-half Callum Braley joined from
Benetton.
Hooker Robbie Smith was a familiar face in these parts as the
Newcastle hooker headed down the A1(M), and Northampton were
also active in the mid-season market as they acquired Worcester’s
promising fly-half Fin Smith, former Wasps hooker Tom Cruse and
Newcastle prop Trevor Davison.
That helped off-set the autumn departure of Wales fly-half Dan
Biggar and the subsequent exit of prop Ehren Painter to Exeter.
Players to have left last summer included Fiji lock Api Ratuniyarawa,
ex-England centre Piers Francis, former England flankers Tom Wood
and Teimana Harrison, Samoan back Ah See Tuala and giant wing
Taqele Naiyaravoro, with Dowson’s side kicking off the Gallagher
Premiership season with a 29-22 loss at Sale Sharks.
A bonus-point victory over London Irish (38-22) followed prior to a
derby defeat at home to Leicester (21-41), with a trip to Harlequins
bringing a high-scoring defeat (35-29).
Scrum-half Alex Mitchell
Saints and England flanker Lewis Ludlam
The tries kept on coming at both ends as they nicked a 40-36 away
win over Wasps which would be wiped from the record books, before
their meeting with Newcastle brought a 32-31 home win for the
Saints.
Beaten 27-14 at Bath in late October, they beat Bristol (45-31) and
Exeter (26-19) in a season which would see them shining at home but
not always firing on the road.
Points were in no short supply when they were defeated 45-39 at
Saracens and 34-19 at Gloucester, beating Harlequins (46-17) and
losing at Exeter (35-12) early in the new year. One of the highlights of
their season was an 18-19 derby victory at local rivals Leicester, with
thrilling home wins following against Sale (38-34) and Gloucester
(41-34) before a 62-8 drubbing at Bristol.
Bath were beaten 45-26 at Franklin’s Gardens leading into a 37-
22 loss at London Irish and then last week’s 38-29 triumph over
Saracens, Northampton’s European season saw them bowing out
of the Heineken Champions Cup group phase after losses against La
Rochelle and Munster.
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