Analysis: What the Northampton Saints took from Wasps to build the Premiership's most prolific attack
Northampton Saints’ fast rise under Chris Boyd continues in 2019. After making the semi-finals of the Premiership in the first year under his watch, the Saints now sit atop the ladder after five rounds with four wins.
The club has scored the most points, the most tries, made the most metres and most line breaks in the Premiership this season.
Whilst smart acquisitions in players like Taqele Naiyaravoro have paid enormous dividends, it’s been the homegrown talent that have matured into key contributors as more and more academy products filter through the ranks. The chemistry of the side has improved immensely and the shared understanding between players looks to be ever-growing.
Scottish centre Rory Hutchinson, wing Tom Collins and fullback George Furbank have become mainstays over the last 12 months that define the Saints style of rugby. Fast, elusive players with quick hands have unlocked the attacking potential of the side.
The Saints’ turnaround has been a pure ‘Moneyball’ play in some regards, the rise has been fuelled by betting on undervalued prospects and younger emerging talent, all bringing accurate decision-making and fast-ball skills that prey on the Premiership’s established guard.
Smaller, shifter, more skillful athletes making better decisions has sped the Saints’ game up. With attacking platforms built around one power athlete in Naiyaravoro, the Saints’ smaller men often feed off the space of what the big Fijian can create.
It has been this set-piece attack that has been powering the Saints’ high-scoring season.
Set-piece ethos
A favourite play for the Saints typically uses two-phases that hit the middle of the field and then quickly move to the edge to where the weapons are.
Doubling down on getting the ball to the backs, the Saints will ‘unhinge’ the wingers and have them work across the field to be involved on the other side.
Off the five-man lineout, two loose forwards set up a midfield ruck on a crash ball against Leicester.
Grayson (10), Hutchinson (12) and Naiyaravoro work the same way for the second phase play.
Super quick recycling allows the Saints’ backs to get involved again and use the ‘unhinged’ winger in some capacity to try and create an overlap on the far side.
Hutchinson plays a pullback pass to Grayson who hits Naiyaravoro steaming on to a short ball on the opposite 15-metre channel, a long way from his left-hand touchline. He punches right through Manu Tuilagi for a strong carry and offloads in the tackle to Matt Proctor.
With Naiyaravoro’s massive frame and silky skills, he is often able to free the ball up and find an offload to keep the movement going, extending or manufacturing line breaks.
Against Harlequins, they run the same play and Naiyaravoro punches through the line before offloading to fullback George Furbank.
On the first phase, two loose forwards take the midfield crash ball. They use the same pullback screen pass on the second phase, this time with Andy Symons (12) throwing an over-the-shoulder version to Grayson (10) who taps the ball on to a hard-running Naiyaravoro.
Naiyaravoro is able to free an arm in the tackle of Joe Marchant and provide a one-handed offload to Furbank (15) on the outside who scampers away downfield into Harlequins’ 22.
The Saints continually look to use their wingers in tandem on the same side of the field to ‘overload’ the defence and create openings. With a power runner like Naiyaravoro in career-best form, moving him around is another way to get him more involved.
The Saints use a similar pattern with the other winger, Tom Collins (14), going the same way following a scrum, this time towards where Naiyaravoro is stationed.
The inside centre Hutchinson runs a direct line at the defence with a short passing option to his outside centre and a deep passing option out the back to Grayson on a sweep line.
For this play, the 12 must have some ball-playing nous with the ability to stay square and make the read to either pass flat or throw the pullback pass whilst engaging the defensive line, which both Rory Hutchinson and Andy Symons have done really well so far this season.
On this occasion, inside centre Hutchinson saw an opening and carried, finding the inside shoulder of George Ford and earning some nice metres downfield.
On the next phase, Northampton isn’t waiting for forwards to track around and carry around the corner. They know they have speed and quick handling skills available with 10, 14, 15 and 11 in succession towards the right edge.
They just want to shift the ball to their dangerous back three as quickly as possible where Leicester has left the 15-metre corridor unmarked.
Grayson (10) gives an early ball to Collins (14) who flirts with the defence briefly before firing a face ball across Furbank (15) to the unmarked Naiyaravoro (11) on the edge.
Naiyaravoro runs all the way into the Tigers’ 22 before the Saints work back towards the left-hand side and score in the left-hand corner through Proctor.
Again the set-piece created a line break with Naiyaravoro heavily involved, which was then converted into seven points with the defence scrambling.
The Saints run this set-piece play frequently which has multiple possible outcomes each time. The success or failure is determined by the decisions made by the ballplayers, firstly the 12 and then the 10, should the pullback pass be made.
Here is the same sweep play off Hutchinson (12), but this time he plays a no-look pass to his centre Fraser Dingwall (22) who exposes Marchant (13) looking out the back towards the sweep runners.
Marchant is caught ball-watching inside and loses alignment with Dingwall. Hutchinson makes a great read and plays a short ball with soft hands allowing his centre to hit the hole.
Northampton breaks the line and are eventually brought down a few metres short of the line. On the next phase, the Saints score in the corner with the defence still scrambling.
If space is there, the Saints can play straight to the edge from the pullback pass.
Against Worcester, the outside defence jammed in too hard leaving them exposed out wide. The Saints capitalised on some smart play by their flyhalf Grayson.
Andy Symons (22) is able to deliver a ball out the back to Grayson just before taking heavy contact, giving the Saints a chance to release to the edge.
A quick catch-and-pass from the flyhalf puts the ball out onto the chest of a flying Furbank (15).
In the wet conditions, Melani Nanai (11) cannot turn and recover to bring him down and the speed of the fullback finds the try line for his second try of the afternoon.
What the Saints have built so far in the 2019/20 season is very similar to Wasps’ attack a few years ago with Cipriani at the helm. Many of the ‘overload’ plays are the same and are finding similar rates of success. Wasps used to get Cipriani and fast wingers like Elliot Daly and Christian Wade on sweep lines to overload the far side of the defence.
With speed to burn there would be too many options for a set-piece defence to cover and it ultimately used to bring Wasps bucketloads of line breaks and tries.
Rory Hutchinson is able to play a similar role at 12 to what Jimmy Gopperth had, and the Saints have outside backs with speed and ball skills like Daly, Le Roux and Wade in Tom Collins and George Furbank whilst adding a totally unique ingredient altogether in Taqele Naiyaravoro to create their own potent mix.
Flyhalf James Grayson at just 21 years old has not just been able to hold it all together but make big plays of his own with Dan Biggar absent.
Under Boyd, the side has also shown far more intent in other areas of the game that look to get the game flowing again.
Maximising the ball from set-piece has been one area, but they also utilise quick lineouts and quick taps to get the game moving. From turnover ball like stolen lineouts, they often spread to the edge through the hands which is a common tactic found in New Zealand. The kick return-game has also been encouraged, bringing the speed of Furbank, Hutchinson, and Collins frequently into the mix looking for counter-attacking opportunities.
With many of the Saints’ backs 25 and younger, they are just scratching the surface of their attacking abilities but are already showing cohesion like experienced campaigners.
Betting on youth and moving towards a fast-paced skill-based game has been a success for the Northampton Saints that is heading for Premiership contention.
Toulon has finally changed hands:
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
6 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
11 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
11 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments