'It was probably our worst effort of the year' - Boyd slams his Northampton Saints side
Northampton Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd was not a happy man despite Dan Biggar snatching a 35-32 victory from the jaws of defeat for his team against Benetton Rugby.
In a thrilling Heineken Champions Cup clash, Saints rallied from 25-8 down and fly-half Biggar won the game in the 85th minute with a nerveless last-gasp penalty.
Northampton’s bonus-point success made it two wins from two at the start of their European campaign, but Boyd still slammed the performance.
“We have to be way better and if we play like that again, we’ll get a pasting,” he said. “I don’t think either side can say they played well enough to walk away with five points.
“It was a game we did well to come back in. The try before half time was crucial as 25-8 might have been a bridge too far.
“We were so far off our game despite the fact we talked about how difficult it would be here. We were miles off and it was probably our worst effort of the year.
“We were loose and sloppy and all the things we talked about not being. We’ve had some good performances this season, but today we were sloppy.
“To be 25-15 down at half time was much better with the try in the bag and it meant we only had to score twice to level and we had 40 minutes so there was no rush.
“At the end of the day I guess the positive is we found a way to win even though we were far from our best.”
Scared Potter?https://t.co/vqoq5q7uIb
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 23, 2019
Northampton saw match winner Biggar yellow carded for a dangerous tackle in the first half as Benetton played some committed rugby.
The Italians scored through Epalahame Faiva and Iliesa Ratuva and Tommaso Allan kicked two conversions and two penalties.
Saints were up against it, but Cobus Reinach grabbed the effort Boyd referred to as crucial just before the break after Tom Collins had been sent to the line by an outrageous Biggar pass.
In the second half Saints rallied to turn the tables and lead 32-25 thanks to Ollie Sleightholme, Collins’ second, and the boot of Biggar after Braam Steyn had seen yellow.
'There is a lot of politics in sport and maybe we were a little bit naive'
– @heagneyl runs the rule of whether attitudes in Ireland are mellowing regarding the IRFU vow to never again bid to host a Rugby World Cup
https://t.co/cJoQNTWZjC— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 23, 2019
It looked like it would be enough for victory, but Benetton hooker Faiva grabbed his second to tie the scores before the late drama.
Jamie Gibson won a crucial turnover for Saints and, when Ratuva was judged to have deliberately knocked on Collins’ pass, it gave Biggar a chance and the Wales star sent his kick between the posts.
“Dan doesn’t miss very often in those crunch situations,” Boyd said. “We knew once Jamie had won the turnover that if we could get some field position, then three points would be enough to win.
“If we’d come here and lost, those points might have made a big difference. You can’t afford to leave your destiny in the hands of others. “
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’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.
11 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.
24 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.
10 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 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 comments