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Northampton pinpoint area of improvement needed for Leinster clash
Though Northampton Saints sit at the top of the Gallagher Premiership and have an Investec Champions Cup semi-final on Saturday against Leinster at Croke Park, fullback George Furbank has pinpointed a worrying trend in their recent performances.
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The Saints fell to Harlequins 41-32 on Saturday at Twickenham despite having a man advantage on three occasions. After going behind to a Luke Northmore try after only a minute played, their poor starts recently are something that Furbank and his teammates are aware of.
The Saints went in at the break behind to Harlequins as they did the previous week against Leicester Tigers before pulling away in the second half. They were drawing with Munster half-time in their Champions Cup round of 16 tie, while they only held a six-point advantage over the Bulls in the quarter-final before moving up a gear in the second 40.
No team in Europe can afford to have a slow start against Leinster, which is something the Saints will want to work on over the coming week.
“We are pretty disappointed,” Furbank said to Northampton when reviewing the loss to Harlequins.
“It was a game we thought we should have won, but we probably didn’t put our game on the pitch at all in the first half, missed a few opportunities, and they scored a bit too easily for our liking.
“It became a bit scrappy, and we had a few handling errors and a few silly decisions at the breakdown that allowed Quins into our half, and allowed them to do what they do pretty well.
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“We can definitely take positives out that game though, we had enough opportunities to win. We weren’t miles off of it, we just didn’t put our game on the park which is the most frustrating thing. So, we will take positives from the game, but overall it was disappointing.
“We have had a few poor starts in games recently. Against Tigers, we didn’t put our game on the park as much as we wanted to, but then came out in the second half of that game and executed really well.
“At half-time this weekend we felt we were operating at about a five out of ten, and believed that if we got that higher in the second half, we would win the game. Ultimately, we conceded too easily and made too many mistakes in attack.”
Despite this trend, the Saints have plenty of reasons to be positive heading to Dublin given the season they have had so far.
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“We have got a massive week ahead which we are really excited for,” said Furbank.
“There will be a real excitement around training throughout the week which we are really looking forward to.
“Dows [Phil Dowson] has spoken about making memories in Europe, and we have done that so far. We’ve been away to Glasgow and won, away at Munster and won, and then beat them in the Round-of-16 at home.
“They are memories already made, and we are hoping to go to Leinster and make another one.
“Croke Park is going to be a hell of an atmosphere, probably one that even international boys haven’t experienced before, so we’re buzzing for that and are determined to get our game on the pitch against Leinster.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Always proud of the effort, Sam. The All blacks never stop fighting, never just roll over. He didn’t get anywhere near the respect he earned, but that’s due to results, not commitment to the cause. Have fun dominating in Japan!
1 Go to commentsNot sure why Papali’i thinks Scott Robertson needs his help to select the next All Black Captain. In my view, Papali’i would be well advised to have a good hard look at his own game, and to reflect on how fortunate he is to even wear the black jersey. Rather than shouting at his team mates at every set piece, standing in the mid-field pointing and holding his arms out and flopping to the ground at the back of every second or third ruck, may I suggest he would be far better employed actually doing something on the field. Seriously, watch him for 10 minutes during a game - not much happens. When was the last time he was first to a breakdown, or actually made a turnover? If Robertson is half the Coach I think he is, Papali’i will not be anywhere near the AB’s this season.
11 Go to commentsHiding coming up for Saders.
1 Go to commentsDagg really does go down some rabbit holes doesnt he? In the name I guess.
6 Go to commentsHey Brett I’m one who is looking forward to seeing JS back on the rugby field. I was under the impression that a large portion of his contract was via a third party so RA isn’t having to foot the bill My big concern is around the Tahs and what is happening there, why are so many players bailing. Is it the program, the coaches or the culture. Joe Schmidt recently said he had been at the Tahs all week and DC is a good coach. Something doesn’t gel , 10 front row forwards in a season that’s not bad luck
13 Go to commentsIncorrect title. He hasn’t said Furlong is one of the best scrummagers. He said he is one of the best props.
1 Go to comments“_It seems like a crazy thing that he was counting them_“ Are you stupid, mate? Anyone with more than half a brain understands that he meant “a lot” or something similar. Do you really think he was counting? “*Goode*: Told you, Jim!“ No, you banana. You said, explicitly, that the Irish players didn’t say what EE said they did. Even though you weren’t there. Even though you didn’t hear a word they said. M0r0n.
107 Go to commentsI am sure that Scott Robertson did do the courtesy of telling Sam Cane that he was not in his All Black plans and NZR would support him if he wished to sign a lucrative pension playing out his career in the cream puff rugby that is Japan’s Top League. I fail to see this as a negative as Israel Dagg is trying to spin it. Razor allowed Cane to leave with dignity rather than being unceremoniously dumped as was Buck Shelford.
6 Go to commentsHey rugbypass can I also get involved with writing rugby articles?
1 Go to commentsHey rugbypass can I also get involved with writing rugby articles?
1 Go to commentsAT THE END OF THE DAY THE TEAM WITH 4 WORLD CUPS WILL ALWAYS GET TO TELL THE OTHER NATION TO SUCK MY BALLS. THIS IS A SCIENTIFIC AND IRREFUTABLE FACT.
107 Go to commentsWish him and his family the best in his retirement from International rugby and into the future.
1 Go to commentsSelf proclaimed expert/pundit Andy Goode and his very personal views on referees…Why recalling them in such an article as if he were an undisputed authority on the subject ? Only because fellow writer ?
1 Go to commentsLate growth spurts are a common problem over here. I’m well over 30, and I just started having a growth spurt too. Could be a world class prop soon.
1 Go to commentsas much as the challenge cup is a bit of a nothing competition, winning it would still mean something. last year it was won by toulon, who are now something like 4th in the top 14? The year before it was won by Lyon a season before they finished 3rd in the league. The year before that the final was contested by Montpellier and Leicester - 12 months before they both became domestic champions. That should give Gloucester fans some hope.
1 Go to commentsgreat article - although I can’t help wonder whether the more relevant debate over coming years will be between Ford and Fin Smith!
12 Go to commentsMaking Scott Barrett captain might be a masterstroke….will calm him down & stop brain fades and also take pressure off Ardie, so he can just play his natural monster game. Lets see how that all pans out🧐
8 Go to commentsI’m surprised Scotland are planning to rest key players this summer - I don’t think any other tier 1 nation will be doing the same?
3 Go to commentsGreat analysis Brett and what a shame that RA haven't spent more on the tight five instead. BTW I see the latest 8-9 Combo has dropped, looking forward to that. It's incredible the amount of damage that Hamish and Eddie's egos did in such a short space of time. From memory Eddie drove the initial drive to poach league stars way back in the 00s, with community rugby paying the price in reduced funding. Australia went from 15% of its income being spent on community rugby in 2002 to 2.4% in 2015, sheer madness and look where they are now. Hamish reminds me of Scrappy Doo. Always mouthing off, spoiling for a fight with bigger dogs who'd eat him alive. Sadly RA didn't have a Scooby Doo to bail him out.
13 Go to comments*_“I love watching bone-shuddering tackles, brutal clear-outs, monster ball carries, and crushingly intense scrummaging. I love it. These things make my heart rate spike. These aren’t the only things I love about rugby, but I feel no need to pretend I don’t love them, or to apologise for loving them just in case someone thinks I shouldn’t.”_* beautifully put Flats🔥
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