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Northampton Saints player ratings vs Leicester Tigers | Gallagher PREM 2025/26
By Josh Raisey
Northampton Saints player ratings: It is Northampton Saints who have the bragging rights following their 32-26 victory over Leicester Tigers on Saturday at Franklin’s Gardens in the Gallagher PREM.
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Welcoming back a handful of their superstars, the Saints put on a show for their home fans, though it didn’t go all their own way, with the lead changing hands 10 times before the hosts pulled away in the final quarter.
Here’s how the players rated:
15 George Hendy – N/A
Showed some nice footwork in the opening stages, but was carried off after 20 minutes with a leg injury, which will be a bitter blow for the 22-year-old.
14 Tommy Freeman – 7.5
One of three British & Irish Lions back in the starting XV and looked every part a Lion. Carried with supreme confidence, and added some one-handed offloads to his repertoire. Picked up an injury late in the first half and battled on in the second, but could not continue, which will worry Steve Borthwick.
13 Rory Hutchinson – 8.5
One of the form players in the PREM currently, and looked silky yet again, not least with his pull-back to Fin Smith in his side’s third try and then his long, floated pass following his break for their fourth. Delectable running lines and deft touches all afternoon. Failed to pick up Freddie Steward’s line for the Tigers’ opening try, however, but he had a huge amount of space to cover.
12 Fraser Dingwall – 8
Returning from injury this week and partnered Hutchinson nicely again, chiefly his offload in the build-up to Anthony Belleau’s try. A fizzed left-handed pass opened the space for Northampton to score their second, but it was all brute strength when he scored his own try, which was later disallowed.
11 Edoardo Todaro – 8.5
The 19-year-old continued his fine start to the season, scoring the Saints’ second in the corner. All he had to do was dot down in the corner, but he had a much more impressive part to play in their next try, coming off his wing and bursting through the line on the left flank before putting Tom Pearson in for the try.
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10 Fin Smith – 7.5
Back after his exploits over the summer with the Lions, and scored the opening try when on hand to support Alex Mitchell. Made Saints third try look so simple when he wrapped around to receive the ball from Hutchinson before putting Todaro through a gap – executed perfectly and made to look so easy. Helped regain the ascendancy with his boot when the Tigers had all the momentum after the break.
9 Alex Mitchell – 8
Architect of the first try – albeit with a fortuitous bounce – which was a product of his vision. Seemed to have time on the ball, which allowed him to dictate play and pick off the right runners.
1 Emmanuel Iyogun – 6
Pinged on one occasion in the first half in the scrum, but was actually part of a pack that seemed on top. Would have wanted to get his hands on the ball more in his 50 minutes on the field.
2 Robbie Smith – 7
Decent enough in the lineout, and busy in defence during his 50 minute spell, putting in 11 tackles.
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3 Trevor Davison – 7
Probably didn’t get the rewards he deserved in a scrum, which looked strong at times in the first half.
4 Tom Lockett – 7
Left with a lot of space to cover when Leicester had momentum for their opening try of the match, although he was too narrow. Took on the bulk of the bulk of the lineout responsibilities with his second-row partner not jumping.
5 JJ van der Mescht – 7.5
Threw his 145kg weight around from the off, including a rip on Jamie Blamire. He should have known better in his breakdown penalty which gave the Tigers the lead again the first 40. Put in 12 tackles in a big 50-minute shift for a big man.
6 Alex Coles – 7
Big defensive shift at blindside. Hit hard and troubled the Tigers at the ruck.
7 Tom Pearson – 8
Scored Saints’ third try at the stroke of half time to cap a half where he carried nicely, particularly with some quick footwork before contact. A match-leading 16 tackles was all the more impressive given he only played an hour.
8 Callum Chick – 7.5
Continuing to prove he is one of the signings of the season, although it was perhaps more his defensive side of the game that came to the fore, with 12 tackles.
Replacements – 9
After blowing huge 30-point leads in the second half in the opening two rounds (though they held on against Gloucester) this bench was far, far stronger for the Saints, and it paid off. The returning Henry Pollock and Josh Kemeny added a real punch in the last quarter when the hosts were losing, while Tom Litchfield ensured the early injury to Hendy was not too damaging. The experience and versatility of the bench was crucial when Freeman went off injured, particularly with Belleau playing at full-back, who scored in the corner despite three Tigers trying to tackle him, and scored his second when he chased down his chip (though it was another fortunate bounce). From tries, penalties won (Danilo Fischetti), and crucial turnover penalties won (Craig Wright, Pollock and Kemeny), this was a huge effort from the substitutes.