Johann van Graan provides early update on injured England star

Basking in a 41-21 Gallagher PREM victory over champions Bath at the Recreation Ground, Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson insisted there was never any doubt that they would play “the Saints’ way”.

The six-try performance, with Tommy Freeman running in a hat-trick, propelled the club to the top of the table.

Dowson said: “It was very pleasing against a side of Bath’s quality. To produce a performance like that in Christmas week was just ideal.

“We want to come out of the blocks. We want to play. It’s the Saints’ way, however you want to describe that. I thought we did that, particularly in the second half and really went for it.

“We had battled hard in the first half and kept them out on a few occasions. In the second half we really got into our stride a bit more.

“We want to move the ball regardless of who we’re playing against. We focus almost entirely on ourselves in terms of how we want to play the game.

“I think you can see that week to week in the consistency of our performance, particularly with different players.

“Bath are a very good side with lots of very good players, but that didn’t have a huge impact on how we were going to attack today. Every victory is a victory for the squad.

“We’ve got a very connected group and a really good group of lads to buy in, emotionally invested in what we’re trying to do.”

Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan was not looking to make excuses for his team’s defeat – their first at home in the PREM since Bristol won at the Rec in October 2024.

“We were clearly beaten by the better team on the day,” he said. “In the last 30 minutes, they squeezed us, got penalties and against a side like Northampton, it’s very difficult to keep them out.

“The first half was crazy rugby by both teams. After half-time, we scored to go 21-14 and then the last 30 just wasn’t good enough from our side.”

Van Graan added: “Like I said, as a group we win together and we lose together, beaten by the better side on the night.

“We had some good moments, specifically in the first half. We had two clear-cut opportunities, one metre from their try line and which we didn’t finish.

“It’s never great to lose. But I think what it does show is the quality of the Premiership. Anybody can beat anybody on the day. We’ll go and review it on Monday morning and then move forward again.”

“If you look across the season, we’re in a very good place, but clearly not good enough tonight.”

Van Graan was unable to provide much detail on an injury to centre Max Ojomoh, who was hurt in a collision under the home posts, saying: “No, I don’t have a clear answer at this stage, but it looks like a calf.

“I assume he’ll go for a scan and then we’ll know a bit more on Monday or Tuesday.

“They always put their bodies on the line. Collisions like that can go horribly wrong, but let’s see where we’re at early next week.”