Foden backs Gaffney to bring Saints to life
NORTHAMPTON have moved to put out the fires at Franklin’s Gardens by appointing Alan Gaffney, a former coach of Eddie Jones at Randwick, as a coaching consultant until the end of the season.
And the changes at the Gardens have not come a moment too soon according to experienced back Ben Foden.
Australian Gaffney, 70, who was in charge of Saracens between 2006 and 2008, will take up his stop-gap appointment on New Year’s Day at the club who sacked director of rugby Jim Mallinder a fortnight ago.
The Saints play Harlequins at Twickenham today in front of an anticipated crowd of more than 70,000 in Big Game 10, and in front of a terrestrial TV audience, on the back of 11 losses in 12 games in competitions.
And Gaffney, above, has had an immediate stroke of luck with the news that Wales wing George North is back from a knee injury and will take his place on the bench at HQ after being out since October 15.
Mallinder’s sacking after 10 years as director of rugby at Northampton saw Foden lose the man who mentored him at Sale and the Saints and helped him win 34 England caps.
But the 32-year-old admitted it was the time for change if the club are to get back to the form that saw them win the Premiership title in 2014.
“It was disappointing because Jim has been a big part of my career and a big influence on me as a player. It was sad to see him go,” said Foden.
“Obviously it’s a massive change but inevitably everyone saw it coming because there needed to be a change.
“Things weren’t going well. We are in a professional sport and we are all ❑ MARCUS WATSON claimed a brace of tries as Wasps moved up to second place in the Aviva Premiership with a 31-26 win over Bath at the Rec.
The Wasps wing touched down in the eighth minute following an offload by full-back Willie Le Roux and added another 10 minutes later. Scrum-half Dan Robson also crossed, while Rhys Priestland and Jack Wilson replied for Bath.
Tries from Juan de Jongh and Gabiriele Lovobalavu stretched Wasps’ lead but Zach Mercer’s score made it a nervy finale. performance-based and that is what we are going to be judged on. Things have not gone quite to plan for probably the last two seasons and a change needed to be made.”
Apart from his stint at Saracens, Gaffney has worked with Randwick, Munster, Leinster, the Waratahs and the Ireland team and is currently the elite programmes coach for Rugby Australia.
In his final game picking the team, temporary head coach Alan Dickens has promoted Tom Wood from the bench and also has Stephen Myler back among the replacements.
Quins have lost five out of their last six in all competitions and the socalled Big Game against Northampton has the air of two middling teams scrapping it out to find some form.
Foden added: “They are probably equivalent to us in terms of they want to achieve big things and they have been underachieving this year.
“It is a chance for both teams to get things back on track and finish the year on a high at least.”
Quins have Danny Care back at scrum-half after he missed the 11-10 defeat by Newcastle last weekend.
At Allianz Park, Saracens have captain Brad Barritt back from concussion to lead the team against Worcester and flanker Michael Rhodes makes his first start of the season following a shoulder injury.
Rhodes came off the bench in the 29-17 win over Leicester last Sunday, a victory that stopped a run of seven straight defeats for the European champions.
Worcester have won three out of four in the Premiership to ease their relegation fears but have been forced to promote Sam Olver to fly-half because of Jono Lance’s broken hand.
Elsewhere in the Premiership, bottom-placed London Irish entertain Newcastle in Reading with Johnny Williams recalled at centre, while the Falcons bring in Alex Tait on the wing for the injured Sinoti Sinoti.
Sale, fresh from beating Bath 32-9, call up Marland Yarde to the bench for their trip to Gloucester.