Burrell sends an England message

IF LUTHER BURRELL and Kieran Brookes were looking to prove a point to both Stuart Lancaster and Eddie Jones, they could not have done so more emphatically. The Northampton duo endured difficult World Cups but they were the principal reasons the Saints edged to only their second Premiership win of the season and ensured Victor Matfield’s debut was a success. Burrell (below) produced two momentum-changing moments in the first half, while Brookes should make sure that Jones — Lancaster’s replacement as England head coach — receives a video of his performance as soon as possible. The prop’s superiority at the scrum was so comprehensive that his opposite number, Paddy McAllister, was substituted after only 24 minutes, by which time he had already conceded three penalties that led directly to six points. In such a tight game, that was vital. Fly-half Stephen Myler gratefully kicked the penalties earned by Brookes and his front row colleagues. Burrell also contributed at both ends, first with an interception that led to three points, then with a turnover on his own line that ensured Northampton would go into the break ahead. Saints were proving more adept at dealing with the rain and cold, showing commendable gamemanagement to survive the loss of Tom Wood to the sin-bin when he pulled down a driving maul. But the biggest cheer of the game came with a little over 20 minutes to go when Springbok legend Matfield, 38, made his entrance as a substitute. Northampton’s oldest Premiership player showed his experience as the game moved into the latter stages to see the Saints over the line.

BATH will play their Champions Cup match at holders Toulon over the weekend of January 8-10, despite their fears of fixture congestion. It was postponed following the terror attacks in Paris on November 13.