DISCUSSION POINTS

Lordy, where do you start? It was a season of chastening lows for the venerable folk of Franklin’s Gardens. Most damning were four defeats by Saracens with an aggregate score of 237-64. By December, coach Jim Mallinder was shown the door after failing to halt an ignominious slide since they won the Premiership in 2014.

On the field Saints were too cautious, too prosaic and lacking in game intelligence. Stand-in Alan Gaffney barely steadied the ship and at the end of the season a raft of players left.

The appointment of the highly-rated Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd has seen optimism cautiously seeping back, while holes have been plugged in the squad. Ben Franks will add grit up front while James Haskell could prove an inspired signing. Out wide, Australians Andrew Kellaway and jumbo-sized Taqele Naiyaravoro will add dynamism.