Saints counting on their No.8s
NEALE HARVEY talks to Saints about the loss of Picamoles
Northampton coach Phil Dowson has challenged his No.8s Teimana Harrison and new signing Mitch Eadie to plug the gap created by the shock departure of French superstar Louis Picamoles – and in doing so boost their England chances.
Rampaging back rower Harrison shot to prominence with England in 2016 but has failed to feature since last November, while Eadie arrives determined to prove himself at Premiership level after a season of struggle at relegated Bristol.
Dowson, who returns to Saints in a coaching capacity after spending the previous two seasons at Worcester, believes both back rowers can shine and is tipping Harrison,
below right, to catch the eye of Red Rose boss Eddie Jones as an influential No.8. Dowson told The Rugby
Paper: “Teimana just needs to play. He needs to get a regular run of games, to get some form going and he needs to enjoy his rugby.
“He’s been in that limelight, he’s gone and played for England and, having had that experience, he knows what it’s all about. Now, he just wants more of it.
“Last season was difficult, but with Picamoles gone there’s an opportunity for him and he’s keen to kick on. He’s got unbelievable talent and he’s a tough lad, so I’ve got a lot of time for him and there’s no doubt he can get back in that England set-up.
“I’d play Teimana as a No.8 and try to get the ball into his hands as much as possible. He’s ludicrously powerful, a very natural athlete, and he’s got that New Zealand mongrel of being very physical. He’s slightly freer at No.8 as well.
“Mitch Eadie is also very talented and I really enjoyed watching him last year at Bristol, where he excelled in a side that was under real pressure, so I’m hopeful that both those guys will add some genuine power to our back row.”
Eadie, 25, is desperate to make the most of his opportunity to impress.
The Bristolian told TRP: “I I’ve been held back a bit by being in the Championship for so long, but last season was the right time to step up to the Premiership and although it was difficult, I got good experience and enjoyed it.
“I just want to carry that into this season now and my ambition is to try to start in the team and put on performances every single week. Beyond that, if I can bring out the best in everyone else, we believe we can be successful.
“Teimana’s a relatively young player like me, but we’re not really seeing it as competition. We just want to bring out the best in each other and all the other back rowers so that we can achieve the success our fans deserve.”
Saints have fallen off their lofty pedestal since claiming the Premiership title in 2014, but former back row Dowson, who made 262 Premiership appearances in a trophy-laden 16-year playing career, reckons the glory days beckon again.
Dowson, 35, said: “When you look at the quality of Northampton’s squad over the last couple of years, they should have done better and there’s some frustration over that.
“There’s an underlying feeling within the club that we need to put things right and Jim Mallinder’s been forthright in getting that mesguess sage across. But when you look at how close a lot of games were last season, we’re not a million miles away.” Dowson added: “It’s great being back and even though it’s only been two years away, there’ve been big developments off the field in terms of modernising all the technology and infrastructure around nutrition and the way we analyse things. “I’ll be mentoring guys on an individual basis, trying to improve their gamemanagement and game-understanding, whilst I’ll also be helping Mark Hopley on defence and working with the forwards alongside Dorian West. There are not many coaching jobs in the Premiership so I’m going to relish this opportunity at Northampton.”