Time for potential to become reality
Gary Fitzgerald talks to Saints’ Piers Francis about the need to turn promise into probability
PIERS Francis claims it is time Northampton Saints turned the kind comments about their potential and promise into actually winning pots of silver. The 31-year-old utility back insists he and his team-mates should deliver the goods on the field and not fall short when the pressure is turned up.
Chris Boyd’s men missed out on the play-offs by a long distance last season despite finishing fifth. They were a huge 14 points behind the next club above them, Harlequins, who then showed Saints that exciting, attacking rugby can produce title success.
Saints will now be hoping to show they can turn their own allaction philosophy into trophies when they kick off the season at home to Gloucester next Saturday.
Francis is still recovering from the shoulder surgery he had at the end of last season but hopes to return to action next month.
He says: “There has always been so much talk about the potential we have and the talent. But it is up to us now to deliver on that potential.
“The proof is now in the pudding; how well we turn up this week and what results we get on the field. We need to rack up the wins and push for some silverware for our cabinet, which has been missing for a while.
“There were a lot of fixtures last season when we were in the games in the final ten minutes but ended up on the wrong end of things. We could not close games out or manage things as well as we could.
“If we can change that this time we could comfortably finish in the top four. It’s great for the game to
see teams like Harlequins win the title playing an exciting brand of rugby and we pride ourselves on playing a similar type of high tempo rugby. So we will be trying to implement that in the season ahead – play an attacking style while also winning games.
“It will be great having full and noisy crowds back in the Gardens to create that special electric atmosphere which the players feed off. That’s what makes it an even more exciting season ahead.”
Saints have enlisted the services of South African strong man No.8 Juarno Augustus to bolster their pack. The 23-year-old was snapped up from Stormers and is sure to become a big hit with the Franklin’s Gardens faithful.
Augustus says: “I will just try to be physical because that’s why the club have signed me. I will try and give the team some momentum and stop the opposition momentum too.
“I’ll give my best and hopefully it works out for me and I can support everyone around me. I saw three of Saints’ games on TV over in South Africa last season when I knew I would be joining them and it made me excited to come to the club.
“Hopefully, I can make a big impact and show the Northampton fans what I am able to do on the field.”