Ospreys in charge as Saints slip up again

Northampton Saints fell to an eighth consecutive loss in the Champions Cup and Premiership since September as Ospreys took advantage of a rampaging hour of rugby. No doubt the phrase ‘club in crisis’ will be used in the coming days but Saints’ blushes will be somewhat spared by a gallant performance in the closing 20 minutes in which they secured a try bonus point.

The total of 11 tries would hardly have been expected with the score 3-0 after 20 minutes – and nor would Northampton have expected to use two fly-halves, starter Piers Francis and his replacement Stephen Myler, in the opening quarter, with full-back Harry Mallinder moving to No10.

Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder acknowledged his side’s poor performance while also pointing to influence of the fly-half issue.

“The team is not playing with any confidence,” he said. “We had a poor, disjointed first 60 minutes. You don’t want to make excuses but losing your two fly-halves in the first 15 minutes is always a bit of a problem. I think Harry stepped up and did a good job, but he has not trained in that position for a few weeks.”

Ospreys’ head coach Steve Tandy, although impressed with his side’s sixtry performance, believes they must work on closing out their game ahead of next weekend’s rematch.

“We definitely focus on the last 20 – the first 60, I thought we silenced the crowd. I thought we controlled the game, but I think we started to get a tiny bit loose.” Ospreys’ dominance saw them go in at half-time with a 17-3 lead. Saints came out in the second half looking busy but Ospreys secured their bonus-point try via Kieron Fonotia.

Northampton stirred back into life with scrum-half Nic Groom scoring, followed by former Wallaby Rob Horne. With a bonus point at stake, they continued to press as Ospreys looked somewhat complacent. Ahsee Tuala secured the fourth try to ensure the bonus point.

Harry Mallinder ran over for his side’s fifth try but was subsequently sin-binned, as was Ospreys replacement Rob McClusker after an altercation. Mallinder Snr was happy that his side demonstrated fighting spirit in the closing minutes. “I was pleased we showed a bit of fire and a bit of edge,” said Mallinder Snr. “I wish we had seen more of that in the first 60 minutes as we did in the last 20.”

The game descended into a sloppy affair with tempers fraying, and Ospreys wing Hanno Dirksen saw red for a dangerous tackle on Luther Burrell..