Burns brilliance puts end to Saints revival
FORGOTTEN England fly-half Freddie Burns produced a masterful display as Bath enhanced their title credentials while stopping Northampton’s recent revival in its tracks.
Saints began brightly, forcing Bath into conceding a glut of early penalties, two of which were converted by Piers Francis for a 6-0 lead. However, a moment of inspiration from Burns on the 20-minute mark turned defence into attack and Bath never looked back.
Taking possession near his own line with Northampton defenders starting to swarm, Burns produced an audacious cross-field punt few others would have risked which allowed Matt Banahan to gather and rampage 50metres deep into opposition territory.
Burns knocked over a penalty after the retreating Tom Wood came in at the side, then added two more three-pointers to put his team ahead. And after Banahan had capitalised on slack play between Tom Stephenson and Francis to collect Ben Tapuai’s grubber and score on the stroke of half-time, Burns converted to leave a revitalised Bath 16-6 up.
Of his game-changing intervention from inside his own 22, star man Burns told TRP: “You live and die by the sword and luckily for me it came off. It wasn’t my greatest ever kick but it worked and Banners chased it well to get us out of trouble. Confidence went through the team from that and we were able to put pressure on Saints and express ourselves.”
With fellow Bath playmaker Rhys Priestland currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, Burns added: “It’s a huge period for me now. Rhys was in great form before his injury but you need two really competitive No. 10s to challenge at the top of this league and I’ve got an opportunity now to grow into the Bath shirt, which I feel I’m doing relatively well.”
Burns would have been thankful for a magnificent effort from his forwards, who ensured Bath dominated possession and territory, and a Herculean effort from Will Hurrell on his first Premiership start for the club.
The on-loan Bristol centre battered Northampton’s midfield with a compelling display.
After Burns had slotted his fourth penalty soon after the break, Bath’s eager forwards also came into their own. Charlie Ewels was heavily involved, twice disrupting Saints lineouts before a delicious offload enabled Burns to send in prop Nick Auterac for try No.2.
Heavyweight duo Elliott Stooke and James Phillips were equally impressive before Tapuai and Darren Atkins engineered a try for hooker Ross Batty.
Saints, for whom Teimana Harrison and Jamie Gibson flickered in the first half, never threw in the towel, but one Francis penalty and a delicious show-and-go from Harry Mallinder, who replaced Francis, were the only bright spots of a tepid second period.
Burns said: “Our forwards put in a massive shift and when they’re willing to go into those dark places, as a No.10 you are really appreciative.”