Saints prop desperate to stop the rot after 13 straight defeats
NORTHAMPTON stalwart Alex Waller denies Saints have “been found out” despite a record run of 13 consecutive defeats.
Pre-lockdown, Saints were looking good for a shot at the play-offs, playing a brand of fast-and-loose rugby, but their fortunes plummeted after the season restarted in mid-August.
The malaise continued into the current season where their European hopes are already over two rounds in and they are rooted to the bottom of the Premiership table after three rounds.
“It’s so professional these days, even from when I started until now, with the amount of analysis and the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes,” said Saints’ co-captain Waller.
“But I wouldn’t say we have been found out by any stretch, I would say we are our own worst enemies at the moment; we tend to drop off at times when we need to apply pressure and vice-versa.
“For us, the message for us moving forward is consistency. Being consistent throughout those 80 minutes rather than have peaks and troughs that allow teams to come back in and gain momentum.
“When we’re playing really good rugby, we look dangerous and threatening.
“I am confident in saying we can beat anybody on our day. We are not worried about what is said on the outside.”
Kettering-born Waller is closing in on a century of Premiership appearances for Saints, a milestone he could reach on the first Sunday of 2021, at London Irish.
The prop has been involved in Heineken Cup and Premiership finals and admits the current situation at Saints “hurts”.
“It’s a difficult period, there’s no denying that,” he said. “We want to win and when we’re not doing that, we’re not happy. I’m sure the fans aren’t happy either.
“It does hurt, I won’t lie about that. I don’t want to lose; I don’t want to see the club lose and I want to see us do the best we can.
“I think it hurts regardless of how long you’ve been here, I’ve been here longer than most and it is a difficult period, but it is not the end of the world and we will come through this.
“We’ve got a very young squad and a small group of senior players, whereas in the past it has been the other way around.
“There’s a few of us who’ve been in this situation before and we are trying to steady the ship. It is not a toxic mood in camp at all.
“In my experience you only need that one win to remember how to win again and then you’re back on the horse. I am confident in the boys that we can get back to winning ways.”
Sometimes it just takes a voice from outside the group or a few beers together for teams to break out of a rut. And in that sense, lockdown and the restriction of movement from the tier system has hindered Saints’ ability to break the cycle.
Following yesterday’s defeat at Leinster Saints’ next game is the Boxing
Day clash at home to Worcester.
“Is there a mental aspect to it? There might be” admitted the 30-year-old. “With the way things are working at the minute, with the bubble, we can’t just have guest speakers come in here and there. The social side is also difficult. In times gone by, a few beers and a sit down would help things out a long way.
“Lockdown put a stop to our momentum, and we didn’t get it right post-lockdown.
“It’s not panic stations by any stretch, we’ve got the talent and the coaching staff and it’s just making that click and fixing up that 5-10 per cent that we need to fix, and we’ll be away.
“I think we need a fresh start almost, in terms of this season.”