Six-try Saints told to shape up for Tigers
CHRIS Boyd issued a stark warning to his Northampton Saints squad after they had emerged clear winners in this ten-try feast.
“If we play like that against Leicester we will get murdered,” the Saints director of rugby advised in looking ahead to next Saturday’s trip to their East Midlands rivals.
“We know what’s coming,” he added in reference to Tigers’ improving forward power and form.
Boyd was heartened by Northampton’s attacking play which brought six tries though he quickly admitted he was disturbed by the defensive effort which leaked four.
“Defensively, we have to be much better and much more ruthless. Guys were dropping off tackles who don’t normally,” he added.
He felt his team had played better in last week’s European defeat by Ulster than in this hectic Premiership victory which maintains Northampton’s push for a top four finish.
The Saints were inspired by a man-of-thematch performance from scrum-half Alex Mitchell.
His two first-half tries, in quick succession, turned a 14-10 deficit into a 22-14 lead and demonstrated his growing maturity.
Mitchell, 23, was one of Eddie Jones’ ‘apprentices’ in the Six Nations campaign and must be in line for full honours this summer if England’s intended games against the Barbarians, Scotland, USA and Canada go ahead.
Boyd has challenged Mitchell to improve how he runs a game though other aspects of his play are already top notch.
His first try highlighted his strength, in how he wriggled and stretched over, while his second, in the 28th minute, showed his speed in the way he caught the Irish cover, including opposite number Nick Phipps, off guard.
Boyd described Mitchell as a “fantastically gifted rugby player” but he moderated that remark by
adding: “He’s just got to supplement that on running the game, but he’s starting to do that much better.”
Another player Boyd had to talk about was wing Ollie Sleightholme who has amassed the impressive tally of nine tries in nine games in all competitions this season.
His two tries came in the second half and, while his first was no more than a simple run in, his second showed his lethal pace and finishing ability.
A kick ahead by Dan Biggar looked to be over hit only for Sleightholme to surprise Ollie Hassell
Collins in how he scooted around him before using his football skills to touch down.
Those two second-half tries, in between one by centre Piers Francis, raced Northampton into a 44-19 lead and stopped hopes of an Irish revival.
Irish had started the second half by grabbing their third try through the hard-working No.8 Albert Tuisue which cut Northampton’s lead to 25-19.
However, Irish fell away as the half wore on and Northampton capitalised, expertly marshalled by Mitchell and Biggar who kicked 14 points in all.
Biggar blemished his night by a last-minute sinbinning for a deliberate knock down which came just after wing Ben Loader had grabbed a fourth try for Irish.
However, Loader’s own yellow card in the first half, taking out second row David Ribbans in the air, was brutally pounced on when Mitchell burst clear at the next scrum.
Before those tries by Mitchell, Irish had enjoyed their best spell. Tries by Phipps and Hassell-Collins were answered by one from centre Fraser Dingwall before the scrum-half struck.