We’ll throw the kitchen sink at them says Boyd
CHRIS BOYD wants to leave Northampton with something to show for his four years in charge, but he admits it will not be the European Champions Cup if they fail to defeat Ulster at Franklin’s Gardens today.
The Saints lost their first two group games, at home to Racing and, more narrowly, in Belfast, but even though eight teams from the pool will go into the last 16, the award of two points for clubs caught up in France’s travel ban last month and unable to fulfil fixtures has put Northampton at a disadvantage.
“I thought at the start of the campaign that four teams on our side of the draw would probably not win a game,” said Boyd, Northampton’s director of rugby, “and that one win would be enough to get you through.
“That is not the case any more because some have picked up two points and no result against Ulster means it is the Challenge Cup for us or we drop out of Europe entirely.
“That is not where we want to be so we will be throwing the kitchen sink at it. I am not thinking about Racing away the following week because it depends on what happens against Ulster.
“We should just be really happy that the rounds this month are able to go ahead given the position we find ourselves in. Sport needs to keep going if it can for the sanity of the nation as it has a stabilising influence on a big section of the community.
“The way it has panned out might not be perfect, but if the tournament can get to Marseille with the two best sides in the final and the ground full of people, we will have done remarkably well. There is an issue way bigger than rugby and we should not forget that.”
Northampton’s captain Lewis Ludlam said the players wanted to ensure Boyd left on a high and credited the New Zealander with transforming the Saints.
“It was a different brand of rugby before,” he said. “Now everyone needs to be able to move the ball, make decisions and play an attractive brand of rugby. It is not throwing the ball around for the sake of it because it is quite structured, but Chris takes the pressure off.
“I remember when I made my first appearance under him at Gloucester. He told me to enjoy it, rip and tear and the rest will look after itself. It was liberating and it has resonated with the young lads in the team. We were talked about a few years ago as having potential, and we have not quite fulfilled it yet which gives us even more incentive to repay Chris for everything he has done.
“There is no better time to show what we are about. We are in a really good place and it is down to him. He lets you play your natural game and he has given a number of young players opportunities.”
Northampton have faced Ulster three times before at Franklin’s Gardens in the Champions Cup, winning twice, including the 2011 quarterfinal on their way to a final against Leinster. Ludlam said it had turned into a knock-out tournament for the Saints, unable to afford another defeat.
“There is no sense of desperation, just excitement,” he said. “Pressure makes things even more enjoyable, the reason why you play the game. We have to take that pressure on, understand it and put in a performance in what is a knockout game for us.
“It is not going to be easy given the form Ulster have been in this season, but we will be putting our best foot forward to take ourselves further in this competition.
“It has been unbelievable working with Chris. He said he would give me the opportunity to perform and he kept that promise. He placed trust in me and gave me the captaincy.
“We are learning to be more clinical and to stay in the game for longer periods of time, and we are starting to get excited about defending. We will continue to move forward under Phil Dowson and Sam Vesty.”