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2 trophies in the space of 8 days
was nothing short of what the Northampton Saints deserved to complete a stellar
2013/14 season. From their Round 1 win over Exeter Chiefs at Franklin’s Gardens they romped to victory after victory in the domestic competition and in Europe they showed equal amounts of heart and determination.
Belief and desire drove them to their nail-biting home Aviva Premiership Semi Final victory over
the Leicester Tigers and from thereon in you felt that the Final was always Saints’ to
lose.
After such an emphatic season Mallinder's men are now marked men, as Tom Wood knows only too well; “There is now a big
target on our heads, we don’t have a God-given right to be able to do it again.
We have got to earn it all over again. We did last year through sheer hard work
and if we go out now with a bit of strut and aura, then that will be a good
thing.”
Northampton Saints’ chairman Tony
Hewitt’s philosophy is that ‘stability breeds success’ and that is certainly
evident in the Saints’ behaviour going into the 2014/15 season. Summer Signings
have been few and far between in fact Joel Hodgson is the
only new arrival. Joel arrives from the Newcastle Falcons where he quietly went
out his business and let his rugby do the talking. He is still young and has a
lot to learn however under the tutelage of Stephen Myler and attack coach Alex
King I expect him to flourish over the next few years at Saints. Alex Day and
Tom Stephenson both graduate from the academy and that completes Saints’ transfer
activity. Is it a worrying lack of activity? Absolutely not, in fact I would go
as far to say it is inspired and here is why. There are men in the squad that
will feel that they didn’t fully show what they could do last year; Alex Corbisero
will want an injury free season to really put his mark on his ‘new’ club and
even the emphatic George North feels that he could have had a greater impact.
The challenge of retaining their title will inspire a team that is packed with
talent and firepower; from 1 to 15 they have World Class individuals with a desire
to prove to the rugby world that their 2013/14 season wasn’t just a one off.
The beautiful thing about the
Northampton Saints is the fact that they are such a complete side, up front
they are powerful and can bulldoze the best packs in the Aviva Premiership. At
the back they have beautiful runners that make rugby look so easy. If I were to name individuals I'd be here until next year's Aviva Premiership Final, their talent is that strong. Some are saying
that they could be exposed during the International periods and they may be right however as last
season showed their squad depth is deceptively strong and should see them
through without too many hitches.
The Saints will be a formidable force
once again, there is no doubt about the fact that they will open the 2014/15
Aviva Premiership Season with a bang at Franklin’s Gardens against a hugely pumped up Gloucester Rugby side. The intensity and fireworks during the match will set the tone for the entire Aviva Premiership and it will be sensational to watch. Jim Mallinder is a great Director of Rugby and in his hands he
has one of the most talented squads in the competition. For the Northampton Saints retaining their
Aviva Premiership title is the ultimate objective and it will be fascinating to
see whether they can replicate their unforgettable year or even go one better and bag three trophies in 2015!!
