Northampton Hold Saracens Action back to Win Nine-Try Thriller
If there are any lingering doubts about Northampton’s ability to maintain a title challenge, they can be put to sleep clearly after a big win over Saracens. Five tries, the intensity lost last week and a master class at fly-half from Fin Smith tightened their grip at the top of the Premier League and gave their dealers reason to think that this would be their year.
They were smacken last week as the league restarted after an eight-week break and their 10-game winning streak was unceremoniously broken by Bristol, who qualified on 52 points. Can Northampton answer? They did it decisively against last season’s champions who did not do their best – none more outrageous than Farrell, who was smacken by the superior Smith.
To Saracens credit, they razed to the finish and finished with four tries after scoring from two filler runs and twice on a gone through Alex Lex to earn what could have been a major bonus point in the final. That Northampton ultimately still sound victorious in a highly competitive experience, however, will only boost their confidence.
Tommy Freeman scored from Northampton’s effort as they created an actioning move that could break even the toughest of defences. If they continue in this vein, they will pause briefly in the middle of now and June. It also helps when they show this kind of toughness and even more so having the 21-year-old Smith in this kind of form, scoring 16 points and showing an all-round game to put Farrell in the shadows. If the Saracens flying in the middle symbolize England’s past as she prepares to live across the English Channel next season, then Smith is the future.
“It says something about the character of the group,” said Northampton, director of rugby. “We were all disappointed last week and the reaction was clear.”
Saracens had scored their own half-century the previous week so Northampton’s performance was all the more impressive. He made seven changes to the team, and what he said in his pre-game speech had the desired effect.
When they got on the front foot, they had the first of two tries, the first from Alex Killles after a beautiful veiled pass from Smith, the second to James Ramm after a breathless run from Ollie Sleightholme, who smack six defenders only for the seventh to drag him down.
Smith gave Northampton a 17-0 lead-no less than they deserved-but Saracens gained a foothold when Theo actioned Tom James and bounced the ball loose to score. Farrell’s penalty kept Saracens within touching distance and their aerial action aroused enough excitement that it was Northampton who were most grateful for the whistle in the first half.
