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Les Saints ont subi le week-end dernier leur premier revers depuis huit matches
Dylan Hartley is set to return for Northampton Saints’ crucial Pool 5 clash at Ospreys.
The England hooker is available after serving a three-week ban for elbowing during the Aviva Premiership clash against Leicester Tigers. And he is not the only player likely to hand Northampton a timely boost to their European ambitions.
Head coach Jim Mallinder is also expecting to have two of his injured trio of second-row – Christian Day, Samu Manoa and Courtney Lawes – back for the clash at Liberty Stadium. All three missed last week’s defeat at Sale Sharks, their first in eight games in all competitions.
Mallinder said: “We were disappointed with that loss but the most important thing is that we have come back this week with a new focus for Europe and eager to put a few things right.
“We are top of the pool and are in control of our destiny. It is possible that one win from our last two games will get us through but we know two wins will see us qualify.
“Hopefully we will have a few more options for selection with Dylan [Hartley] available and hopefully a few of those big guys back on the field. That could make a difference in putting right the things we did wrong last week at Sale and hopefully we will see a different side at Ospreys.”
George North proved the difference when the sides last met at Franklin’s Gardens in October when the Wales wing scored four tries against his fellow countrymen. Ospreys may only have a mathematical chance of progressing but are desperate to maintain their unbeaten run at the Liberty Stadium this season.
Assistant coach Gruff Rhys said: “We have to believe that we can still get through so we will keep going to the last. We realise we are up against it but this is the ultimate competition and we will give everything we can to prove we are worthy of being here.
“We know we have to ourselves to physical extremes against Saints and try to get through that arm-wrestle. We didn’t execute out kicking game very well up there [at Northampton] and that allowed their back three to come back at us. It was relentless.
“George, in particular, was outstanding that day and popped up in different areas because he switched to centre. If we can get our kicking right then we can hopefully put him under pressure.”
Match Facts
- Northampton Saints have won on their last four trips to Wales, with their most recent win on Welsh soil coming in last season’s competition against the Ospreys.
- Ospreys are winless in eight home matches against English sides; losing seven.
- Ospreys’ loss to Northampton last season represents their largest home defeat to an English team.
- Ken Pisi (8) and George Pisi (7) have both made more clean breaks than any other player in this season’s Champions Cup.
- Only five players have managed three or more tries in the Champions Cup this season – Saints’ George North (5), Samu Manoa (4) and Ken Pisi (3) make up three of those five.
- Daniel Evans gained the most metres (161) in Round 4 of the Champions Cup whilst Saints’ Ken Pisi carried for 154 metres, the next best tally over the weekend. Evans leads the way for total metres in the whole tournament this season (371m).
Vainqueur solide sur la pelouse des Ospreys (20-9)
Northampton moved closer to a Champions Cup quarter-final spot with a comfortable 20-9 victory over the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.
The English champions scored tries through Calum Clark and George North, with fly-half Stephen Myler adding both conversions and two penalties.
The Ospreys could only register three Dan Biggar penalties as their own hopes of advancing from Pool 5 were ended.
Saints can now move on to the pool decider against Racing Metro next weekend knowing a victory will give them a home quarter-final, while even a losing bonus-point could be enough to claim a last-eight spot.
The Ospreys knew anything other than a bonus-point win would end their slim hopes of reaching the quarter-finals, and they made an enterprising start.
Justin Tipuric made a lovely midfield break from Biggar’s pass early on and the pressure yielded a penalty which the Wales number 10 kicked to give the hosts an early lead.
The lively opening continued with a breathless passage of play sparked by Ospreys full-back Dan Evans. His scything run took the home side into the Saints 22, but a turnover saw Ken Pisi return the ball with interest before the counter was halted at the halfway line.
Unfortunately for Ben Foden it marked his last involvement as a tweaked knee saw him leave the fray and James Wilson replace him.
It was already clear Northampton were in the ascendancy up front, and good scrum pressure yielded their first try in the 16th minute.
Tyler Ardron was forced to hurriedly pick up at the base on his own line, and when Rhys Webb tried to box-kick the scrum-half was charged down by Tom Wood and Clark pounced to score.
Biggar and Myler exchanged penalties before a moment of controversy. George Pisi was guilty of a tip-tackle on Biggar but, with the crowd baying for a red card, referee Jerome Garces decided a yellow would suffice.
Biggar dusted himself down to kick the resulting penalty, but the Ospreys gifted their nemesis North the critical try just before half-time.
Luther Burrell’s tackle on Tipuric dislodged the ball and North, who scored four tries in the reverse fixture at Franklin’s Gardens, scooped up the loose ball and ran in from halfway, with Myler adding the extras.
Saints pressed on early in the second half, knowing they were already halfway to a bonus point.
They thought prop Alex Waller had got their third as he tried to burrow his way over, but replays showed he was just short of the line.
However, the Ospreys lack of a forward platform was stunting their efforts to get back into the game, and Myler completed Northampton’s win with his second successful penalty.
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