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Northampton Saints will become the 13th club to reach 100 games in the European Cup when they host Leinster Rugby and full back Ben Foden wants his side to turn Franklin's Gardens back into the fortress it once was. - 07/12/2016 23:28
Northampton Saints will become the 13th club to reach 100 games in the European Cup when they host Leinster Rugby and full back Ben Foden wants his side to turn Franklin’s Gardens back into the fortress it once was.
Defeat at home in the Midlands derby against Leicester Tigers last weekend cut deep, but defeat to Leinster could be terminal. Their 41-7 battering at Castres Olympique in Round 2 meant they ended the first phase of the qualifying campaign bottom of the pile in Pool 4.
But these are early days, and Leinster are only two points clear at the top. That’s what makes the first of their back-to-back clashes so vital.
“We’ve got a big week against Leinster coming up and we need to start thinking about making Franklin’s Gardens a fortress again. It’s been a place that teams have come to and got points too easily,” admitted Foden on Saints TV.
“We’ve got to look at ourselves and try to take the positives from it. I do think we took a step forward against Leicester, but there’s still plenty to build on.
“One area that we have been good at is defence. The area in which we’ve struggled is the attacking stuff, the green zone as we call it.
“Friday night is a new competition, a new chapter and a new challenge. We’re still in it – we’ve won one and lost one – and although we were disappointed with our last performance against Castres, we’re at home against Leinster and that will help.
“Leinster are a good outfit, a quality side, especially in the Champions Cup. We will need to bring our A-game and, if we can get the result we’re looking for, we can then hopefully get some momentum and confidence back in the boys.”
Leinster moved level on points with Munster Rugby at the top of the PRO12 last weekend with a routine, bonus-point win over the Dragons. As with all the other teams in the pool, they have one win and a defeat to their name and will be looking for a priceless away win.
On their last visit to Franklin’s Gardens they tore the home team to shreds in a 40-7 runaway victory. A week later, though, the Saints turned them over in Dublin in front of a packed house at the Aviva Stadium.
Match Facts
- Leinster have won four of the five previous meetings between the clubs, although Northampton were victorious at the Aviva Stadium in the most recent clash in 2013/14.
- Leinster have won both of their away games against Northampton in the Champions Cup, restricting Saints to fewer than 10 points each time.
- Saints' 7-40 loss against Leinster in Round 3 in 2013 is their heaviest home defeat in the tournament.
- Leinster have failed to win any of their last seven away matches in the Champions Cup – their worst run on the road in the competition.
- Of all forwards this season only Jamie Heaslip (33) has made more carries than Louis Picamoles (29 – level with Thomas Waldrom of Exeter Chiefs).
- This will be Northampton's 100th game in Europe's top flight – they've won 59 of their previous 99 (L39, D1) and lifted the trophy in 2000.
- Both clubs have conceded the most turnovers (36) in the competition this season.
- Of teams to have played two games this season, Leinster are one of three to have a 100% scrum success on their own put-in (Saracens and RC Toulon are the others).
- No player has beaten more defenders than Leinster's Joey Carbery this season (15 – level with Wesley Fofana of Clermont and Connacht's Cian Kelleher).
- Northampton's Mike Haywood has hit the target with all 19 of his lineout throws to date – only Ulster's Rory Best has made more throws without missing (22/22).
Northampton's 100th European game ended in a 37-10 defeat by Leinster as England captain Dylan Hartley was sent off at Franklin's Gardens. - 09/12/2016 20:45
Northampton’s 100th European game ended in a 37-10 defeat by Leinster as England captain Dylan Hartley was sent off at Franklin’s Gardens.
Hartley, a second-half replacement, saw red for a swinging arm on Sean O’Brien just six minutes after coming on when the Irish side were 10 points ahead.
His dismissal hit Northampton’s hopes of a comeback after Ahsee Tuala had crossed in between Leinster scores in either half from Garry Ringrose and O’Brien. Isa Nacewa had added two conversions and two penalties before Rory O'Loughlin and fellow replacement Jamison Gibson-Park sealed a vital bonus-point.
The Saints ended the game with 13 men after George Pisi’s yellow card and Nacewa completed a night to forget for Jim Mallinder and his men with Leinster’s fifth in the final minute.
With two star-studded teams both boasting a host of internationals, England head coach Eddie Jones was among the crowd watching on.
But there was only one side in the first 10 minutes, Leinster starting the game with the sort of intent which left their English opponents clutching at straws.
Ferocious in the forward exchanges and devastating in wide areas, the Irish province hit their straps from the first minute. It didn’t take long for them to move ahead, either.
Rob Kearney, so impressive for Ireland last month and back following a head bang, received the ball at first receiver and sold the Northampton defence a wonderful dummy. Finding himself in space, the full-back passed to Ringrose inside him to leave the young centre a simple run to the line.
Captain Nacewa converted and added a penalty after a huge Leinster scrum splintered the Northampton eight. It all amounted to a 10-0 lead in as many minutes.
At that stage it looked a question of how many points Leinster wanted to score, but the loss of young fly-half Joey Carbery handed the Saints a lifeline. Carbery was replaced by Ross Byrne and given a quick chance to draw breath, Northampton regrouped.
Some excellent work by prop Paul Hill earned a penalty which Myler slotted from range before the home side lost a man of their own as wing Jamie Elliot limped off.
In a brutally physical encounter, Leinster forwards Tadgh Furlong and Jamie Heaslip were leading the charge for the visitors, Josh van der Flier escaping down the blindside with one break.
But as much as Leinster dominated, Northampton stood tall in defence. England flanker Tom Wood led the charge, helping to repel wave after wave of pressure just before the break.
A 10-3 half-time lead was not what Leinster deserved for their display, and they suffered another blow when they lost Kearney at the start of the second period. Nacewa moved to full-back with O'Loughlin coming on for his European debut on the wing.
As they had done earlier, Northampton sensed blood and it was JJ Hanrahan who came up trumps.
The former Munster man, playing at centre, put his team on the front foot with a half break and when the ball was recycled, his perfect flat pass found Tuala – who had replaced Elliot – out wide.
The substitute dived over and with Myler nailing the touchline conversion, the game was level at 10-10.
Suddenly, it was all action.
Nacewa put Leinster back ahead with a monster penalty, Northampton then surprisingly turning down the chance of three points and turning the ball over after kicking to the corner.
Leinster then moved further ahead. O’Brien’s powerful leg drive saw him crash over to score in the 56th minute, Nacewa adding the extras before Hartley was dismissed for a dangerous tackle.
Down to 14, Northampton’s hopes of a comeback were over and Byrne’s cross-kick found O’Loughlin who outjumped Ben Foden to score.
Nacewa missed the conversion but Gibson-Park and a late fifth from the visiting skipper moved the Irish side top of Pool 4 and all but ended Northampton’s chances of reaching the latter stages.
A reoccurrence of Hanrahan's ankle injury and Pisi's yellow was further salt in the wound for those in black, green and gold.
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