Dowson: We need to keep our eyes on what’s ahead

Director of Rugby Phil Dowson stressed that Northampton Saints need to keep their eyes on the next challenge after securing a place in the Investec Champions Cup semi-finals.

The men in Black, Green and Gold delivered a devastating second-half display at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday evening to stretch a six-point half-time lead over the Vodacom Bulls to a 37-point margin come the final whistle.

It booked Dowson’s side a last-four showdown with Leinster at Croke Park on Saturday 4 May. But prior to that, the Gallagher Premiership table-toppers have two titanic tussles ahead – starting with the East Midlands Derby against Leicester Tigers at a sold-out Gardens on Saturday (kick-off: 3.05pm).

“Luds [Lewis Ludlam] said in the huddle, we have created ourselves an opportunity to play against one of the best sides in Europe over the last decade in Leinster,” said Dowson. “And that is what we want to enjoy, and that’s where we want to test ourselves.

“We need to get the excitement and the high of a Derby Day here with a side who will be coming after us. They dished us up at Welford Road earlier in the season, so we have got to make sure we sharpen the knife and we are ready for that battle as well.”

Since the 26-17 loss at Mattioli Woods Welford Road last November, Saints have won 13 of their next 14 competitive fixtures with the latest being the 59-22 triumph over the Bulls in the Round of 16 showdown.

Saints’ 18-point advantage shrunk to six by the break as the Pretoria-based visitors hit back with successive tries. But any fears of a first home loss in ten games were erased in a dominant display in the second period, as the hosts registered five unanswered tries to progress into a Champions Cup semi-final for the first time in 13 years.

“We were a bit in and out,” said Dowson, reflecting on the first half. “We started really well and in the second 20 we were a bit sloppy. I thought we slammed the door in the second half and we got a lot of our game on the pitch and we played in the right areas.

“It spoke volumes about where the group is at. We don't need to shout and go hard at half-time, the players know when it is not quite right and I thought the second half, the way they came out, spoke volumes of their understanding of where they are at.”