Danilo Fischetti hailed the impact a sold-out cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens makes, after his impressive two-try performance in Northampton Saints’ 66-21 victory over Harlequins.
The Italy international joined from United Rugby Championship side Zebre last summer and has settled into life in Northamptonshire well, featuring in ten games so far in Black, Green and Gold – and has yet to taste defeat for his new Club.
Fischetti is also yet to play a home Gallagher PREM game that hasn’t sold out, as Saints stretched their streak to 11 maximum capacity league games in a row – something that isn’t lost on the 58-times capped Italian forward.
“Playing in front of a full house is always special,” said the 27-year-old. “For me the, it’s the first time playing in front of support like that, that is screaming for you, singing for you, for us it is like another man on the pitch.”
Amongst the crowd against Quins were members of Fischetti’s family and he rose to the occasion, scoring his first two tries for Saints.
They were his first scores since wearing a London Irish shirt during the 2022/23 season, and matched his total tries scored over the previous 77 games for clubs and country.
“I just followed Mitch, he loves the dummy!” smiled the Italian. “The first one was a play, we came back on the short side, I saw a gap and carried it over. The second one I saw the space again.
“We didn’t start well, but after that we came back with our DNA and we got back in the game, scored two tries, we dominated them and controlled the game.
“I think it was a good performance, especially for our pack, we put pressure on them. It was a good night for the front three.”
Fischetti started both of Saints’ Investec Champions Cup wins at the back end of 2025, helping his side to secure maximum points from their trip to Section Paloise and the visit of Vodacom Bulls to cinch Stadium.
He will be hoping to extend that streak when Saints travel to the side who defeated them in last season’s Champions Cup final, Bordeaux-Begles, this weekend.
“I came here to play in these kind of games,” he said. “We will go there and try to win.
“My mindset doesn’t change, I try to play my best every time. Bordeaux away is another game, we need to be more physical to combat them.”
