Jim Henry commended Northampton Saints’ character after they produced a spectacular comeback win on the road at Harlequins – leaving Twickenham Stoop 40-24 victors.
The Academy coach has stepped up to lead Saints’ defence throughout the PREM Rugby Cup this term, but found his side’s performance in that department lacking in the first half an hour when Northampton fell to a 19-0 deficit.
From there, though, Northampton settled into the match and once they had hit their straps, sent Archie McParland over twice before the break to spark a Saints fightback.
After conceding early in the second half too, it was one-way traffic after that – with Anthony Belleau and Ollie Sleightholme claiming a try apiece before man-of-the-match McParland completed his hat-trick.
The icing on the cake for Saints came in the form of a late penalty try, when the scrum dominance they’d enjoyed all match was rewarded at the death. And for Henry – who works closely with Northampton’s senior hookers alongside his other duties – it was Saints’ resolve to turn their own fortunes around that was most pleasing.
“We started off a bit rusty after a week off and a short training week,” said Henry. “That probably showed in the first half in particular when we got caught out in the backfield.
“We obviously started well with a good bust from Sleights to get us up the pitch and there were a few chances like that.
“The chat in the changing room at half-time was to keep being patient and go through the process.
“We knew those chances would come again and we just needed to make sure we took them.”
And take them they did, with Saints’ six-try victory their first at the Stoop since 2019 and their biggest win there since 2004.
The night was history-making across the park; Saints Under-18s back row Jack Lewis became Saint #2130 as he followed in his father, Mark’s, footsteps in donning a Saints shirt.
The 17-year-old made an instant impact when he entered the game in its 71st minute, carrying hard into contact with his first touch of the ball.
And there were two more debuts at the Stoop, with front row loanee duo Joe Cowell and Ben Alexander also making their bows as Saints.
“Jack Lewis’ first touch in senior rugby was a huge carry,” Henry said of Northampton’s newest debutant. “He's a big lad for 17 years old, he did really well.
“Ben Alexander, Joe Cowell also came off the bench and made a big impact and there was that penalty try at the end there.
“Ben made all his lineouts too and considering he’s a recent convert from the back row, that’s impressive from him.
“Credit to the leadership team on the field at the time because when those boys come on, you need to try to keep things simple and they did that really well.”
Saints hit the road again in Round 9, facing Newcastle Red Bulls away from home in the penultimate pool stage clash of the Cup competition.
Northampton currently sit second in the Pool B standings, with a game in hand on leaders Leicester Tigers, and know that every point counts if they are to realise their knock-out ambitions in the competition.
Henry said: “They’re all opportunities for these lads to play and we want to stay in the PRC as long as we can. We take it a game at a time.
“Newcastle were strong at our place so we'll have a good training week, go up there next Friday night and give it our best.”