Ramm: Hard work on Saints’ defence paying off

Winger James Ramm feels he is now fully in his stride after playing a starring role in Northampton Saints’ comprehensive 46-17 victory over Harlequins on New Year’s Day.

The 24-year-old Australian scored two of Saints’ six tries at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, as the men in Black, Green and Gold produced what was unquestionably their best performance of the season so far.

An injury sustained during preseason meant Ramm had to wait to get his Saints career started following his move to England from the Waratahs during the summer.

Having bedded himself in during the Club’s Premiership Rugby Cup games, Ramm became a first-team regular from November and now has a record of six tries in nine appearances this season.

Following Saints’ brilliant start to 2023, Ramm said: “As a player, I need a bit of continuity. I have had a couple of seasons interrupted with injury and [because of them] I couldn’t get that flow on.

“But when I’m enjoying my rugby, I’m playing my best, and I definitely enjoyed it on New Year’s Day.”

While attention will go to Saints’ clinical attack, which clicked into gear with great effect, after such a superb result, Ramm is keen for praise to go to their defence as well.

Allowing opponents to penetrate their line too easily has contributed towards Northampton struggling to consistently pick up results so far this season, but any leaks were plugged on Sunday as Phil Dowson’s side excelled when not in possession against one of the Gallagher Premiership’s most dangerous sides.

“We put a massive focus this week, and this block, on our defence,” Ramm said.

“I think everyone who watches Saints knows that attacking flair is such a big part of our game, but this block has really been about our defence.

“It’s good to see that when we put our focus on something, and when we’re really able to highlight what we need to do, we can go out there and put it on the field.”

There were plenty of Saints players for broadcasters BT Sport to choose from when it came to the man-of-the-match award, but it was centre Fraser Dingwall who received the award.

Although he did not get on the scoresheet himself, the 23-year-old was the fulcrum of many of his side’s most dangerous attacks in what was their first win in four matches in all competitions.

It was his hard work in midfield that went a long way towards Alex Waller, Ramm, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, George Furbank and Rory Hutchinson getting the glory of crossing the whitewash.

Dingwall said: “Throughout this season we’ve been frustrated, largely because we haven’t been able to put in an 80-minute performance and that’s probably the closest we’ve been able to come to it yet.

“There are still patches in there [we’d like to improve] – we’re still trying to keep teams out for longer – but overall, we’re really, really pleased with that performance.

“Probably the biggest thing was staying in the moment for as long as we can.

“In previous games, we’ve had good periods and then switched off – and against a team like Quins, who can go from anywhere, it was a real message that we drove through the previous week.

“Staying alert throughout that full 80 was something that was driven, and I think we delivered on that.”