Saints’ character highlighted by Dowson after Bath win

Northampton Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson highlighted the character of his side after they held on to claim victory for a second consecutive week.

Just as they did against Newcastle Falcons, the men in Black, Green and Gold were forced to defend a narrow lead against Bath in the closing minutes, but came up with a crucial turnover through Sam Graham ­– following in the footsteps of Tom James’ breakdown burgle at Kingston Park in Round 3.

“My nerves were fairly frayed, although not quite as frayed as Sam Vesty’s!” said Dowson. “We probably made it a little bit difficult for ourselves. But we managed to pull through with some great defence and I thought we showed great character to do that.”

Focusing on Saints’ defensive improvements, Dowson added: “I definitely thought we saw signs of it in the Premiership Rugby Cup – seeing the engagement in what we’re trying to do in defence. We’ve seen it in every game bar the Bristol one where I think we went away from it, we weren’t what we necessarily aspire to be. 

Another key element to the 24-18 win at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens was the performance at scrum-time, earning crucial penalties that helped keep Bath at an arm’s length.

“We were frustrated last week with the scrummaging performance,” said Dowson. “Rightly or wrongly, lots and lots of decisions happen at scrum time. This week we’ve gone pretty hard at it, without Trevor Davison who is unfortunately ill.

“Paul Hill has been very, very frustrated but I thought he came in with a brilliant attitude and tremendous energy, which he always brings. I thought that was exactly the kind of statement he would want to make in a game like that to show what he’s about.”

Lewis Ludlam made a welcome return to the starting line-up upon his arrival back from the Rugby World Cup, and Dowson added that it was his captain’s decision to pull on Club colours ahead of schedule.

He said: “I offered Luds the week off he said no, I want to come back and play, I am desperate for a game. He is going to get some time off very soon.

“Courts [Courtney Lawes] will be back soon, Mitch [Alex Mitchell] turned up to watch the Bath game and have a few drinks with the lads afterwards. He is back in the environment next week, again we will make sure we manage it because this block now to February is relentless.

“So trying to manage those lads from what was an intense World Cup campaign both from a physical and a mental point of view, it’s a juggling act. Sam Matavesi came back in last week, they’ve slotted straight back in.

Among the players who have taken their opportunity while the internationals have been away includes scrum-half James, who has started every Gallagher Premiership game so far this season. Against Bath, he produced a sublime pass for Tom Pearson’s try before wriggling free to offload to Alex Coles for Saints’ second try of the afternoon.

“TJ is quite a quiet bloke but he’s very tough,” said Dowson. “A farmer’s son, he doesn’t take many backward steps. I’ll be absolutely honest, there’s been a couple of opportunities where he has caught the ball and he’s been in contact, and he has tried to get the offload away.

“We’ve said ‘TJ, you’re actually really athletic, just look after the ball in that space, let’s just keep it simple in that area’. He did it against Bath and got the ball away to Colesy. TJ is someone who is very, very coachable, he’s quiet and unassuming but he’s tough.”

Another key performer was Angus Scott-Young, who like James, has started all of Saints’ Premiership games so far this season.

“Gus is coming into his own,’’ said Dowson. “I would describe him as a tough fella, he is unrelenting. We talk about one of his fortes being that he is very good in the maul D.

“His ability on that corner to control where Beno Obano is coming into that maul space, particularly in the first half, I thought he got into that space very well. He is someone who epitomises what we’re looking for in terms of our players.”