Robbie Smith explained that Northampton Saints are full of motivation heading into this weekend’s final league home game of the season, when Gloucester Rugby head to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
Saints head into Saturday’s Round 17 clash top of the Gallagher PREM table with a spot in the play-offs already secured, after a record-breaking 94-33 win over Bristol Bears last time out.
Before that result, Northampton’s previous highest-scoring match in the league came against Saturday’s opposition – with the 90-0 result coming in Saints’ final home match of the regular season, just a few weeks before they would go on to lift the PREM trophy.
Another win against the Cherry and Whites this time around would put Northampton in prime position to seal a home tie in the knock-outs, and that is providing the men in Black, Green and Gold with the ultimately motivation says Smith.
“We spoke about making sure this isn’t the last home game for those guys who are moving on after this season,” Smith explained. “There’s massive motivation for getting a win this weekend.
This season has been one to remember for the hooker. A serious knee injury against Sale Sharks in October 2024 sidelined him for the rest of the season, requiring three separate surgeries to get him back to full fitness.
Cruelly, the setback also came just a few months after he had made his senior Test debut for Scotland off the bench against Canada, before earning a second cap against the USA a week later. However, after making his return, he’s now played 21 times in a Saints shirt this season and is relishing his time back on the pitch.
“I’ve loved getting back with the boys,” Smith continued.
“I feel confident in my knee, and I’ve managed to get a bit of game time, probably more than I expected at the start. I feel like I’m back to where I was before the injury, which is all I could ask before this season started.
“I’ve played 21 games now, and if you’d told me when I was injured that I’d do that in my first season back, I’d have bitten your hand off.
“Getting back in the mix and confident in how I’m playing again is massive for me. I’m just loving playing rugby at the moment.
“I knew it would take time, and it wouldn’t happen overnight. I’m buzzing with that, and I want to continue into the play-offs.”