Forwards coach Dorian West says he’s been pleased with the honesty at Franklin’s Gardens during the week.
The Saints came home from the Madejski Stadium with a losing bonus point, scant consolation for a game the team had led going into the final few minutes. And West says that there has been no lack of effort in their preparations for Friday’s Aviva Premiership clash with Exeter.
“We’ve had a good honest week,” he told SaintsTV. “There have been things across the board for players and coaches to be getting better at. Everyone’s worked hard and been open with each other, and we’ve been really pleased with training.”
With the other results in the Aviva Premiership last weekend the Saints sit fifth before hosting Exeter at Franklin’s Gardens. Unlike in previous years, the turn of the year coincides with Round 7, and with two-thirds of the campaign still to come West insists that the Saints are still in contention.
“We have no divine right to be in the top two or top four,” he added. “You’ve got to work hard and earn your position. We’ve not played as well as we can, we know that, and we’ve been poor in some areas.
“But we’re fifth in the league and are still in contention in Europe. It’s easy for people to get carried away and perhaps we’re victims of our own success over the past few years where we’ve been consistently towards the top of the league.
“There are a lot of good sides in this league. There’s a salary cap which we all work within. And we’re work hard to be where we can be and to be the strongest we can be each week. But nothing’s easy.”
The full interview can be seen at www.youtube.com/TheSaintsTV
