Alex Waller: I’m fortunate to have played in so many derbies

There are few players out there with more experience of the East Midlands derby than Northampton Saints prop, Alex Waller. So, it was understandable that the long-serving Saintsman admitted to being impacted by the enormity of participating in what is likely to be his last.

Waller’s first taste of tackling Tigers came on December 2011, when the then 21-year-old replaced Soane Tonga’uiha at a sold-out Welford Road.

Fast forward 14 years and following his recent announcement that he is to retire at the end of the current campaign, Waller was afforded the privilege of leading the men in Black, Green and Gold out on Saturday at a bustling cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

With Tigers’ play-off hopes dented by their 40-17 defeat, it is likely to be the loosehead’s 28th and final outing against the noisy neighbours.

“There was a point just before the game when I ran out with my kids and it sort of hit me a little bit, but I had to get around that and get my head in the game,” said Waller, who made his 374th appearance on Saturday afternoon.

Waller left the field to rapturous applause along with fellow starting front-rowers Curtis Langdon and Elliot Millar Mills approaching the hour mark as Saints led by a point. Solomone Kata’s red card for Tigers came shortly after as the floodgates opened with Saints adding 22 unanswered points.

“In the opening ten minutes of the second half we put our game on them and turned the tide which was very impressive,” added Waller. “If we had done that from the start it would have been a little easier!

“Not underestimating Leicester or taking anything away from them, I just felt we had turned a corner at the start of the second half especially with how our set piece and scrum was operating, we were pretty confident that we could set a platform and carry on going. 

“The confidence in the squad over the last few years has been the difference, the skills have been there and the talent within the group and the belief to come back from tight games or pull away in games is the difference this year and long may it continue.”

The big matches keep coming for Saints as they travel to Twickenham this weekend to face Harlequins in the Big Summer Kick off  and a win could see Dowson’s side cement themselves a home semi-final in the Gallagher Premiership with two games left to play.

“Playing Quins is always fun especially at Twickenham,” said Waller. “It is a massive occasion and it will be a great atmosphere. Everyone loves playing at Twickenham, it is a great pitch and hopefully we can spoil the party a little bit.”