Northampton Saints qualify for the knockouts of the Champions Cup for the first time since 2016 with a 61-14 demolition of Aviron Bayonnais at the cinch stadium at Franklins Gardens on Friday night, writes James Logan.
The home faithful were treated to 11 tries with 9 of those coming for those in Green, Black and Gold making sure the Saints would stay top of Pool 3.
The Saints also made it eight wins in a row in all competitions which has been an informality of their recent past as director of rugby Phil Dowson is aware.
He said: “I think we have a group of lads that have been together through some tough experiences in the past.
“But it is looking like we are turning a corner and they’re taking ownership of the game plan and how they want to play and what they want to achieve.
“I think that’s powerful in terms of the group, who are very, very tight.
“I’m conscious we’ve won absolutely nothing, but we’ve put a run of games together when previously our main criticism was our consistency.”
Unlike their disappointing first 40 at Sandy Park last weekend, the Saints made no mistakes in making a quick start at the Gardens.
Tries from winger Tommy Freeman and flanker Tom Pearson put the home side 21-0 up just 20 minutes into the game, both trying to cement their names in the hat for England’s selection for the Six Nations next Wednesday.
Northampton would complete a half-hour bonus point as fan favourite Courtney Lawes latched onto the end of a lovely Fin Smith pass to find the gap and go over to score.
It would be a disappointing opening 40 for the travelling fans and that wouldn’t get any better as prop Tevita Tatafu would be yellow-carded following a high tackle on Sam Graham.
The home side would capitalise on the one-man advantage with both Curtis Langdon and Alex Waller adding tries just before the half-time break to extend the lead to 42.
The Saints would continue the second half in equally fast fashion, Tom Pearson charging down the left-hand touchline to secure his hat-trick, one of several players in Saints colours who will be wanting to play themselves into a Six Nations squad.
Alex Waller took the home side past the half-century mark moments later going over from close range to add his second of the game and the Saint’s 8th try of the evening.
The visitors would eventually show what their about with a quick-fire double, winger Tom Spring and fullback Aurelien Florian Callandret both scoring to give the travelling support something to cheer about in the Midlands.
Although that wouldn’t come before replacement Tom James put the cherry on top of the cake with the Saint’s 9th and final try of the context.
Man of the match Tommy Freeman was influential throughout the game scoring as well as setting up tries and with the Six Nations around the corner this upturn in form couldn’t have come at a better time.
He said: “It’s always better when we are winning and winning as a team and we’re enjoying it.
“We’re putting our game on the pitch, and we are benefiting from it.”
With Steve Borthwick announcing his England squad on Wednesday, Freeman said he would love another shot at representing his country.
Freeman said: “I think my mindset going into Australia and previous camps was just to take it as it came.
“I felt like I was very young and had it all coming my way.
“Whereas now I think it’s not about just taking your chances but about staying within the mix and staying in the international frame.
“You don’t want to be just sitting on the fringes, which I felt like I was last time, I kind of want to stay right in the thick of it and hopefully stay.”
This win for Saints guaranteed them a place in this season’s Investec Champions Cup round of 16 for the first time in eight years.
With a further chance to have a home round of 16 ties confirmed if other results in pool 3 go their way this weekend.
