WE WONDERED if Northampton Saints, in the aftermath of their season of glory last time out and their Aviva Premiership title, might suffer from second-season syndrome. On Friday evening, in front of a buzzing Franklin’s Gardens, we found that they have — providing that the definition of the syndrome is that they use the title to get a whole lot better.
The blast of publicity and comments was the best launch imaginable, sounding an alert the whole division will need to take seriously. Wasps lie in Northampton’s path at Adams Park next Sunday and if there is ever a goad for Wasps to galvanise themselves, it will be then.
The blitz of regal tries against Gloucester, led by a resounding George North hat-trick and including eight mini-spectaculars, offered early encouragement to those of us who have already tipped the Saints to retain the title.
The first match of any season tends to be fitful as teams come under real pressure for the first time but, seemingly, Northampton’s shape and system and their accuracy and confidence are already at a peak. Their range of options in attack and choice of when to use them are vast.
The vibrancy of the team seemed to come especially from George Pisi and Luther Burrell in midfield. Both men are bursting with ideas and athleticism and both can be over-optimistic with their passing and options. As Burrell has found, national selectors love you to have a fairly basic and solid game underpinning everything. If he can eradicate the odd excesses and carelessness, he is for me the one midfield banker in England’s squad. Pisi and Ken, his brother, can cause havoc for Samoa in the World Cup.
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The other notable feature of this Saints squad is the profound depth. Among the really startling players on Friday were James Wilson at full-back, Christian Day up front and Jon Fisher, the new No 8. Day, for me, is of Test class in the second row.
Yet none is guaranteed a place in the starting team. When you add the two emerging Waller brothers in reserve up front, you have a squad quite capable of negotiating those periods when Northampton’s enormous international contingent is either away or applying salve to its bruises.
Jim Mallinder, the director of rugby, is not demonstrative and in public at least has been pouring cold water on boundless optimism. But he and his coaching team are moving through the gears with alacrity. We must expect the prediction machine to link them with national duty sooner rather than later.
Naturally, Gloucester fans were dreaming of a ferocious performance. The omens were always against, something that was brought home when the camera panned across their bench of coaches. There we saw David Humphreys, Laurie Fisher, Nick Walshe and John Muggleton, all from different backgrounds and cultures. Some contact between Fisher and Muggleton apart, the rest were strangers to each other until recently.
The heart was there and it will be delightful to see how James Hook copes. He certainly has the talent and application, but for Gloucester to contend will need an outstanding feat of coaching.
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There was enough food for thought on Friday for a banquet, though it is too early to make conclusions in a long season. Let’s say, for now, that Northampton are unlikely to be enmeshed in the battle to avoid relegation.