It would mean the Saints winning at Saracens in the semi-final having booked their place in the top four in the penultimate round with a 66-5 victory in Newcastle, two days before the only team that could have pipped them, London Irish, slumped at Sarries.
Northampton sit out the final round of the regular season next weekend knowing that they cannot be overhauled in fourth despite having the worst defensive record in the Premiership this season having conceded 86 tries – but they have also scored the most, 84, eight more than Harlequins.
Northampton’s recent record against Saracens is poor with two victories in the last 12 Premiership matches, including this month’s 38-29 success against a largely second strong side which had Duncan Taylor sent off after eight minutes, but they won there in the 2013 semi-final and defeated Sarries in the final the following year.
“This is the most competitive league in the world and everyone can beat everyone,” said second row Moon who has been an ever-present in Northampton’s league match-day squad this season, starting 17 of their 21 matches, including the scratched victory over Wasps.
“The table has been very close. When we played Gloucester a couple of months ago they were above us in the table but now they are one off the bottom. One of our issues this season has been our away form: before Newcastle, we had only won at Leicester and it has not been like us historically.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 30, 2023 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 30, 2023 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
