Smith and Mitchell get back in the old routine
The Rugby Paper|December 08, 2024
FIN Smith proved a man for all seasons as he guided Northampton to a comfortable opening win in the Champions Cup and got their show back on the road.
ADAM HATHAWAY
Smith and Mitchell get back in the old routine

The fly-half showed his guile in desperate weather with his varied kicking and passing game as he renewed his half-back partnership with Alex Mitchell.

The pair had not been on the pitch together all season thanks to Mitchell’s neck injury and Smith’s early exit from last weekend’s defeat against Gloucester.

But here they were the major cogs of a win that sets Saints up nicely for what will be a much tougher assignment against the Bulls in Pretoria next weekend.

Half-backs cannot function without a back row and Henry Pollock backed up his recent plaudits with another outstanding display at flanker. He crowned a storming display by crashing through a tired Castres defence after 73 minutes to make it six of the best for Saints.

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