Courtney Lawes ensured there was no winning farewell for Bath head coach Tabai Matson by inspiring Northampton to their second home win inside a week.
Lawes, captaining Northampton in the absence of the injured Dylan Hartley, led by splendid example, rampaging around the pitch on the blindside flank and scoring the first of their four tries.
“Courtney has been really good for us. He leads by example. He doesn’t say too much but what he says is very relevant and precise,” said Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder.
“Every single impact he does something positive whether it’s his carries or his defence or getting his timing right on opposition tens.
“I’m delighted with the way he is playing and the way he led the side in the absence of Dylan.”
Northampton were unrecognisable from the side humiliated by Saracens at Twickenham two weeks ago with the criticism that followed stinging Mallinder and his players.
“It hurt. You remember what people say, certainly you read what people say and it hurts, it really hurts. It hurts the team and we needed a reaction. We got that last week and we have continued in that vein,” he said
“I think we have shown that when we get it right we are a difficult team to beat. We have still got little things we need to work on but winning at home is very very important.”
Northampton’s bonus point delighted Mallinder but the key to this win was their outstanding defence which nullified the threat of Bath’s in-form backs and denied Matson, who is returning to New Zealand for family reasons, victory in his final match.
“I have to give credit to Northampton. I thought they were outstanding, especially at the set piece” said Todd Blackadder, Bath’s director of rugby.
“In the first half we put them under a lot of pressure by keeping them in their half and try to force the mistakes but we weren’t able to capitalise.
“In the second half they kept the pressure on our line out, they did a really good job there and kept beating us round the corners. They played to their strengths and we weren’t good enough tonight.”
Blackadder may have had no complaints about the result but he was unhappy that Bath were not allowed a replacement when Sam Underhill was concussed 12 minutes from time. Had Underhill, who made 23 tackles in an encouraging debut, required a head injury assessment, Bath would have been able to replace him.
“It’s a funny old law when you can’t replace someone because they are knocked out,” he said.
Underhill’s departure and an injury to Anthony Watson, who hobbled through most of the match with his right leg swaddled in strapping, hindered Bath but Northampton were good value for their win.
They were clinical at the line out from which they scored first half tries through Lawes and David Ribbans and relentless in the second half when Ribbans crashed over and George North secured the bonus point.
Try, George North! Northampton 24-6 Bath, 75 minutes
Bonus point for Saints! They deserve it. The ball is slipped along the line after the forwards get close and George North gets over from Mallinder's pass. Mallinder then adds two more. This is amusing.
George North just smiled in a Saints shirt. Truly we are living in the future.
— Blood & Mud (@bloodandmud) September 15, 2017
Northampton 17-6 Bath, 69 minutes
Bath will play the rest of this game with 14 due to Underhill's injury. Saints win a penalty from the ensuing scrum and go to the corner in search of a bonus point. Mallinder grubbers through and Northampton think they have a try but the ball has spilled forward. Scrum to Bath.
Northampton 17-6 Bath, 63 minutes
61' | REP - Burns for Banahan & Ewels returns to replace Stooke.
— Bath Rugby (@bathrugby) September 15, 2017
It's getting a little bit frantic. Freddie Burns drops a high ball with his first touch but then Bath win a penalty and Allinson taps and goes.
Waterboy
Dylan Hartley has been running water on for his teammates and generally keeping a buzz about the hosts.
Really good to see injured captain Dylan Hartley doing his bit from the sidelines tonight. He goes on to chat to the team during a break.
— Tom Vickers (@WheresTommyV) September 15, 2017
Great shot
😍 Those #FridayNightLights✨ pic.twitter.com/uHfzixHbFB
— Northampton Saints (@SaintsRugby) September 15, 2017
Summary
Sam Underhill is impressing everyone, but the hosts lead.
Some match developing @ FG @btsportrugby. Saints w bulk of possession & 2T, Bath squeezing scrum & Underhill destroying players in tackle
— Alastair Eykyn (@alastaireykyn) September 15, 2017
Northampton 5-0 Bath, 24 minutes
Bit of a scrappy period, so feast your eyes on Saints' try.
Saints pick up where they left off!@pato_mjsp round-the-back pass + Tom Collins offload = @Courtney_Lawes try 😎 pic.twitter.com/TgetQJ4l2r
— BT Sport Rugby (@btsportrugby) September 15, 2017
Two stand-outs so far
Sam Underhill has started brilliantly for Bath. England coaching team in the crowd, they will have also been v.impressed by Lawes
— Tom Hamilton (@tomESPNscrum) September 15, 2017
All the emojis
Tom Collins has serious pace 🔥🔥
— Simo (@ChrisSimo17) September 15, 2017
Try, Courtney Lawes! Northampton 5-0 Bath, 4 minutes
Tom Collins is in sizzling form. Saints go to midfield from the lineout and then bounce back to the blindside. Collins drags in two defenders and flips an offload to Lawes, who stretches over close to the left touchline. Harry Mallinder's conversion is missed.
Reaction
A reminder of what Luther Burrell said about Saints' performance against Tigers.
This quote is fantastic:
“When you come in on Monday morning and your coaches are fuming with you and calling you soft, ultimately as a player you have got to react”
No changes
As you were for the teams. No late changes.
The teams for tonight's game between @SaintsRugby v @bathrugby. pic.twitter.com/dIPhtiMa6z
— Bath Rugby (@bathrugby) September 15, 2017
Stand-in skipper
And from the back row as well. Courtney Lawes is in outstanding form.
— Northampton Saints (@SaintsRugby) September 15, 2017
Stat attack
Emma is well worth a follow for these nuggets.
📊 Bath’s victory at Welford Road in Round 1 ended a seven game losing streak on the road in @PremRugby. Another W away from home tonight?
— Emma Thurston (@EmmaThurston23) September 15, 2017
For me, Bath seem far more steely this season.
Matt Banahan
Bath's left wing has been in outstanding form. According to him, the pitch feels fantastic as well.
There is a word on the exit of head coach Tabai Matson as well.
"He's left a massive mark on our squad, especially our backs. He's given people confidence to play. He'll be sorely missed, but he's left something that hopefully we can carry on for the rest of the season."
Pre-match insight
Telegraph columnist Austin Healey and the rest of the BT Sport team look forwards to the game here. You can check out the conditions in the East Midlands too. They look perfect.
We're at Franklin's Gardens for Northampton vs. Bath! Which Saints side will turn up tonight... https://t.co/mJFSyl4BEa
— BT Sport Rugby (@btsportrugby) September 15, 2017
Brain Moore
In beating Leicester, Northampton bounced back from an abject first half and a comprehensive thrashing on the opening weekend of the season. That performance was the subject of Brian Moore's column this week.
Sam Underhill
This quick video, courtesy of the in-house media team at Bath, offers a bit of insight into the measured man Sam Underhill is. Even at the tender of 21, the openside appears considered and articulate.
🎥 BRTV chat to @SGUnderhill ahead of his debut against @SaintsRugby tonight at Franklin's Gardens pic.twitter.com/PLKbuSPe77
— Bath Rugby (@bathrugby) September 15, 2017
Analysis
Earlier this week, we took a closer look at Bath's defence. It's been desperate - in a good way - and there have been plenty of excellent decisions under pressure.
Team news
Jim Mallinder has been forced into a re-jig of his pack, with England skipper Dylan Hartley missing out due to a hand injury. His match-day 23 looks like this:
Northampton: 15. Ahsee Tuala, 14.George North, 13. Rob Horne, 12. Luther Burrell, 11. Tom Collins, 10. Harry Mallinder, 9. Nic Groom; 1. Alex Waller, 2. Mikey Haywood, 3. Paul Hill, 4. Michael Paterson, 5. David Ribbans, 6. Courtney Lawes, (captain), 7. Jamie Gibson, 8. Teimana Harrison
Replacements: 16. Reece Marshall, 17. Campese Ma’afu, 18. Kieran Brookes, 19. Christian Day, 20. Lewis Ludlam, 21. Cobus Reinach, 22. James Grayson, 23. Ben Foden
Todd Blackadder has made a few changes up front as well. Note Luke Charteris is absent from the engine room. That could be a big loss.
Bath: 15. Anthony Watson, 14. Semesa Rokoduguni, 13. Jonathan Joseph, 12. Ben Tapuai, 11. Matt Banahan, 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Kahn Fotuali’i; 1. Beno Obano, 2. Tom Dunn, 3. Anthony Perenise, 4. Charlie Ewels, 5. Elliott Stooke, 6. Matt Garvey (captain), 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: 16. Jack Walker, 17. Nick Auterac, 18. Scott Andrews, 19. James Phillips, 20. Paul Grant, 21. Darren Allinson, 22. Freddie Burns, 23. Max Clark
Hello
Hi there and welcome to our coverage of the third round of Premiership action. We're starting at Franklin's Gardens for what is probably the tie of the weekend.
The hosts arrive here tonight on the back of a comprehensive victory over Leicester Tigers in a one-sided East Midlands derby. Meanwhile, Bath knocked off the European champions last week.