Preview – Northampton Saints 2021/22
Northampton Saints Depth Chart 2021/22
“I’ll just try my best to be physical because I think that’s the reason Saints signed me. I’ll try to both give momentum and stop momentum.”
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@NickRPrice @BBCSportNhants @BBCSounds @SaintsRugby @BBCNorthampton @GrahamMcKechnie He had Graham on toast 😉 -
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@BodyGros @UsmSapiacRugby @GlasgowWarriors @SaintsRugby Ce fut difficile 🤣, il y a des saison parfois plus compliqu… https://t.co/kFyyz6lntu
Season Expectation: 7th
Key Signings: Juarno Augustus, Frank Lomani, Courntall Skosan
Northampton Saints experienced a mixed bag in the 2020/2021 season, finishing 5th in the league and reaching the Champions Cup quarter finals would be a successful season for many premiership clubs but it feels like Northampton underachieved especially with the level of talent in their squad. Northampton have identified that they have not performed to their potential over the last few seasons with David Ribbans claiming the squad has “had some pretty harsh conversations as a team about how we ended last year”. A big fault of last season for the Saints was the inability to close out games, Northampton lost five fixtures last season by one score or less. If Chris Boyd is able to get this squad to win tight contests, they can be a big threat in the league. So, the question this season is how do Northampton improve their squad to become serious title contenders?
Firstly, Northampton has retained the core of their squad. Only loosehead prop Francois Van Wyk (Leicester Tigers) along with utility back Harry Mallinder (Black Rams Tokyo) are the two main losses in the offseason. Together with keeping their key players at Franklin's Garden for the upcoming season Northampton have brought in three new members into the squad, all of whom join from the southern hemisphere. Juarno Augustus (DHL Stormers), Frank Lomani (Melbourne Rebels) and Courtnall Skosan (Sigma Lions) all look to help the Saints fight their way into a playoff spot. Lomani and Skosan join a backline already littered with internationals, both adding quality depth to a backline likely to lose players during the international windows.
Many premiership fans won’t have seen Juarno Augustus play but trust me when they do, they won’t forget it. The 23-year-old first burst on the scene during the 2017 Under 20s World Rugby Championship in which he won player of the tournament. The 6”2, 116kg powerful Number 8 will bring raw explosiveness into an experienced Saints pack. Augustus clearly understands his new role at the club, saying: “I’ll just try my best to be physical because I think that’s the reason Saints signed me. I’ll try to both give momentum and stop momentum”. Put simply, Juarno Augustus is a very large human who loves a collision, he has the potential to be the signing of the season and help Saints contend for the coveted top four.
This squad has a great blend of youth and experience, the talent to fight their way into the top four this season is there and if Chris Boyd and his staff can get the Saints turning tight losses into wins, then they can be the team that challenges the likes of Exeter, Bristol and Saracens right at the top of the table.