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| Saints' Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder |
| Mallinder braced for tough final |
| 9 April 2008, 10:08 am |
| By Jonathan McConnell |
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| Northampton Saints' director of rugby Jim Mallinder is braced from another tough test from Exeter Chiefs as they attempted to complete a league and cup double by lifting the EDF Energy National Trophy at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday April 12 (12 noon). |
Northampton wrapped up the National One title when they beat Exeter, their nearest challengers, at a packed Franklin's Gardens two-and-a-half weeks ago.
But Exeter pushed Northampton hard, just as they did when they met at Sandy Park earlier in the season, and Mallinder has warned his players that they will have to work hard if they are to make it a hat-trick of wins.
“It’s an exciting match for both teams. Any Twickenham final is," Mallinder said. "We’ve had two very tough and physical battles with the Chiefs this season and they have been very tough opponents.
"Although we’ve won both games they have been very tight and we haven’t been able to pull away. I’m expecting no different on Saturday.
"They showed their resilience on Sunday when they came back to nearly pinch the match away at Nottingham. The Fatialofa brothers run hard, wings Jason Luff and Josh Drauniniu are both excellent finishers and the Chiefs’ pack is one of the best around.
" They have pushed us hard all season and it is good for the competition to have the league’s top two clubs battling it out in the final.
"It is a good occasion for the club and especially the supporters. They have been following us all over the country this season in their hundreds and it will be superb to see them in their thousands at Twickenham.”
Northampton are likely to be without wing Chris Ashton, their record-breaking try-scorer, for the final. Ashton, who has scored a National One record 33 tries since he switched codes from Wigan Warriors last summer, missed last weekend's win at Coventry because of an ankle injury.
“His ankle has not been 100 per cent right, so we are going to have to wait and see this week and see how he goes,” Mallinder said.
Northampton, who have swelled attendances wherever they have played on their remorseless march back to the Guinness Premiership this season, should again be good box office on Saturday. They expect around 15,000 Saints supporters to make the trip to Twickenham for the club’s first cup final since 2003. Around 50 coaches will be making the trip down the M1 in convoy.
Captain Bruce Reihana, Tom Smith, Matt Lord, Darren Fox and Johnny Howard remain at the club from the side beaten by Gloucester in what is now the EDF Energy Cup in 2003.
Paul Grayson and Grant Seely, who were also in that squad, are both on the Saints’ coaching staff, Grayson as assistant to Mallinder and Seely as an Academy coach. |
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