Saints left to justify Premiership hype

NORTHAMPTON’s return to Limerick in April will also challenge the Saints with preserving English rugby’s self-respect in the Heineken Cup.

The chances of a French finalist in Paris on May 22 have increased greatly, with a four-pronged quarter-final representation their strongest since 1999.

England though are facing the prospect of not providing a semi-finalist for the first time in seven years in what appears to be a reflection on the often poor standard of this season’s Guinness Premiership.