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.

Only Northampton, the eighth seeds as second-best runner-up, and Gloucester finished second in their groups.

Three more – London Irish, Sale Sharks and Leicester – took third placings, while Bath and Harlequins finished last in their respective pools with only one win between them.

It is a dismal collective performance, and does not augur well for England ahead of this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship, which starts in just 13 days’ time.

“We will learn loads,” said Saints’ New Zealand wing Bruce Reihana, reflecting on last Friday night’s 12-9 loss to Munster.

“We didn’t control the ball very well or get momentum, which was down to a few mistakes. With the opportunity in the quarter-finals we will try to put those lessons into action.”

Northampton rugby director Jim Mallinder added: “I think the experience of playing somewhere like Thomond Park will benefit our players enormously. It was one of those games that was tight, and on another day we would have won.”

The Ospreys’ clash against Biarritz – likely to be staged at Estadio Anoeta across the Spanish border in San Sebastian – represents a third successive quarter-final appearance for the star-studded Welsh region.

Their previous two appearances ended in failure, beaten by Saracens and then destroyed by Munster last season.

But after emerging from a fiendishly-difficult pool, qualifying with Clermont at twice European champions Leicester’s expense, they have reason to be confident.

There is also the added incentive of a semi-final in Wales against Saints or Munster, should the Ospreys defeat 2006 runners-up Biarritz.

“I thought there were three possible winners in our pool, so it really was the pool of death,” said Ospreys coaching director Scott Johnson.

“We feel pretty good that we got through. I feel the tournament is poorer for Leicester being out, but that makes life a little easier for those still in, knowing that they don’t have to face them.

“The Ospreys are only seven years old, yet we get questioned about mental resolve. I find that funny.

“You can look at Munster and Leinster with all their history, who get spoken about for their mental resolve and whatever, and it wasn’t that many years ago that people were saying the same thing about them.

“They are both wonderful teams who have achieved a hell of a lot, but we aren’t up there yet.

“We are a young region, still growing, with a lot of young players, local boys. A result like yesterday’s can really kick us on, endear us to the local public and help to build a really big support that can take the region forward.”