Mallinder: Saints full of belief

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS’ director of rugby Jim Mallinder says his side will take a lot of belief from their performance in Friday’s narrow defeat at Munster as they face up to another trip to Limerick for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.

Munster won an enthralling game 12-9 to top Pool Six, but the losing bonus point proved crucial as Saints crept into the last eight as the final qualifiers, edging out Guinness Premiership rivals London Irish.

With Munster finishing as top seeds, Saints will return to fortress Thomond Park in early April, but Mallinder is preaching caution ahead of what will be another night of classic rugby.