Northampton target Leinster double

Northampton Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder has challenged his side to do the double over Leinster this season.

The Aviva Premiership club get their Champions Cup campaign under way at home to Montpellier on Saturday, with Leinster facing Castres in the same pool.

But Mallinder has already earmarked the meetings with the Irish province as critical to his side’s prospects. The sides last met in the 2013 campaign when Saints were thumped 7-40 at home before pulling off a shock 18-9 victory in Dublin just seven days later.

That loss cost Northampton top spot in their pool and they dropped into the Challenge Cup.

This season, Saints again host Leinster in December before travelling to Dublin the following week.

And, with qualification for the quarter-finals as tough as ever, Mallinder wants a Leinster double.

“I think that is going to be a cracking back-to-back double-header,” said Mallinder.

“Last time we played them we lost at home, but we went away the following week and won, so we will be looking to get a double over them this year.

“They have made a lot of changes, but they are always a good European team. I think they have got that history of enjoying Europe, a little bit like ourselves.”

However, Mallinder also warned that Castres and Montpellier will also threaten, even if they don’t possess rich European pedigrees.

“I think certain teams don’t get much credit. I think Castres are one of those really,” said Mallinder.

“Everyone thinks if you play a Toulon or a Stade they are a lot better than a team like Castres, and that is actually not the case.

“We have learned over the last few years they are a very dominant force in France.

“They are particularly difficult to beat,” he added.