Foden: Young Saints ready for Munster test

Ben Foden has revealed that Northampton’s ambitious young England contingent are eager to use the Heineken Cup to forge their reputations.

Saints step into one of Europe’s most foreboding arenas when they face feared double champions Munster in tomorrow's quarter-final showdown at Thomond Park.

Munster are aiming to reach the last four for the ninth time and have been toppled at their Limerick stronghold just once since the competition began 15 years ago.

Making the trip across the Irish Sea even more daunting for Saints is their opponents’ vast experience.

Munster’s squad contains seven survivors from the 2000 final at Twickenham when they were edged 9-8 by Saints, whose solitary connection with that day is assistant coach Paul Grayson.

The odds are stacked against the only Guinness Premiership club still standing in the tournament, yet Foden believes Saints will be driven by the appetite for success of their aspiring England players.

“Munster have a lot of experience there, guys who are used to playing in these big Heineken Cup games,” he said.

“We’re a young side and very few of us have been in this situation before.

“It’s a positive and a negative because while we lack experience we have that intent to play with guys wanting to go out and make a name for themselves.

“Players like Shane Geraghty, Chris Ashton, Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes and Phil Dowson want to stick their hands up and say ’I can play at this level’.

“They all have points to prove. Hopefully they won’t shy away from the stage and put in a big performance.

“One of the great things about the Heineken Cup is that all eyes will be on it, especially as we’re the only English team left.”

Foden has emerged as the most exciting of the coterie of England internationals blossoming at Franklin’s Gardens, winning rave reviews for his dynamic display against France three weeks ago.

In the only start of his four Test caps, he injected imagination and pace into the backline, though he dare not rest on his laurels as he targets a spot on the summer tour to Australia and New Zealand.

“For me personally I know Delon Armitage will be working hard to come back stronger and fitter than ever,” said the 24-year-old.

“I know I can’t sit back and chill out until the summer, I have to work hard.

“England haven’t picked the summer squad yet and Olly Morgan and Nick Abendanon are playing well. There is always someone breathing down your neck.

“I want to be one of the best players in England, if not the world.

“I was comfortable letting the pressure build before France because I’d put that pressure on myself.

“I felt I was ready and that my time to play international rugby had come.

“When the chance came I was lucky enough to put in a good performance and back up my words.”

Saints have already gone some way to dispelling Munster’s aura of invincibility at Thomond Park after losing just 12-9 in the pool stages in January.

Leinster’s one-point victory at the same venue last weekend will also be gnawing at the self-belief of the 2006 and 2008 champions.

“In the pool stages we knew we had to come away with something, one or two points even if it wasn’t the win,” said Foden.

“Now it’s the knockout stages so it’s kill or be killed. It would be massive to reach the semis.

“The club has won the Heineken Cup before but has had a rocky past four years so it would be a great statement for us to come back and win the biggest competition of them all in European rugby.”

Foden lines up in a Saints side that sees Stephen Myler preferred to Shane Geraghty at fly-half, while prop Soane Tonga’uiha – who is at the centre of a bitter contractual dispute between Northampton and Saracens – also starts.

Awaiting the winner is an away semi-final against Biarritz or the Ospreys, who clash in tomorrow’s second match.

Number eight Imanol Harinordoquy hopes some of France’s success in winning the Grand Slam will have a knock-on effect on Biarritz’s season.

“It’s always easier to get back into your club and follow your objectives on the back of winning a Grand Slam,” said Les Bleus back-rower.

“It gives you a winning attitude and your sense of achievement is a formidable motivation for the rest of the season.”