Nine or ten? Northampton Saints can count on me, says Kahn Fotuali’i

Northampton new boy Kahn Fotuali'i admits he will not be the fly-half that Saints fans have craved ever since Carlos Spencer's departure – but that will not stop him lighting up Franklin's Gardens from No.9.
His capture by Northampton has been eclipsed by the arrival of Lions star George North but last season there were few more electric scrum-halves in Europe than the 31-year-old Samoan.
He dazzled for the Ospreys in the Heineken Cup – his performance as captain in January's draw with Leicester Tigers will have the Saints faithful drooling – and his was among the most sought-after signatures this summer.
Saints won the race, and with Alex Corbisiero and North also arriving, they have not spared on expense, although despite Stephen Myler's upturn in form towards the end of last season, many believe they should have broken the bank to capture a world class fly-half in the mould of Spencer.
Fotuali'i has filled in at ten on numerous occasions and pairing him with England scrum-half Lee Dickson appears a possibility.
But while Fotuali'i insists he would never say never, he has warned Dickson it is his shirt he is after. New Zealand-born Fotuali'i, who has nine Samoa caps, said: “I won't be too shy to put my hand up but I'm definitely here to be a nine and maybe cover ten if needs be.
“I like to fill in at ten every now and then but I guess the way the game is going, it's quick ball and it's a lot faster and even though I'm playing nine, sometimes I will step up at first receiver.
“I've got the No.9 on my jersey but I could be in that back line anywhere, it depends on how we want to play the game and how the coaches want to play it.
“I just love playing footie and if players around you are playing well that makes your job a whole lot easier, you can just focus on what you have to do.
“If we get a lot of clarity among the boys then that helps but we all have to take ownership of what we can do on the field.
“If we gel and get the combinations going and all buy into what the coaches want us to do and put 100 per cent into it, it should all come off.”
From scrum-half, Fotuali'i will look to provide the spark that ignites a mouth-watering backline, that features North, Ben Foden, George and Ken Pisi plus England new boy Luther Burrell.
Attack coach Alex King's arrival from Clermont will only heighten the expectation and having locked horns with ex-Scarlet North for the Ospreys, Fotuali'i is relishing having him in his corner.
“We've got some exciting players, big George North has had a wonderful summer with the Lions, he was one of their star players, and there's the likes of George Pisi and you have Luther who is a big boy in the middle,” he added.
“We've got some fast wingers as well, George's brother Ken, Ben Foden as well and Stephen Myler is a smart player, a skilful player, so looking around the squad we have some very good players.
“But first and foremost we have some very good forwards as well to win us some good ball so when it comes down to it we need to get our set-piece right and get the ball for the backs so they can get used to it.
“I've had a few run-ins with George in the past, our two sides were big rivals and he's a big boy to put down so I'm glad he's on my team now, I can just give him the ball and he can give us some go forward.
“It was fairly easy to choose Saints after coming to look around, I had offers from other clubs but I think the hardest decision was leaving Ospreys because I really enjoyed my time there.
“I've always wanted to try a lot of things and challenge myself.
“I had a couple of seasons at the Ospreys and it was an honour but the Aviva Premiership looks pretty tough and I've always wanted to challenge myself in it and see what it's all about.
“English rugby is strong and it's a different style of footie and I wanted to come and learn and seeing how other teams play so that was a big part of my decision.”
GERARD MEAGHER