James Ramm believes Northampton's exploits in the Champions Cup will boost their bid to not only make the Premiership play-offs again but secure a home draw.
Leaders Saints return to league action next weekend when East Midlands rivals Leicester visit Franklin's Gardens, a ground where they have not lost in the Premiership since 2019.
Northampton went into last night's home Champions Cup quarter-final clash with the Bulls having won all five of their matches in the tournament this season, a run that included victories at Glasgow and Munster, a tense tussle with Toulon at Franklin's Gardens and a second victory over Munster last week in the last 16.
“Our form in the Champions Cup reflected all the hard work going on behind the scenes,” said Ramm, who is equally at home on the wing as he is at full-back. “Before this season, we struggled in Europe, hanging our hat on our attacking approach.
“We now have an all-court game, maintaining our identity and flair while improving other aspects. Our defence has come on leaps and bounds and we kick the ball a fair bit, something you do not associate with us because of our attacking image.
“We have kept what we are good at and worked hard on areas that needed attention. The start against Munster last week was an important part of the game. They came at us and we showed that we were up for the fight and were not going anywhere. It paid off in the last 20 minutes.
“We have to take this on to the Premiership stage and doing well against class teams has gives us confidence in our game, our identity and what we are striving for this season.”
Ramm missed four months of the campaign after suffering a knee injury during the victory over Harlequins in November. He profited from the Premiership game and returned against Bristol when the league resumed.
“That evening was a shock because I had only played a few minutes in a warm-up game,” said the 25-year old Ramm who joined Northampton from the Waratahs two years ago. “Training is one thing but you need to be up to match intensity to execute your skills at speed.
“It always takes a couple of games to get back up to speed when you have been out for a long period,” added Ramm who scored two tries in the 41-30 victory over Saracens last month and another against Munster last week.
“When you know you will be out injured for a while you reflect on things that's will get you through it. You have to be positive during a period that can be a grind and the reward is when you play in a game like Munster. The atmosphere was incredible, something I had never experienced before, and there was the prospect of doing it again against the Bulls.
“The tough times are worth it when you get games like Munster. They are what you dreamt of sitting at home as a boy and thinking of playing rugby when you get older.”
The competition for places in Northampton's back three is intense when everyone is fit. George Furbank missed the Munster game through injury but was on the bench last night, while Ramm, George Hendy, scorer of two winning tries against Munster, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Sleightholme and Tom Seabrook are jockeying for the wing positions.
“When you play in a team like Northampton there is not a massive difference between wing and full-back,” said Ramm.
“We work as a unit and the emphasis is on you getting your hands on the ball and looking for it.
“Fun is everywhere in this team. It is far from a case of throwing the ball around and seeing what happens. Pre-season was heavy and a lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes. It does not just happen on a weekend: it is down to the way we train. It may look like we just chuck the ball around, but a lot of thought goes into it. As soon as there is a turnover or a chance to counter-attack, we play what is in front of us. It is a stretch to say it is off the cuff – it is just playing rugby.
“It is a taxing game to play and it comes down to the hard work we put in every training session where we operate at a higher intensity than in a match. It means that come the 70-minute mark, we have full confidence in our fitness.”
