Northampton plumbed the depths last season, leading to the mid-term sacking of Jim Mallinder after over a decade as coach at Franklin's Gardens. The Saints squad left Mallinder in the lurch with a series of displays that highlighted a lack of leadership, direction and discipline on the pitch. Nowhere was this more evident than in a pack in which a sizeable international contingent, including captain Dylan Hartley, failed to punch its weight.
One of the few forwards who could hold his head up was all-action blindside Jamie Gibson, but even he was guilty when it came to the serial offending which saw Northampton concede more penalties (238) than any side in the Premiership.
The overhaul undertaken since then has seen the arrival of the former Hurricanes coach, Chris Boyd, and a number of keynote signings including Dan Biggar, James Haskell, Takele Naiyaravoro and Ben Franks.
Saints have been crying out for a fly-half who can steer them round the pitch, and Biggar has the credentials to do it. After the no-show last season the pack may as well throw in the towel for good if they cannot make the necessary improvements for Biggar to set a backline including the giant Naiyaravoro and exciting homegrown wing Tom Collins in motion.
INS AND OUTS
IN: Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs), Will Davis (Ealing), Ben Franks (London Irish), Dominic Barrow (Leicester), Andy Symons (Gloucester), James Haskell (Wasps), Matt Worley (Racing 92), Charlie Davies (Dragons), Andrew Kellaway (Waratahs)
OUT: Sam Dickinson, Jordan Onojaife, Matt Beesley (all Ealing), Nic Groom (Lions), Charlie Clare (Bedford), Christian Day, Rob Horne (both retired), George North (Ospreys), Campese Ma'afu (Leicester), Ben Nutley, Tom Kessell (both Coventry), Stephen Myler, Tom Stephenson (both London Irish), Kieran Brookes (Wasps), (Coventry), Juan Pablo Estelles (Atlético del Rosario), Ben Foden (Rugby United New York), Jamie Elliott, Michael Paterson (both released)
2018-19 FIXTURES
Sat 1 Sep (a) Gloucester
Fri 7 Sep (h) Harlequins
Sat 15 Sep (h) Saracens
Sat 22 Sep (a) Bath
Sat 29 Sep (a) Bristol
Sat 6 Oct (a) Leicester
Sat 17 Nov (h) Wasps
Sat 24 Nov (a) Sale
Sat 1 Dec (h) Newcastle
Sat 22 Dec (a) Worcester
Sat 29 Dec (h) Exeter
Sat 5 Jan (a) Wasps
Sat 16 Feb (h) Sale
Sat 23 Feb (h) Bath
Sat 2 Mar (a) Saracens
Sat 9 Mar (h) Bristol
Sat 23 Mar (a) Leicester
Sat 6 Apr (h) Gloucester
Sat 13 Apr (a) Harlequins
Sat 27 Apr (a) Newcastle
Sat 4 May (h) Worcester
Sat 18 May (a) Exeter
PLAYER TO WATCH
DAN BIGGAR – FLY-HALF
The Wales fly-half has bags of confidence and physical presence, and he will need all of it to get the Saints up and running. Not the fastest 10, or the most flat-lying, but has a punishing kicking game – and wins an uncanny number of his own the hoists and chips.
2018-19 SQUAD
James Fish, Dylan Hartley, Mike Haywood, Samson Ma'asi, Reece Marshall, Will Davis, Jamal Ford-Robinson, Ben Franks, Paul Hill, Ehren Painter, Toby Trinder, Francois van Wyk, Alex Waller, Dominic Barrow, Alex Coles, James Craig, Courtney Lawes, Alexander Moon, Api Ratuniyarawa, David Ribbans, Heinrich Brüssow, Jamie Gibson, Teimana Harrison, James Haskell, Lewis Ludlam, Devante Onojaife, Paddy Ryan, Joe Wallace, Tom Wood, Mitch Eadie, Charlie Davies, Tom Emery, Alex Mitchell, Cobus Reinach, Connor Tupai, Dan Biggar, James Grayson, Matt Worley, Piers Francis, Luther Burrell, Fraser Dingwall, Rory Hutchinson, Fraser Strachan, Andy Symons, Nafi Tuitavake, Tom Collins, Andrew Kellaway, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Ken Pisi, Ollie Sleightholme, Harry Mallinder, George Furbank, Ahsee Tuala
VERDICT: 8th (LAST SEASON: 9th)
