News

Saints wary of Bristol threat

December 05 2008

Northampton and Bristol clash in an all-England European Challenge Cup Pool Two contest at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday with Jim Mallinder, the Saints Director of Rugby, determined to keep their winning start going.

Northampton started their European Challenge Cup campaign very well with two good results against French clubs Toulon (56-3) and Montpellier (51-7).

"They offered something different from what we had been used to in England and I was delighted with the way our players responded to the new challenges in front of them," said Mallinder.

"The Challenge Cup is a good opportunity for us to continue our development as a team. It is an important competition and we will certainly be working our hardest for a good performance and result on Saturday."

Bristol have a 50 per cent winning ratio in this year's tournament having lost to Montpellier in the opening weekend of European Challenge Cup rugby, but made amends a week later with a convincing win over strugglers Toulon.

Richard Hill's team also hold the upper hand over Northampton following their close 14-13 victory in the Guinness Premiership that ended an eight-month winning drought.

Two wins in Rounds Three and Four will put Bristol right in the frame for the quarter-finals, which makes this weekend's match at Franklin's Gardens very important.

"Bristol will be an extremely difficult challenge for us this weekend," said Mallinder.

"They beat us in the Premiership three weeks ago and were unlucky to lose last weekend against London Irish.

"Even though we are playing Bristol five times at first team level this season there is no complacency in our preparation.

"In the two games we have played each other they have put out two different teams and this makes planning very interesting!

"Regardless of what team Richard Hill puts out, we know that Bristol will have backs with skill and pace and forwards with experience and power."