Saints head into the unknown
October 15 2009
Dylan Hartley insists Northampton will step into the unknown without any fear at Perpignan on Friday, after their momentous victory over two-time European champions Munster.
The Saints marked their return to the Heineken Cup last Saturday by producing one of the competition's great performances to edge an epic battle 31-27 at Franklin's Gardens.
Hartley knows that repeating that feat in the back yard of the French champions will be "a massive challenge", possibly harder still because of Perpignan's shock opening defeat at Treviso.
But the Northampton captain senses something special building at the club - and he believes the Saints are capable of taking the competition by storm.
"We want to win the Heineken Cup," said Hartley, who will lead out an unchanged team at the Stade Aime Giral.
"We're new to the competition as a squad. I believe that will help us, and we will have no fear.
"Perpignan are the Top 14 champions and are set in the heartland of rugby in the south of France. I've never played them before - we are going into the unknown, but I'm excited about the challenge.
"It's definitely achievable for us to qualify from this pool. We have an 'awesome' team spirit, a great squad, great strength in depth of players and a good balance of youth and experience.
"We train together; we eat together; we live together for seven days a week. I believe it's vital you have a good team spirit. We are a team who want to do really well and go places."
All the focus after the Munster victory was on the performances of Northampton's new fly-half Shane Geraghty and Courtney Lawes, who are both firmly on Martin Johnson's England radar.
Hartley's own bulldog performance was largely overlooked. But the England management will have been delighted, particularly given the injury concerns over Bath hooker Lee Mears.
"I am happy with my form but I want to build on the momentum and confidence we've been developing as a team and individuals," said Hartley.
"If I do well for the club and the club does well, then I will wait and listen to what the big man Johnno says."