Wales star Dan Biggar says coming to English club rugby has taken his game to new heights - and he plans on proving it against Leinster.
The third round of the Champions Cup serves up a mouthwatering trio of Anglo-Irish ties, none bigger than the clash of the Premiership and Pro14 leaders at Northampton.
Whilst home advantage should favour Ulster and Munster today against Harlequins and Saracens respectively, Leinster have it all to do at Saints if they are to extend their perfect start to the season to 10 matches.
Chris Boyd has transformed Northampton from also-rans into pace-setters, with playmaker Biggar declaring the New Zealander “by far the best coach I have ever worked with”.
But now comes the litmus test against opposition they have beaten just once in seven attempts over 19 years in Europe’s top competition. Johnny Sexton leads a team packed with internationals and scenting a record fifth title.
Biggar said: “We’re fully aware that what we’re playing is a European superpower who know how to win big games and who’ve got a team packed full of big moment, big game players.
“Leinster are a big team and it’s about stopping them physically. If we allow them to get any momentum, any foothold in the game, they have a 10 in Sexton who has proved he is one of the best in the world. Allow him to run the show and we are in for a long afternoon.
“But get our stuff right and nine times out of 10 it gives us a really good shot at winning. We absolutely fully respect how good a team they are and how good they have been in this competition, but we’re at home and want to put our shape and our game on them.”
Leinster, with Stuart Lancaster still a central part of their brains trust, have made the last two finals and are 15/8 favourites to repeat their triumphs of 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2018.
But something is stirring at Franklin’s Gardens, where a rugby giant has enjoyed a largely unbroken sleep since Saints conquered Europe at their first attempt in 2000.
“If I’m brutally honest it’s a different set-up to what I expected when I signed,” said Biggar, confirming his desire to keep playing for Wales for “as long as possible”.
“I didn’t think I’d come here and learn and improve so much. This place has been a real breath of fresh air to me. I am a better player for it. Every day in this environment I feel I get better.
“But we're not the best team in the world just because we've won a few games. We’ve had a really good start and played really well. But Leinster are a different animal to what we've faced so far.”
Saracens have rested five of England’s World Cup final side for their European clash at Munster.
In a move which appears to hand the Irish giants a sizeable advantage, the champions have chosen to rest Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly, Jamie George, Mako and Billy Vunipola.
Hamstrung by a 35-point deduction for cheating the salary cap, the Londoners are having to balance remaining competitive in Europe with winning a relegation fight.
To that end boss Mark McCall has chosen to go understrength to Thomond Park, presumably with the intention of restoring his big guns for the return leg in Hendon next Saturday.
Kyle Sinckler plays his first match since being concussed three minutes into the World Cup final for Harlequins at Ulster, who switch Jacob Stockdale to fullback.
Gloucester, still searching for their first win in Pool 5, make three changes for tomorrow’s visit of Connacht, with Fraser Balmain, Gerbrandt Grobler and Jake Polledri returning to their pack.
