If Eddie Jones wants to assess the form of the man he is thought to favour as the England captain, he will have to wait. Dylan Hartley has still not recovered from the concussion he suffered six weeks ago when colliding with Billy Vunipola in Northampton’s Premiership match against Saracens. Saints will entertain Racing 92 in the European Champions Cup on Friday night without him.
“He’s making good improvements,” said Jim Mallinder, Northampton’s director of rugby. “He’s training now but he’s just not 100% fit. Until he’s feeling completely back to normal we won’t rush him. He’s not done a full-contact session.”
Northampton remain confident of an imminent return. Hartley has not quite shaken off the last of his symptoms, still not feeling “completely right” after a certain level of exercise. The player finds it hard to describe but such are the protocols surrounding concussion the fact there is anything to describe at all is reason enough to stand him down. Mike Heywood will continue to deputise, as he has with considerable success in the past five matches.
Not that last weekend’s could be accounted a success by any measure. Dan Carter’s debut for Racing was suitably imperious, and Northampton copped a 33-3 hiding in Paris. “It was very disappointing for us,” Courtney Lawes said, “although I don’t think the score really represented the entire game. We did lots of good stuff but Racing are a class act and thrived on our mistakes. It was a bit embarrassing to lose like that but there will be a response on Friday. It’s on us. It’s our responsibility to put on a performance.”
Northampton have history when it comes to bouncing back from unseemly defeats at this stage of the European season. In December 2011, they recovered from a 41-22 defeat at Castres to win the return the following week 45-0; in 2012 they lost at home to Ulster 25-6, before winning at Ravenhill a week later; and in 2013 they went down 40-7 to Leinster in a hideous home defeat, only to win in Dublin 18-9.
No wonder Mallinder thinks five wins from six is still realistic but Northampton do have a weakness for sudden heavy defeats. Racing know that only too well. Having been fortunate to beat Saints in Paris last season, they rounded off the pool stages with a 32-8 win at Franklin’s Gardens. Carter et al will not travel in fear.
Racing name an unchanged team. Northampton make four changes, one of them at fly-half, where Stephen Myler tries his luck against the great maestro opposite. Carter will note that change, as he might the shift of Lawes from the back row to the second row, accommodating the return of Jamie Gibson at flanker.
Last weekend, Lawes filled the role of back-row enforcer, the latest of a long line to try to ruffle Carter. Not that there is anything personal. “I don’t go looking for it,” Lawes said. “If you see a shot, you take it. If not, you get on with your other jobs. Carter is one of those who comes to the line and commits you, and then gives the ball. Unfortunately you don’t know if he is going to pass it or dummy and go. So you’ve got to hit him either way. That’s just how it is.”
Meanwhile, away from such antics at the heart of a match, another big name lurks on the wing. George North has yet to score for Northampton this season – Friday’s match will be his seventh attempt. He has just signed a new contract but he is struggling to get into games.
“There’s a number of bullshit answers I could reel off to you now,” North said. “But at the end of the day I’m there to have ball in hand. I get really annoyed with myself. I’m there to do one thing and when I can’t it frustrates me. Over the last two games sometimes I’m working too hard, putting myself in the wrong positions by over-compensating. It’s no lack of trying or running – my numbers are through the roof. You never go out to play badly or not do your job. But the front five have been stepping up each week, which has been required in the conditions we’ve been playing in and the teams we’ve played against. Sometimes you’ve got to take your medicine and realise that you’re just the dummy runner. I’m sure the tries will start coming soon.”
But not even Carter had 58 caps at the age of 23. If North is struggling for form, the Welshman has more than earned the patience of the Saints. Now, though, would be a good time to rediscover himself.
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