Some may not find draws appealing but this one, the third highest in the history of the Premiership, was – all the more so after the stodge at Bath the night before. On a day when the England selectors were interested in forwards returning from injury, such as Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood and Alex Corbisiero, it was one they have discarded, Matt Kvesic, who stood out, along with a player Wales feel they no longer need, James Hook.
It initially looked routine for Northampton who had started their season by amassing 53 points against Gloucester at Franklin’s Gardens, six points up in as many minutes here having imposed themselves up front. The Saints are difficult to combat when they set a game’s tempo, but their hosts, a team that in recent years has struggled to find a way of competing when its primary possession sources were cut off, used the breakdown to their advantage.
Kvesic led the way and won turnovers on his own, but it was the way the Gloucester blitzed the tackle area, players in number arriving suddenly like a shoal of piranhas on the ringing of the lunch bell, that not just dragged them back into the contest but left them in firm control. They took a lead they were not to lose until the end of the game with three Greig Laidlaw penalties as the Saints committed offences on the floor under pressure and started to get flustered, but soon the rugby was matching the fine weather.
Hook may not be wanted by Wales this year, but not many other players would have created Gloucester’s opening try: receiving the ball just inside his own half and, appreciating that he had space on the outside, coaxing the defence into drifting and stepping inside, evading two tacklers and finding himself in space. He drew the cover and kicked the ball with the outside of his right foot into the Northampton 22 where the bounce for Charlie Sharples was kind.
Turnover possession allowed Gloucester to attack space and Hook thrived. He was taken out late by Kahn Fotuali’i after working a loop move and chipping to the line, but the scrum-half was fortunate that the referee had spotted blocking in the buildup. Northampton were then 23-6 down: Wilson had brought down Richard Hibbard just short of the line but prevented the home side securing quick release and was sent to the sin-bin.
Hibbard got his try after Gloucester used the penalty to drive a lineout and the Saints were looking anything but champion. They had won their three previous matches, doing just enough each time without extending themselves, but this time they had to draw on their considerable resources.
They scored either side of the interval, Stephen Myler turning John Afoa’s failure to roll away after a tackle into three points and Wilson picking up George Pisi’s chip two minutes after the restart for a try that stunned the crowd because of its simplicity.
Gloucester had gone from being in firm control to hanging on to a seven-point lead. Other teams would have tightened up, and Laidlaw did make some probing kicks, but Hook’s ability to create space undid Northampton again: another loop and quick hands freed Bill Meakes and, after Sharples had been held up, the prop Dan Murphy forced his way over.
Northampton’s response was immediate. Hook’s high kick was allowed to bounce by Wilson who should not have been given the time to pick up and start a counterattack that left Billy Twelvetrees exposed on Gloucester’s right. Calum Clark and Samu Manoa joined in with Wilson on hand to finish what he had started.
Things calmed down after three tries in eight minutes with Myler and Laidlaw exchanging penalties before Northampton’s final assault. Gloucester had celebrated a fourth try, scored by Henry Purdy, but it was ruled out on review because Twelvetrees had knocked on in the buildup after being tackled by Elliott Stooke.
Northampton’s most promising attack had ended with a thumping tackle by Stooke on Lawes that forced the second-row to lose the ball. Gloucester, by now stronger in the scrum with Corbisiero replaced, were penalised for wheeling, a decision they disputed.
Like this fixture last year, the end was controversial: the Saints used the penalty, and another, to drive a lineout and Manoa claimed his 11th try of the season and Myler sealed the draw with the conversion.
