A Welshman put the North in Northampton to end Ospreys’ unbeaten start to the season and put the Saints back on course in their Champions Cup pool after their failure to secure a point in their opening fixture in Paris.
Northampton forfeited their losing bonus point against Racing Métro by messing around in their own territory in the closing moments and giving away a try. They got it back in the same fashion against Ospreys when the visitors, whose focus then should have been on containing the Saints to four points and remaining ahead of them in the group, lost possession on their own 10-metre line and George North, who hardly saw the ball in Paris, helped himself to his fourth try.
“That was absolutely gutting,” said Ospreys’ forwards coach, Chris Gibbes. “It was part and parcel to stop them scoring a fourth try. We knew it was going to be our biggest test of the season and that we needed to be accurate. We were not and the most important thing is what happens next and how we regroup.”
Northampton had averaged six tries a game at home this season and they had two ruled out by the television match official. North’s first four-try haul of his senior career was more than they needed in a contest between league leaders that reflected their reflective purchasing power more than standings. Ospreys lacked experience in key areas, had few options on the bench and were rarely seen as an attacking force in the final hour.
“We are in a good place: top of the Premiership and still alive in the Champions Cup,” said Northampton’s captain, Dylan Hartley. “I was a bit worried and frustrated towards the end because after not picking something up against Racing Métro, getting five points was crucial in a game that was in our hands for 80 minutes and we were wasting chances to get the fourth try. George played well, but we need to be more clinical in the opposition 22.”
Northampton applied a stranglehold at the breakdown through Calum Clark and Tom Wood and they chased kicks effectively. Three of their four tries came from turnovers and it was unfortunate that one of Ospreys’ few clean breaks, by Jeff Hassler, ended with his opposite number James Wilson going off dazed in the 10th minute after taking a knee to the head. Luther Burrell later departed with a hand injury that may rule him out of the start of England’s autumn international series.
After Wilson’s departure, North moved from the wing to the centre and saw more of the ball than he would have out wide. His first try followed a devastating change of pace, his second and fourth were down to power and speed while his third was down to his strength. He also thwarted a rare Ospreys’ attack by beating Dan Biggar to the outside-half’s chip to the line.
“It was ironic that a Welshman scored all the tries and we lost,” said Ospreys’ captain, Alun Wyn Jones. “George has improved as a player since he has been at Northampton and he took his opportunities. The pressure told on us after the first 20 minutes and we broke. We were confident going into the game, but we knew we were not brilliant despite our winning start. The unbeaten run is off our back, but we are not in control of the pool.”
North said he was “quite happy” with his performance. “The fourth try finished it off nicely. I imagine I will have a mixed reception when I join up with Wales at the start of the week, but we’re all there for one purpose. The important thing was that we stepped up as a team after Paris and we did. The beauty of Europe is that it can change week to week.”
Northampton Foden; K Pisi, Wilson (Elliott, 9), Burrell (Hooley, 41), North; Myler, L Dickson (Fotuali’i, 58); A Waller (E Waller, 73), Hartley (capt; Haywood, 63), Ma’afu (Denman, 55), Lawes, Day (Craig, 55), Clark (Dowson, 70), Wood, Manoa. Tries North 4. Cons Myler 4. Pens Myler 2.
Ospreys Evans; Grabham, Hassler, Matavesi, Dirksen; Biggar, Webb (Roberts, 73); Smith (D Jones, 63), Baldwin (Parry, 67), Arhip (Jarvis, 55), Peers (Bernardo, 63), AW Jones (capt), King, Tipuric, Bearman (Allen, h-t; Lewis, 73). Pens Biggar 2.
Referee R Poite (Fr). Attendance 13,362.
