Northampton Saints’ Dominance in England Rugby
It feels as though there is a Northampton Saints takeover in the England rugby scene, with the reigning Premiership champions contributing an impressive 15 out of the 65 players in both the England senior and A squads this week. This figure far exceeds the typical representation if all ten clubs were to be evenly represented.
The camaraderie was evident in a joyful photograph capturing the quartet of Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman, and Ollie Sleightholme celebrating after England’s crucial win over France. Notably, full-back George Furbank, currently sidelined due to injury, could have potentially made it five starters from Northampton in the England backline. Additionally, centre Fraser Dingwall is also part of the England squad, while wing George Hendy is poised to play for England A this week alongside Northampton’s promising youngsters, Rafe Witheat and Billy Pasco.
Insights into Team Dynamics
However, while the Saints’ influence is substantial, there are ups and downs to this narrative of success. England head coach Steve Borthwick has not explicitly outlined a policy of favoring players from a single club. Nevertheless, he has acknowledged the exceptional cohesion seen in teams like Leinster for Ireland and the impact of Saracens’ consistent winners on England’s journey to the 2019 World Cup final. Reflecting on the past, he noted the value of players from successful clubs like Leicester Tigers and Wasps during the 2000s, stating, “Guys who were just driven to win.”
Currently, the positive impact of Northampton on the England squad is palpable, with players openly discussing the benefits of their established understanding. For instance, the decisive try against France two weeks ago was executed following a familiar move to Northampton fans, initiated by fly-half Smith. His cross-kick to Freeman, who scored, exemplified the familiarity gained from playing nearly 60 matches together.
Freeman remarked, “I knew he was going to hit that cross-field kick. I know the way he moves; the timing he wants off you, whereas with Marcus it’s a bit different. Connections are the most important thing in a team. Playing with Fin, Ollie, and Mitch week in and week out makes it that much easier. There are cues I can pick up that probably many others cannot.”
Fin Smith echoed Freeman’s sentiments, stating, “I know Tommy’s strength is largely off my shoulder or on the touchline. I know where he and Sleightholme will appear. When you haven’t played with someone much, you question whether they will come on your inside, deep behind you, or flat on your shoulder.” His partnership with scrum-half Alex Mitchell, built over 50 games, has proven invaluable, especially during critical game-management decisions.
Camaraderie and Team Spirit
While past England squads have suffered from cliques forming among club players, Borthwick promotes a mixed approach during team accommodations. Freeman bunked with Mitchell this week, while other pairings are determined by position or tenure, creating an environment where camaraderie thrives. Despite the friendly banter about their close “bromance” annoying their girlfriends, it reflects the bond they share.
Freeman reminisced about their early interactions during England under-20 training and how they have grown together. “We all live pretty locally, within ten minutes of each other, and some are even within walking distance. We see each other every day at training and want to share more time afterward, whether it’s going out for dinner or participating in recovery sessions at local health clubs.”
The bond extends beyond the field, as Furbank humorously described Sleightholme as “an angry man” who doesn’t take lightly to jabs, showcasing the deep-rooted camaraderie among the players.
International Team Dynamics
A club-centric approach in a national team is not unprecedented. For instance, 16 of the Ireland players who triumphed over England in the current Six Nations were from Leinster, and nine of the French squad that faced England at Twickenham hailed from Toulouse. Other natural club-country pairings include Scotland with Glasgow Warriors and Italy with Benetton, while New Zealand and Australia have shown similar trends in their international selections.
Phil Dowson’s Perspective
Northampton’s director of rugby, Phil Dowson, expressed pride in the representation of Saints players on the international stage. After witnessing a recent victory of 66-33 in the Premiership Cup against Nottingham, he emphasized the development pathway for players at Northampton. “We are incredibly proud of how they represent us, and we have many players on the fringes of the England squad as well,” he stated.
Dowson also recognized that this experience can ultimately benefit the club: “All experiences are good experiences, whether poor or good. Those lads being in that environment will return with a different mindset. That cohesion doesn’t just disappear; Tommy Freeman will remain closely linked to Fin Smith, which is a positive.”
However, the current league standing of Northampton is a concern for Dowson, as they sit in eighth place in the Premiership. He expressed frustration over being “shorn of players” during key matches when England had training camps, which has affected their performance.
“People might look at our league position, but we’re hamstrung a little by the number of players away. The calendar may be better than before, but it’s still not ideal,” he said, focusing on the need to find positives while striving for improvement.
The Northampton contingent isn’t a homogeneous group that arrived together. The players, aged between 22 (Smith) and 28 (Furbank), have had varied journeys, with some having developmental stints at other clubs. Yet, former Saint and club legend Courtney Lawes noted in The Times that they were all instilled with the importance of taking responsibility for their preparation and ownership of their games from an early age.
As for the future, there is speculation that Northampton’s head coach, Sam Vesty, could be in line for a role with the England setup following his temporary coaching of the A team, but that is a discussion for another day.
England Squad for Scotland
Forwards:
- Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
- Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
- Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
- Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks)
- Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
- Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
- Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
- Theo Dan (Saracens)
- Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
- Ben Earl (Saracens)
- Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
- Jamie George (Saracens)
- Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
- Ted Hill (Bath Rugby)
- Maro Itoje (Saracens)
- George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
- Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)
- Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints)
- Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks)
- Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
- Tom Willis (Saracens)
Backs:
- Oscar Beard (Harlequins)
- Elliot Daly (Saracens)
- Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
- George Ford (Sale Sharks)
- Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
- Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)
- Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
- Harry Randall (Bristol Bears)
- Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
- Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
- Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)
- Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
- Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
- Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
- Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
England A Squad for Ireland A
Forwards:
- Alfie Barbeary (Bath Rugby)
- Phil Brantingham (Saracens)
- Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs)
- Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
- Mackenzie Graham (Bath Rugby)
- Luke Green (Northampton Saints)
- Tarek Haffar (Northampton Saints)
- Jack Kenningham (Harlequins)
- George Kloska (Bristol Bears)
- Curtis Langdon (Northampton Saints)
- Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints)
- Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears)
- Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints)
- Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby)
- Hugh Tizard (Saracens)
Backs:
- Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby)
- Will Butt (Bath Rugby)
- Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks)
- Tobias Elliott (Saracens)
- Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester Tigers)
- George Hendy (Northampton Saints)
- Josh Hodge (Exeter Chiefs)
- Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby)
- Billy Pasco (Northampton Saints)
- Will Porter (Harlequins)
- Jamie Shillcock (Leicester Tigers)
- Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)
- Rafe Witheat (Northampton Saints)
- Joseph Woodward (Leicester Tigers)
