Dylan Hartley: Winning comes first
Northampton Saints skipper Dylan Hartley believes his team have shown good character to keep their hopes of a quarter-final spot alive.
The Saints managed a narrow 18-12 win over Castres at Franklin's Gardens last weekend and after their win over Pool winners Ulster in Round 4, they have found some form which has kept them in the mix.
They must now travel to face a winless Glasgow outfit, knowing only a bonus-point victory in Scotland will do in order to give them any chance of keeping their hopes of a Heineken Cup quarter-final place alive.
The Saints, who lifted the Heineken Cup back in 2000, will have their sights set on one of the best two runners-up places in the last eight of the tournament but they have to come away with the spoils from Scotstoun Stadium.
"Going into this weekend, we have to get five points to keep our hopes alive," said Hartley.
"We are doing all right away from home. The spirit is good in the camp.
"All we can do is worry about winning and hopefully the tries will come with that."
Castres and Ulster put Saints to the sword in Round Two and Three respectively, but Jim Mallinder's men have battled back from those defeats.
"It shows we have a good character (to still be in the competition)," said Hartley.
"Last Friday's win was a good all-round performance. We wanted to score four tries and take five points but they (Castres) are a good team and to close out a game as close as that was quite professional.
"Recently we haven't closed out those games."
But the Premiership outfit's destiny in Europe is not in their hands even if they get what they want against Glasgow.
The English side, who were beaten finalists in 2011, still face the prospect of failing to reach the last eight of European rugby's premier tournament for the second successive season.
Comments
TVaddict says...
@heathy
Agreed. They're getting a new attack coach for next season which should help.
Posted 17:57 18th January 2013
heathy says...
A very capable side and on their day can mix it with the best of them. However, this season (and last as well really) they haven't performed to their potential. Yes, they can technically qualify but do they deserve to? Maybe not. The best teams get where they need to be before this point. Northampton have been disappointing recently and need to improve considerably if they are to compete not just in Europe but in their own domestic league. Harlequins and Saracens are leading the way with Leicester always there or there abouts (and they haven't been at their best either) Gloucester and Wasps are trying hard so Saints need to buck up. Mid table side at present and they should be better than that with their squad!
Posted 17:27 18th January 2013