Chris Boyd sings ‘outstanding’ Tom Wood’s praises

Northampton Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd praised back-row Tom Wood’s performance in their 67-17 victory over Sale Sharks on Saturday.

Wood, who captained the Saints from number eight, won the official man of the match award after a superb effort at Franklin’s Gardens, and Boyd said the former England forward was “outstanding”.

The 32-year-old’s current contract finishes at the end of the season and he has said he is keen to stay on at Northampton. That wish could become a reality if he continues to play like he did against Sale.

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“I just thought he was outstanding on Saturday,” Boyd told the Northampton Chronicle and Echo.

“He was injured when I came here at the start of the season and I admire the way he just grafted and grafted and grafted to get himself in a position to be selected.

“Tom Wood is a warrior in the truest sense of the word. He doesn’t back down, he doesn’t give up, he just keeps grafting.

“By his own admission he’s got a diesel engine not a turbo-charged one, he just keeps on keeping on.

“It was an outstanding performance from him, both in the way he played and the way he led.”