Northampton v Newcastle: Five takeaways as Henry Pollock backs up ‘hair-raising start’ while ‘Slim Reaper’ fills George Furbank’s void
Northampton Saints forward Henry Pollock and an inset of James Pater.
Following Northampton Saints’ 59-26 win over Newcastle Red Bulls in the Gallagher PREM, here are our five takeaways from the season opener at DPD Stadium.
The top line
Tommy Freeman and James Pater helped themselves to hat-tricks as Northampton began the defence of their Gallagher PREM crown with a nine-try defeat of Newcastle Red Bulls – but only after a half-time “rocket” from the Saints management.
The English champions were made to work hard by a Newcastle team energised by Red Bull’s investment yet there was never any doubt who the winner would be.
Inspired by playmaker Fin Smith, Saints had the try bonus in the bag in 25 minutes. Freeman collected the fifth PREM hat-trick of his career and Pater also crossed three times as the home side picked up where they left off last season.
Most worrying of all for their rivals was the reaction of Northampton themselves to a 59-point win. “At half-time we got a bit of a rocket,” revealed Freeman. “We hold ourselves to some high standards.”
“I’d give its between 6 and 8 out of 10,” added Smith. “We have got to be a lot better if we want to achieve our ambitions.”
Pollock’s hair-raising start
Pre-match chat had been centred around a hairstyle with Henry Pollock announcing on social media that he would unveil a new look at kick-off time.
It has been quite the summer for Pollock, since joining Eddie Hearns’ Matchroom agency. A bumper new pay deal, becoming the northern hemisphere’s most talked about player and now playing rugby with braids.
The blond flanker emerged from the changing sheds with cornrows beneath his trademark black headband. It was a bold look and he might not have wanted to have a bad game off the back of it.
But there was never a chance of that. From the off Pollock was everywhere, the game’s leading carrier with 16. He ran, he tackled, he pirouetted, he was an absolute dynamo.
“He phoned me on Thursday night after he’d had that haircut to see what I thought,” Saints boss Phil Dowson revealed later. “He and I just laughed at each other for 30 seconds then he hung up.
“But fundamentally he can back it up with his performance. He likes that energy, he likes that attention. His power for his size is outrageous. He’s got such good feel and such good anticipation around the game.
“I would never go down the Flash Harry route because his performances are so good. You should see him during the week how hard he works, his messaging at half-time. Stuff you maybe don’t appreciate.
“He’s not someone who’s taking easy options. He’s earning the opportunity. It was his 50th appearance tonight for the Saints. Unbelievable. What a great way to celebrate.”
Pater the real deal
Northampton’s decision to allow beloved captain George Furbank to leave the club in the summer sent shockwaves through the town. There was method to the apparent madness, supporters were told. There’s a new kid on the block.
On the first night of the new season the kid stood up. James Pater is 19 years old, has been nicknamed the Slim Reaper by head coach Dowson and, boy, can he play.
Northampton v Newcastle: Five takeaways as defending champions made to work hard by energised Red Bulls in season opener
While Furbank was missing new club Harlequins’ home defeat to Bath, his successor in the 15 jersey lit up Franklin’s Gardens with a three-try display.
Fin Smith later said Pater, rather than him, should have got Player of the match. Dowson hailed a “quality player” and an “outstanding talent”.
His first try came after just five minutes and showcased his eye for the line. George Hendy broke down the left and when the ball got to Pater there was still much to do. The fullback jinked through two tackles and touched down.
His next two scores might have been simpler run-ins but there is no doubt Pater, like Pollock before him, has been brought through at exactly the right time. Fair play to Saints head of academy Mark Hopley for that.
Wading towards try record
Christian Wade arrived at Newcastle via the NFL and rugby league, a three-sport star in the autumn of an incredible career. Some wondered whether he was out for one final pay day. They should have known better.
The 35-year-old has not got to where he is today without an incredible internal drive. He might have the Buffalo Bills and Wigan Warriors on his CV but Wade has made a career out of always having a new goal to chase.
In Toon that ambition is two-pronged. To improve the league’s worst team and to take Chris Ashton’s record for PREM tries.
At kick-off time on Friday his tally was 95, six short of Ashton’s number. By the final whistle the margin was down to four, Wade having twice dotted down in the right corner.
His brace came on the day Ashton joked to Planet Rugby that he was prepared to pay players to deny Wade tries and keep his record intact. Not even England’s champion club could stop the Londoner’s dancing feet.
Wade bagged Newcastle’s first on 12 minutes after brilliant build-up work by the outstanding Werner Kok, dancing around Smith, before James Elliott throw a long mis-pass out to his winger.
Before half-time Wade was at it again. His forwards did the spadework before two long passes put him over. Ashton might be loathe to admit it, but with the brand of rugby Newcastle are playing, only injury can deny his rival.
Newcastle are back
There has not been this much rugby union excitement in the land of the Geordies since Sir John Hall bought the club in the mid 1990s and bankrolled them to Premiership glory.
Red Bull’s investment has been such that the team once known as Falcons started the campaign with 22 new signings and a ton of hope.
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They were not good enough to beat the champions. Losing two players to the sin bin and conceding 24 unanswered points whilst down to 14 certainly did not help.
But what this game showed is that Newcastle are not going to be the whipping boys they have been when finishing last in each of the past four seasons.
In Werner Kok, Hoskins Sotutu, Max Hicks, Chris Harris and Zak Henry they possess genuine quality. And the try bonus they secured through Kok’s last-gasp score sends out a warning to the rest of the league. It says a club that managed only three of those all last season means business.