Pisi backs Northampton's continuity

Editor

Northampton wing George Pisi believes the continuity in the club's squad will prove one of their strengths this season.

George Pisi didn't have many new names to learn this summer, and the Northampton wing believes the continuity in the squad will prove one of their strengths this season.

“I think it's one of Northampton's strengths that we didn't bring too many new faces into the squad,” he said.

Jim Mallinder only dipped into the transfer market to bring in two new players – Joel Hodgson from Newcastle Falcons and Jon Fisher from London Irish.

This means the majority of the squad who lifted the Aviva Premiership Rugby title last season is still in place, and Saints picked up where they left off in May with a 53-6 demolition of Gloucester last Friday.

And Pisi, who crossed the whitewash as one of five Northampton try scorers in round one, believes a freshening up after May's Twickenham final was all the Saints squad needed.

“I didn't expect such a convincing win over Gloucester,” he admitted.

“They had a lot of new signings that they wanted to show off and we thought it was going to be a really tough game.

“But we took all of our opportunities and were quite clinical in what we did.

“I think it's one of Northampton's strengths that we didn't bring too many new faces into the squad.

“Everyone here knows how each other plays and knows that nothing much is going to change from one season to the next.

“We've just got some new and fresh ideas and that's the main thing we needed.”

With international players in every direction you look at Franklin's Gardens it's easy to see why the Saints hierarchy didn't feel the need to bring in a raft of new faces.

Wales star George North began his season with a hat-trick, while Luther Burrell hopes his two tries will go some way to locking down a berth in the centres in England's November Test squads.

And with Northampton going into most Aviva Premiership Rugby games as the strong favourites, Pisi believes the experience they possess all over the pitch makes it easier for the squad to cope with the pressure.

“The power we have in our backs here is exciting,” he added.

“It's important that when we get the ball we make the most of our chances, especially in this early part of the season when the weather isn't too bad.

“We all like to run with the ball so we have to make the most of it each week.”