Northampton Rugby

Jim Mallinder, the Director of Rugby for the Aviva Premiership Rugby Football Union club the Northampton Saints has admitted that his side deserved to be knocked out of the Heineken Cup, the most prestigious competition for rugby clubs in Europe. The Jimmies suffered a last gasp defeat at the hands of the Glasgow Warriors in Scotland when a last gasp goal from Peter Horne condemned the English club to the next few months without European games as their record is not good enough to qualify them for the next best European competition, the Amlin Challenge Cup as well.

The Jimmies, who currently lie in fifth in the Aviva Premiership table have been having a stop and start season so far, brilliant in one game and absolutely rubbish in another and they went into the game against the Scottish giants knowing only a win with a bonus point would see them stand the slightest chance of qualifying to the next stages of the competition.  But that was not meant to be and in spite of their best efforts which saw the Northampton Saints score three tries, they lost out 27-20 after Horne scored in the last seconds of the game.

And Mallinder admitted that it is the inconsistency of his side that cost them a place in Europe. He stated that it is proven that when they want, they can get the wins they need as displayed with the against Ulster away from home as they became the only visiting team to win there, but the key issue was to be consistent, which they are not.

The Northampton Saints will now need to concentrate on the Aviva Premiership as they try to keep up the pace with the leading pack and hope to ensure qualification to the playoff as soon as possible.