Courtney Lawes: 'We don't need to have a 10/10 performance or do anything out of the ordinary'

Speaking to BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly, Courtney Lawes has been looking ahead to this weekends clutch match against Bath Rugby. Lawes will be finally hanging up his Saints boots for the final time in what will be Northampton’s first Premiership final since they took victory in 2014.

“With it being a really high pressured situation you have to worry about enjoying it more than putting pressure on yourself,” Lawes said.

“Really embrace the week as this is why you play rugby. These are the situations you want to be in, you want to be in these scenarios even though you have a mountain of pressure.

“It’s perfect. I couldn’t picture a better way to finish” Lawes admitted about finishing off at Twickenham.

Speaking about how the team have built towards this occasion, Lawes added: “You want to enjoy these weeks as they don’t come around very often,

“It is just about going out there and doing what we’ve been doing all season. We have such a good team that is working well together and is so cohesive.

“We’ve grown throughout the season and proven to ourselves over and over again that we don’t need to have a 10/10 performance or do anything out of the ordinary.”

Reflecting on an incredible career in the green, black and gold, Lawes continued: “I don’t think I will ever feel I have got where I want to get in rugby, but that is part and parcel of why I have been able to play at a decent standard,” 

“I am proud in a lot of ways but I am always pushing and I am always unsatisfied, but I am proud and grateful for the amount of games I have had.

“The moment I feel I am not getting better at rugby is the moment I will retire. I don’t know if I can get better now but I am going to try.”

As many are aware, the big challenge facing Saints this weekend will be through the ten channel, as Scotland legend Finn Russell faces down upon them. It could well be the Lawes vs Russell show, but the former England captain has been keen to stress that the issue needs to be addressed with caution.

“A lot of teams go after him thinking they are going to rattle him, but he is such a good player now you can end up doing the opposite,” Lawes said.

“Regardless if we win or not, it is a final and anything can happen.

“We are going to go out there and give it all we have got, I will be proud regardless of what happens.

“I will be leaving the club in an unbelievable spot.”