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Saints slash Bayonne to send a message to the rest of the Champions Cup

BY Philip Bendon  ·  Friday Jan 12, 2024

Gallagher Premiership table toppers Northampton Saints obliterated French Top 14 outfit Bayonne 61 – 7 to take a quantum lead towards topping Pool 3 of the Champions Cup.

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Blitzing their visitors from the off, the Saints would score inside the first minute for the first of nine tries on the evening.

The first try was an absolute peach, which was set up by captain George Furbank, who fed Rory Hutchinson, who in turn chipped forward for Tommy Freeman to score.

Whilst the backline were sublime and ruthless in their performance, the Saints pack laid the foundation for the victory.

Northampton Saints Secondrow Trys Out For GB Volleyball

In particular, backrow duo Tom Pearson and Courtney Lawes were immense as they battered Bayonne both in attack and defence. Pearson would be rewarded with a hattrick of tries, whilst Lawes bagged one before being subbed early in the second half.

Such was the performance of the Saints that commentator Austin Healy said he would select four of their backline players for England in the upcoming Six Nations.

When pressed on who he would take, Healy said that he felt Alex Mitchell, George Furbank, Ollie Sleightholme, and player of the match Tommy Freeman should start.

The result itself sees the Saints already qualified for the knockout stages with one round to play, but they will be looking to secure top seeding when they face Munster in round four in Limerick.

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