Northampton Saints 2022-23 season preview - prediction, signings, ones to watch
Phil Dowson made a total of 186 appearances for the Black, Green and Gold during his playing days
©PA
How will Phil Dowson do in his first season in charge of the Saints?
This is the biggest question going into the new campaign for last year’s beaten semi- finalists. The Saints have recruited well this summer bringing in firepower from Australia in the form of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Angus Scott-Young who will bring extra competition to an already strong Saints pack.
Chris Boyd has departed to his native New Zealand this year and it is the job of Dowson, who has been promoted from forward’s coach, to take this Saints team on.
Saints old heads in captain Lewis Ludlam, Courtney Lawes and Dan Biggar will be vital this
term in making the transition in coaches as smooth as possible.
Last time out
Last year, the Saints finished in fourth place earning themselves a semi-final away to rivals Leicester Tigers. They ultimately lost this 27-14 to the eventual champions, but it was a season of progress for the side from Northamptonshire.
This was the first time the Saints had been in the top four since 2018-19, showing their upward trajectory in Boyd’s last campaign in charge at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens.
Northampton finished 2021-22 strongly to book their semi-final place - with six wins from their last seven matches - so Dowson will be wanting to take that late season form into the new term.
They were also unlucky to fall to defeat in their play-off clash with South African winger, Courtnall Skosan, dropping the ball twice when they thought they were in for certain tries.
Incomings:
Callum Braley (Scrum-half) from Benetton
Ethan Waller (Loosehead Prop) from Worcester Warriors
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Second Row) from Queensland Reds
Angus Scott-Young (Back Row) from Queensland Reds
Aaron Hinkley (Back Row) from Exeter Chiefs
Robbie Smith (Hooker) from Newcastle Falcons
James Ramm (Winger) from NSW Waratahs
Sam Graham (Back Row) from Doncaster Knights
Alfie Petch (Tighthead Prop) from Exeter Chiefs
Outgoings:
Tiemana Harrison (Back Row) to Provence
Piers Francis (Centre) to Bath Rugby
Taqele Naiyaravoro (Winger) to Green Rockets Tokatsu
Ahsee Tuala (Full-back) to Counties Manukau
Api Ratuniyarawa (Second Row) to London Irish
Nick Auterac (Loosehead Prop) to Edinburgh
JJ Tonks (Back Row) to Bath Rugby
Ollie Newman (Back Row) to Ealing Trailfinders
Josh Gillespie (Winger) to Ealing Trailfinders
Karl Garside (Tighthead Prop) to Doncaster Knights
Reece Marshall (Hooker) to Chinnor
Leroy O’Neil (Loosehead Prop) to Bury St Edmunds
Conor Carey (Tighthead Prop) released
Connor Tupai (Scrum-half) released
Tom Wood (Back Row) retired
Areas of strength
Northampton have probably the strongest set of second-rows in the Gallagher Premiership this season.
It is quite astonishing when you list the depth they have in the lock position which includes Alex Coles, Alex Moon, Courtney Lawes, Dave Ribbans and new signing Lukhan Salakaia- Loto.
The quality is that impressive that England international Lawes will most likely operate as a blindside flanker to fit Salakaia-Loto into the starting 15.
It seems it is only a matter of time before Ribbans earns his first England cap if he continues his fine from in the row for the Saints.
Northampton also have an array of excellent options that can play in the fly-half position.
Dan Biggar will of course be entrusted to lead the backline once again this season, but James Grayson is a quality back up who will push the Wales skipper all the way as well as covering for the him when he is on international duty.
They also have the luxury that George Furbank, who is predominantly a full-back, can slip into the 10 position when needed which helps give Dowson choices.
The last area of strength I can see in this Saints squad is in the back three, and how exciting these options are.
Tommy Freeman has been a revelation since he broke into the Saints first team, even earning himself England caps against Australia during their recent summer Test series.
Another young hotshot to keep tabs on is Ollie Sleightholme. The 22-year-old winger, who is following in his dad's footsteps, had a season to remember in 2020-21 scoring nine tries in 12 appearances. He struggled in the last campaign to replicate those sorts of numbers - failing to score in his 11 appearances - but there is clear potential there and you would expect him to get back to doing what he does best; scoring tries.
Areas of weakness
One area of the Saints squad that looks weaker than the rest is the prop positions.
Ethan Waller is a quality addition from Worcester Warriors and will provide great competition alongside youngster Emmanuel Iyogun for his brother, Alex.
However in the tighthead position, they will be entrusting Paul Hill and Ehren Painter. Both are solid Premiership players but when you look around the league at other teams tightheads such as Harry Williams (Exeter), Vincent Koch (Wasps) and Kyle Sinckler (Bristol), then you can see it is an area where they could have strengthened. When the duo come up against the leagues best scrummagers, they may be exposed.
Northampton have had stability in the last four years with Boyd, who came to the club with vast experience from his time at the Hurricanes, but it will be interesting to see how the new era under Dowson begins. Whilst he is woven into the fabric of Northampton, this is his first gig as a Director of Rugby which is going to challenge him greatly, especially at a team with such high standards and expectations.
The former Saints player will have a strong squad to work with and his understanding of the club will help, but it remains to
be seen whether Boyd has passed on enough knowledge to the 40-year-old to excel this campaign.
Opening fixtures
Round 1: Sale Sharks (A)
Round 2: London Irish (H)
Round 3: Leicester Tigers (H)
Round 4: Harlequins (A)
Round 5: Wasps (A)
The Saints start to the season couldn’t been much harder with three massive away games in their opening five matchdays.
Home clashes against an up-and-coming London Irish and champions Leicester Tigers are also going to test Dowson. If last year’s beaten semi-finalists can come out of the opening five matches in and around mid-table, they will be content.
Predicted line-up:
1. Ethan Waller
2. Sam Matavesi
3. Paul Hill
4. Dave Ribbans
5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
6. Courtney Lawes
7. Lewis Ludlam
8. Juarno Augustus
9. Alex Mitchell
10. Dan Biggar
11. Tom Collins
12. Rory Hutchinson
13. Fraser Dingwall
14. Ollie Sleightholme
15. Tommy Freeman
Predicted finish: 9th
This may come as a surprise to many considering the Saints finished last year in fourth and have improved their squad over the off-season but with a change in coaching staff, I believe Dowson will struggle in his first Director of Rugby role.
The Saints clearly have a top four worthy team, but a change at the top is huge and takes time for adjustment. With the strength of the Premiership this season, I can, unfortunately, only see it going one way.
During Boyd’s time in charge, the Saints were one of the most up and down teams in the Premiership. One week they were world beaters then the next they couldn’t get any sort of attacking move going. With a new coach who is trying to get his new ideas across, will the Saints be able to adapt and generate some momentum? I can't wait to find out.
