Emmanuel Iyogun Exclusive: “You feel like it’s your turn to write some history - Why can’t it be us?”
Manny Iyogun and Northampton Saints will be aiming to lift the club game’s most prestigious trophy for the first time since 2000
©Northampton Saints
Northampton prop Emmanuel Iyogun says his team “hasn’t won anything yet” as they prepare to face Bordeaux-Bègles in Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup final.
The Saints reached their first Champions Cup final since 2011 after recording arguably one of the greatest victories in the history of the competition when they defeated Leinster 37-34 in the semi-finals.
Now, the current Premiership champions will be looking to match the achievements of 25 years ago when Northampton last lifted the biggest prize in club rugby.
“This group of players hasn’t won anything yet,” Iyogun tells TRU. “Last year’s team won the Premiership and now you feel like it is your turn to write your own history.
“That’s been our mentality all season. The moment you start thinking you’ve made it, someone else will come along and prove you wrong.
“That mindset has been instilled in us from the start, and I think the performance against Leinster was a clear reflection of that. The approach doesn’t change this week. Why not us?”
Saints’ style of play under Director of Rugby Phil Dowson has drawn widespread praise, but despite a mixed campaign in the Premiership, defeating the likes of the Bulls and Leinster away from home in the Champions Cup is no mean feat.
And Iyogun believes that stems from the strong bond within the squad.
“I’d say the connection we have off the pitch is fundamental to what we do on it,” he adds.
“You can’t fake the celebrations or how happy we are for each other when we win. That’s genuine. We’re best mates off the field. We spend time together outside of rugby and I think that’s the secret sauce, if you like.”
Iyogun, who started in Saints’ Round of 16 and quarter-final wins over Top 14 sides Clermont and Castres, says he expects a similar challenge this weekend in Cardiff against a Bordeaux outfit who have a deadly attacking game.
Looking at the wider European picture, French clubs have lifted the Champions Cup in each of the last four seasons, with Toulouse and La Rochelle collecting two titles apiece.
From an English perspective, only Saracens and Exeter have added their names to the trophy in the last 18 years.
“The Top 14 tends to be more abrasive, with bigger collisions, whereas the Premiership is generally quicker, with a greater emphasis on speed,” Iyogun explains.
“Each French team has its own unique style, and Bordeaux are no different. They have a powerful pack, but they also possess dangerous livewires in the back three [the likes of Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey] that we’ll need to be very aware of.”
As for Iyogun himself, the 24-year-old, who has been a regular in the Saints side this season, reflected on his unique journey to this point, in particular his transition from number eight to loosehead prop.
“I actually moved to Southend Rugby Club when I was about 16 and got put at number eight,” Iyogun says.
“I was picked up by the Saints Academy after a game against Colchester, and then, after finishing sixth form at 18, I was given the option to transition into playing prop. I was a bit sceptical at first, but honestly, I’m loving it now. It’s a tough position, but I relish that and I enjoy the abrasiveness of it.
“Ferg [Matt Ferguson - Northampton scrum coach] has been awesome. I honestly can’t speak highly enough of him, both as a person and as a coach.
“When I first moved to prop, he was the one constantly building my confidence. In training, I was going up against Owen Franks and Paul Hill, two top-class operators and they got the better of me at times. Unit sessions were tough, but working with Ferg on the technical side has been massive for my development and it’ll be sad to see him go when he leaves at the end of the season.”
Iyogun’s consistent performances over the last couple of years led to him being recognised by England ‘A’ earlier this season, and a potential senior call-up might not be too far away.
On Tuesday, England boss Steve Borthwick named his 33-man training squad for this summer’s tour to Argentina and the USA, but it didn’t include players from Northampton or Bath due to their respective European finals this weekend.
However, Iyogun was quick to shut down any international chatter.
“The moment you start thinking about stuff like that, you’re ruined. I am solely focused on helping my team win on Saturday and I am absolutely buzzing for it”.
In terms of Northampton team news, the fitness of hooker Curtis Langdon, lock Alex Coles and full-back James Ramm will be monitored by the club while the Saints are waiting to find out whether George Furbank will be available to feature in the matchday 23.
Whether Northampton can deliver another message to the rest of Europe remains to be seen, but if Saints and Iyogun can bring the Champions Cup back to the East Midlands, they will be remembered forever.
