Phil Dowson blasts 'very poor' Northampton Saints defence despite beating Bath to move top of the Gallagher PREM

React to this story

Northampton Saints sealed a thrilling late 41-38 win against Bath in a Gallagher PREM top-of-the-table clash but director of rugby Phil Dowson was still not pleased by his side's defensive performance.

Highlights: Smith’s last-kick penalty has Northampton Saints secure thrilling victory over Bath

Video credit: TNT Sports

Saints held a 12 point lead at half-time but needed an 83rd-minute penalty from Fin Smith to avoid a draw against a much-changed Bath side to leapfrog their opponents into first place in the table.

But Dowson was unimpressed with the defensive element of his side despite gaining maximum points, as Northampton have now conceded 150 points in their past four matches.

He told TNT Sports: ”Fundamentally, we’re too easy to score against. That’s what’s keeping the games close.

PREM

Lane 'looks like he's lame' after hobbling to score try in big Bristol win

a day ago

”As soon as they had an opportunity in the 22, they made it to the five. Discipline was poor on the five, conceding off tap and go's again.

”The attack’s the thing the media will pick up on but as a group all we’ll talk about is our physicality. We spend as much time on our defence as we do on our attack and throughout this season it’s been quite good.

”But recently, for whatever reason - and we’ve got to get to the bottom of it and we started that process after [Castres] - we haven’t quite got there yet.

”I say it all the time to the lads: the game doesn’t lie and it will expose elements of our game that simply aren’t good enough and that was the case today.”

Despite all of Northampton’s defensive problems, Dowson was eager to praise his opponents and could see how his side can learn from their errors going forward.

He said: ”Now what I would say is I thought Bath were excellent. They got in among us and we got away from our game.

”It’s a bit like the reverse of our fixture down there. They played very well and we were very poor.

”We get to test ourselves and see exactly every week where we’re not good enough and that’s what we’re after from a training point of view.”

Late penalty causes controversy at Franklin’s Gardens

Northampton looked comfortable in the match as they held Bath at arm’s length for the first half, before Tom de Glanville cut the deficit to five and Archie Griffin went over to draw level with 20 minutes remaining.

Tommy Freeman thought he had won it for Saints, only for Kepu Tuipulotu to strike back with a try of his own three minutes later.

Despite Smith’s late penalty sparing Northampton’s blushes, Bath still walked away with two bonus points and sit just five points behind Saints.

'Welcome to the house of run' - Sleightholme puts on the afterburners to extend Northampton’s lead

Video credit: TNT Sports

Bath head coach Johann van Grann criticised the late decision from the referee in a very physical game with plenty of aggressive tackles which were not penalised.

He said: ”The referee made a decision. Gutting to lose an amazing game like that.

”We are tough to beat, we stick to our process, we go to our strengths, we came here to win and congratulations to Northampton, but what a game of rugby, and I am so proud of our lads."

Watch and stream the Gallagher PREM and Premiership Women's Rugby live on TNT Sports and HBO Max

PREM