The upcoming Champions Cup semi-final on Saturday, between Leinster and Northampton, promises to be a fascinating battle of equally matched rugby strategies. The two teams, both known for their attacking prowess, will face off at Croke Park. Each team’s coaching staff advocates for a ball-play strategy and both sides have had an impressive run this season with well-executed set-piece tries and dynamic counter-attacks. The teams’ star scrumhalves, Jamison Gibson-Park and Alex Mitchell, are relied upon to steer the attack.
On the defensive front, both teams’ coaches insist on a strict focus on breaking down the opposition’s play. Rugby strategists will be keen to see how this symmetry in approach plays out – will it result in a non-stop, basketball-esque performance or will the equivalent playing styles neutralise the match?
Northampton’s head coach, Sam Vesty, anticipates a thrilling dynamic on the pitch and concurs that both teams will strive to bring their best game. He highlighted that alike tactics extend to the recent recruitment of new defence coaches by both teams ahead of this season. Under Jacques Nienaber’s guidance, Leinster have overhauled their approach, focusing more on delays and significantly increasing their line speed.
When it comes to Northampton, their new defence coach, Lee Radford, hasn’t altered their setup fundamentally. They mirror Leinster’s determination to penetrate the opposition’s play, although they show slightly less urgency on the line.
“We’re aggressive in pursuing the ball and aim to regain possession, but we don’t emphasise line speed excessively,” specifies Vesty. “Unlike the fast-moving defence observed from teams like England, Exeter, South Africa or indeed Leinster, our preference is aimed towards robust teamwork. Once the team syncs up, it propels forward as forcefully as possible.”
Rugby analyst Carrick Blake ranks Northampton near the top of the Premiership for their ability to intercept attackers behind the gain line, reflecting the efficacy of their connectivity defence.
Under the guidance of ex-manager Chris Boyd, Northampton has significantly evolved its powerful attacking style and bolstered its defensive prowess. This new blend has given the team the necessary lift, considering they experienced a disappointing season last year, failing to secure a win in any of their European pool matches and coming in at fourth in the Premiership. However, the tables have turned – they are now projected to top the league and are competing in the final four of the Champions Cup.
Fraser Dingwall, who plays a crucial role in the team’s strategic defence, sheds light on the revamped defensive procedures put in place by Radford. Dingwall highlights that they have amplified their physical strength, engaged in a rigorous gym schedule in the off-season, and increased the overall weight of the squad. Another crucial factor in their defensive upgrade has been a shift in mindset, with Radford’s robust personality motivating the team to defend diligently, fostering a sense of solidarity on the pitch.
The results of these changes are evident, as Northampton stands tenth globally in their dominant tackle rate (9.5 per cent) across leading club competitions, including the Premiership, URC, Top14, and Super Rugby. Concurrently, Leinster occupies a position slightly lower with a rate of 9.1 per cent.
Vesty elaborates on their ongoing efforts over a couple of years in recruitment and training with an aim to add an extra edge to their performance. Noteworthy among the recent recruits is Fin Smith, a promising young England outhalf from Worcester Warriors, and Curtis Langdon, a hooker known for his substantial contribution to the offensive play. As of last week’s match where he didn’t play, Langdon led the Premiership hookers in defenders beaten, line breaks, and tries scored. His defined approach in attack also reflected in his number of carries.
In a recent match against Leicester, Langdon succeeded in scoring a distant try when the Saints chose a characteristic attack. Mitchell, the scrumhalf, noticed the opponents’ confusion when the Saints’ runners crowded a small area on the blindside, resulting in an opened up gap perfect for Langdon.
In terms of taking phases down the blindside, the Saints are globally ranked fourth, with a notable 14.6%. Mitchell’s stealthy approach and the collaborative efforts of the team contribute to this, as stated by Vesty. He further expresses that Mitchell’s success relies heavily on his comrades’ dynamism, which presents him ample chances to capitalise on the short sides. However, without any external threats, Mitchell could be potentially cornered, while multiple simultaneous events, like linemen positioning themselves strategically or wingers flanking him, would paralyse efforts to trap him.
Interestingly, Northampton’s small-sided triumphs don’t limit their performance. The wider they disperse the ball, the more territory they gain. A distance of 60m from the ruck sees gains around six metres each phase. However, reducing this gap practically halves the amount. These figures not only display the potency of their outside backs but also emphasise the valuable contribution of those playing nearer to the ruck.
As Vesty mentions, the players’ ability to maintain defenders in a tighter formation contributes to this. The strategy may seem paradoxical, but a more precise line results in better performance. The aggressiveness of Ireland in maintaining their tighter defence compels the defenders to hold off, leaving more room to progress.
Northampton’s skill in luring defenders was on display for Munster during their round of 16 encounter with them. In this winning match, they managed to score an impressive 80-metre try after a lineout by successfully pulling potential tacklers into the midfield before spreading the ball wide, proving lethal in this scenario.
While the Saints score about 55% of their tries from lineouts, they also provide equilibrium with nearly a quarter of their scores arising from disrupted field counterattacks.
Vesty expands on how the ball possession is classified into three – set piece, transition, and kick, and emphasises the importance of having a flexible, yet effective, strategy for each of them. Propagating their philosophy of advancement, he insists on the continuous forward motion of the game and ball. He crystallises Northampton’s approach by stating that against the 13-arrayed defenders, 14 breeches present themselves, emphasising their intent to exploit every available space.
While the Saints have certainly displayed a powerful offence, it hasn’t been enough to secure a victory against Leinster in their last three European encounters since 2019. Nonetheless, Vesty acknowledges that this is most potent the Saints have been in some time, owing this to a bolstered defence and club rugby’s second most precise lineout. “We’ve improved as a team,” he affirms. “We’ve become more resilient. It might sound clichéd, akin to a line from Ted Lasso, but it holds true. Our belief has given us a boost in confidence. We are currently in the best form we’ve seen in quite a while.”