by Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson said he was looking forward to seeing how England use Tommy Freeman in the autumn internationals after he starred in the Saints’ impressive 47-17 win over Sale.
Freeman played the first four games of Northampton’s season on the wings, but started outside the center against Sale, who quickly let the game slip away after youngster Alex Wills was sent to the sin bin in the first half.
It was Freeman’s last game in the Gallagher Premiership before he reported for international duty against England, whose coach Steve Borthwick appears to have a major problem with where to play him. Dowson said of the 23-year-old: “He’s obviously good at all positions – full-back, winger, 13 today – and the more you have him on the ball, the better.” He was given some space today and showed what a capable player he is is.
“Steve has some great decisions to make in that area – Henry Slade is one of the best in the league and he’s back fit so he has to make some decisions about how he balances that. I would be surprised if he [Freeman] wasn’t somewhere in the mix and where he fits and how he fits and how they bring him into the game is interesting.”
Northampton, looking to bounce back from their derby defeat to Leicester, scored early through Freeman and George Furbank before Luke Cowan-Dickie scored a try for Sale. However, three tries within six minutes followed Wills’ yellow card as Ollie Sleightholme (two) and Tom James extended Saints’ lead.
“We want to do this every week”?@TommyFreemo15 looks back on an incredible first half @SaintsRugby!#GallagherPrem | #NORvSAL pic.twitter.com/Vown0gVimo
– Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) October 18, 2024
George Hendy’s intercept score made it 40-10 at half-time and after Joe Carpenter equalized after the break, James Ramm rounded off the evening for Northampton, who celebrated their 18th consecutive home win at Franklin’s Gardens.
Dowson added: “In the derby [at Leicester]“We didn’t take advantage of many of our opportunities, but today we converted pretty much everything thanks to the bounce of the ball and a stroke of luck.”
Rugby sales manager Alex Sanderson took his share of responsibility for the Sharks’ performance. He said: “They were sharp and aggressive and we played too loosely against an angry team if I’m honest and that’s down to preparation.”
“I said I take that from the guys – as coaches we probably weren’t focused on the right things during the week and that looseness showed in the turnover attempts and a lack of physicality showed in some of those opening sets on defense.”
“We were 30 points down at half-time and this climb is too steep and too long against a decent team. Our execution in attack was as bad as ever, but it was good, so that was the exception at least in the last three weeks.
“It’s very difficult to put your finger on it without watching the tape, but I think mentality dictates your behavior and I think I misunderstood that this week.”
