Scarlets 17 Northampton 29: NORTHAMPTON DIRECTOR of rugby Jim Mallinder hailed "world-class" match winner Ben Foden after the England fullback laid down a marker for Six Nations selection by playing a key role in their thrilling 29-17 comeback win over the Scarlets in Pool One.
Saints had trailed 14-6 at the break at Parc y Scarlets, but tries from prop Soane Tonga’uiha and Foden, plus a 17-point contribution from the boot of outhalf Stephen Myler, secured a win that keeps the Premiership side in with a chance of dropping into the Amlin Challenge Cup.
Foden was a prominent presence throughout and he capped a superb individual performance with two telling contributions at the denouement of an absorbing contest.
With the score at 22-17 in the visitors’ favour, but with the Scarlets hammering away desperately searching for a try that would preserve their Heineken ambition, Foden firstly made a superb covering tackle to deny opposite number Liam Williams in the left-hand corner.
And he followed that up by intercepting a pass from Scarlets replacement Rhodri Williams to race the length of the field for the clinching score from the final play of the game.
The excellent form of Harlequins’ Mike Brown means Foden is facing a genuine challenge for his England spot, but the quality of his display will not have gone unnoticed by England coach Stuart Lancaster.
Mallinder said: “He is a quality player and it’s not the first time he has played so well, I think it shows what a world-class player he is in attack and defence. It made a difference having Ben at fullback today, we know the Scarlets have a very good kicking game, and having him and our two wingers (Chris Ashton and Vasily Artemyev) playing really well meant our back three was a lot safer.”
The win also saw Northampton gain revenge for the 28-23 defeat they suffered at the hands of the Scarlets earlier in the pool stage.
SCARLETS:L Williams, North, S Williams, J Davies, Iongi, Priestland, G Davies, I Thomas, M Rees, Manu, Reed, Day, Shingler, McCusker, Morgan. Replacements: S. Jones for Iongi (58), R Jones for G Davies (73), John for I Thomas (58), Owens for M. Rees (57), R. Williams for Manu (73), J Edwards for Day (65), Turnbull for McCusker (75). Not used: Maule.
NORTHAMPTON:Foden, Ashton, Pisi, May, Artemyev, Myler, Roberts, Tonga'uiha, Hartley, Mujati, Manoa, Sorenson, Clark, Dowson, Wilson, Haywood. Replacements: Armstrong for May (74), Lamb for Myler (73), Doran-Jones for Roberts (58), A. Waller for Tonga'uiha (70), Haywood for Hartley (70), Dickson for Mujati (58), Day for Sorenson (63), Nutley for Haywood (73). Sin bin: May (2).
Referee:Alain Rolland (Ireland).
