Braley clicking into gear after getting to grips with Saints’ style

Ahead of this weekend’s trip to face Exeter Chiefs in the Gallagher Premiership, we sat down with Northampton Saints scrum-half Callum Braley…

Q: We should first look back on last Sunday’s victory against Harlequins, where everything seemed to click…
CB: We definitely got a few things right that we’d been focusing on. We had good energy and a good buzz within the group after the Christmas break and a couple of frustrating results. As a group we are happy with what we achieved, the way we played and we’re focusing now on backing that up, away from home, this weekend.

Q: How much do you think that break around Christmas helped, after some frustrating results last month?
CB: It was a sticky few weeks, to be honest. We played some good rugby but we didn’t quite click, and we couldn’t get the ball over the line as much as we wanted to. I think the break came at a good time. It kind of refocused and refreshed us, and when we came back in after Christmas, the boys were really revved up to crack on for this block of games.

Q: Was one of the best parts of the Quins game how you took the game away from them, rather than allow them a route back in, as had been the case in other games this season?
CB: We’ve definitely focused more of our energy on defence this last week and it’s going to be our focus moving forward as well. Obviously, we’ve been talking about consistent performances, putting in a consistent 80 minutes, and we hadn’t really done that this year. So to be able to put on a good display for 80 minutes, stay alive, and not let them back into the game was probably the most pleasing part.

Q: Was your own performance during the game your best since your arrival at Saints?
CB: I definitely think that it was the first time I’ve come off the field and been pleased with my contribution for the team. I’ve been frustrated with what I’ve delivered for the team so far, so I was happy to come off the field and feel like I helped the team and contributed positively. Hopefully I can back it up, keep putting my hand up for the team and be part of some good wins going forward.

Q: How have you been settling in since signing from Benetton Rugby last summer?
CB: It has been a challenge. We play a certain way that I haven’t really been used to before, where there’s a lot of onuses on the nines, more licence to have a crack. It’s something I’ve probably been a bit rigid with in the last couple of years, with the way that I played, so it’s taken a bit of time to feel comfortable in our system and have free decision-making. It’s taken a bit of time – longer than I would have liked – but hopefully I can say I’m settling in well.

Q: Have you had to get used to the Gallagher Premiership again after a couple of years away?
CB: One of the reasons why I wanted to come back was I think the Premiership is the best league in the world. It’s so competitive and that’s why I wanted to be involved in it. I love how competitive it is, and every week is like a Test match. It’s an absolute slog and a dog fight, so it’s been good to get back in that and hopefully we can pick up after what we have achieved so far.

Q: You will have known how competitive your own position would be at Saints, what has it been like to work with Alex Mitchell and Tom James?
CB: It’s been really good. When I signed, I knew the situation and how good Mitch was, what he can do. That was obvious, and TJ is a quality player as well. I knew coming in that game time would be limited, but I’m really enjoying working with him and TJ. I think we’re a good unit and we all offer slightly different things, so it’s been good fun and hopefully I can keep doing what I do and help the team win.

Q: Let’s look ahead to Exeter Chiefs on Saturday, just what will you be expecting from them at Sandy Park?
CB: A physical battle! Everyone knows, after the last couple of years, that they have good forwards, a good set-piece and they like to dominate teams physically, so we’re expecting a big physical battle. They’ve got more line speed and they’re a bit more aggressive in defence than they have been, so that will be a good challenge for us. The way we want to play, the way we want to attack, it is important we get on the front foot. Hopefully we can do that and create some attacking opportunities off the back of it.

Q: How important is it not to get dragged into a game that gets played at close quarters, which is what Exeter seem to like?
CB: We’re a team that want to dominate teams physically, but we can do that in a variety of ways. We don’t have to do that in ‘channel one,’ we can move the ball into wide channels and still be physical there, so it will be important that we don’t get tied into an arm-wrestle or a set-piece battle. It’s important that we have our all-court game.

Q: You mentioned Saints’ away record this season, just what has been preventing them from getting results on the road?
CB: It’s hard to say, I don’t think it’s anything specific. So far this year we haven’t really been able to have consistent performances. We’ve made errors at crucial times and not managed momentum as well as we probably could have. Away from home, it’s vital you manage momentum and know that if you do make errors that you back them up with positive actions. Chiefs are one of the best teams in the league so they will have good spells in the game, but it’s important that we wrestle back momentum and get on the front foot when we can.

Q: How much are you looking forward to the challenges ahead this month, with Munster, Stade Rochelais and Leicester coming up beyond this weekend?
CB: We’ve spoken a lot about this block of games and this really is a massive part of our season. We’ve obviously got Chiefs away and our record away from home has not been good enough, so to get a result away from home is our focus, and then off the back of that we’re into two massive games in Europe that are going to be massive challenges for us. We’re in a very exciting block of games, we’re going to be really tested as a group to stick to our guns and stick to our plan. Hopefully we can do that.