Northampton Saints must learn from their missed opportunity against Ealing Trailfinders so lightning doesn’t strike twice for the remainder of the 2024/25, according to director of rugby Phil Dowson.
Having stormed into the quarter-finals with five wins from six games, the men in Black, Green and Gold bowed out of the Premiership Rugby Cup at the quarter-final stage with a 26-43 reverse to their Championship visitors to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
“We’ve got to make sure we learn, we rue the mistakes from today and that we’re better next time,” said Dowson.
“Ealing were bang up for it and credit to them because they wanted to come here and prove a point – and they proved that point with an exclamation mark.”
Saints trailed by ten points at the break and lost Iakopo Mapu to a red card less than a minute into the second period, as Ealing added two more tries to their first-half haul of four to progress into the semi-finals of the competition for the second season running, when they take on Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.
“Credit to Ealing,” added Dowson. “We knew they were going to be a handful and a very talented side, and they were that. They dominated us really from start to finish.
“We’re going to have to go through and have a really good look at our training week, our preparation, our selection, our attitude.“
Phil Dowson, director of rugby
“Because actually they looked like they were far more up for it than we were, which is a huge shame because we felt we’d set the tone during the week in terms of the opportunity to play in a quarter-final, the opportunity to earn a semi-final and also the threat Ealing have.
“Clearly we didn’t get that message over to the playing group because the actions on the pitch didn’t reflect that.”
Welcome back, @BurgerOdendaal 🖤💚💛
— Northampton Saints 😇 (@SaintsRugby) March 1, 2025
A first appearance for the centre since his injury in last season’s Prem Final. pic.twitter.com/k838z9O9YT
James Ramm’s hat-trick was a positive for the hosts, as was the return to action of Burger Odendaal following the knee injury he suffered in Saints’ last domestic knock-out game victory – the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership final victory over Bath last June.
While the South African produced some storming hits that bode well for the run-in, Dowson hoped the centre would’ve had more chances to impress before the Gallagher Premiership returns on 21 March with Leicester Tigers’ visit to the Gardens.
“I’m disappointed because we talked about this tournament being an opportunity for Burger to come back in and play after he'd worked his socks off for eight and a half months after that final to get back fit,” Dowson said.
“To come into that game when the game’s gone, we’re down to 14 and we’re playing poorly is not reflective of what Burger deserves.”
