Kemeny relishing being back in Saints mix

Josh Kemeny got his first taste of winter rugby in England last weekend, in what was the start of the Northampton Saints back rower’s attempt to make up for lost time.

The 61-0 win against Newcastle Falcons at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens was the 26-year-old’s return to action after nearly two months out injured, and he marked it by scoring one of Saints’ nine tries.

While temperatures were perhaps colder than Kemeny is used to playing in, he at least did not have to adapt to the stormy conditions that have afflicted some of the men in Black, Green and Gold’s games recently.

Not that he was any more comfortable watching as he saw his team-mates go through some mixed fortunes during his time on the sidelines.

The 30-21 win at the Vodacom Bulls in the Investec Champions Cup was one Kemeny wishes he could have been a part of, but he also sat through the Gallagher Premiership losses against Gloucester and Saracens, wishing he could have made an impact.

It added to the frustration of returning from an injury that had proved hard to shake off.

Kemeny said: “I got a bad dead leg and recovering was a bit frustrating because I wouldn't have thought it would have been a four or five-week injury, but once we got on top of it I felt good, I felt strong, and my lungs were probably tested having not played for a few weeks, but I'm feeling really good.

“It was just weird timing because we had a break during the PRC and then my injury kicked off after that, so it ended up dragging on longer than I would have liked and I missed a few good games, but also a few games we struggled with, so I was just really excited to get back and add value to the team.

“I just want to be a part of everything and add to the team.

Kemeny’s try against Newcastle was his third in a Saints shirt, with the first of those coming on the opening night of the season against this afternoon's opponents, Bath.

The five points earned last Saturday went some way towards making up the ground on those above Saints in the Premiership table, with five losses from their first eight league games reducing their margin for error.

Kemeny is aware they will need to produce as strong a start as they made against the Falcons to give themselves the best chance of avenging the 38-16 defeat they suffered at The Rec in September.

“There are games where we haven’t necessarily gotten that right and we’re trying to play catch-up, and that’s not where we want to be, so starting fast, being physical and taking it to them from the first is definitely an important factor,” Kemeny said.

“It’s clear that there have been times when we’ve shown our ability to do that, and there have been times when we haven’t, but I think the main part of it is that we know what we need to do and it’s just about going out and doing it.”

Despite the change in climate at this time of year, Kemeny has started to feel settled in Northampton and is enjoying the relentless challenge that is playing rugby in England.

With his first taste of the Champions Cup is on the horizon, Kemeny’s maiden season of competing in the Premiership has been exactly what he expected ahead of joining Saints from Melbourne Rebels last summer.

He said: “It’s such a strongly supported league which I’m really enjoying being a part of and just the rugby itself, and how competitive it is, is something that is really making me grow and testing my ability.

“The Newcastle game was one we did sort of get away in very early, but other than that – and I’ve been lucky enough to play in a few games where I’ve played 80 minutes – it is a contest right to the end, which is a massive challenge that I’m enjoying.”