Lawes hails 14-man Saints

With 30 minutes remaining at Thomond Park, Saints found themselves ten points and one man down. But the men in Black, Green and Gold fought back to snatch a memorable victory thanks to the boot of Fin Smith, and a Sam Graham try ten minutes from time.

It was Saints’ first-ever win in Munster territory and ensured they would finish Pool 3 with a clean sweep of victories heading into the knock-out stages – when they will meet with Munster once more in the Round of 16 at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on the weekend of 5/6/7 April.

Lawes was a 22-year-old lock when he was part of the Saints side that succumbed to Ronan O’Gara’s late match-winning drop-goal 12 years ago, this time around the long-serving forward was on the winning side and was named man-of-the-match.

Saints have made it a habit of coming from behind to win games this season having trailed against Exeter Chiefs, Sale Sharks, Toulon and Gloucester to ultimately snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Lawes conceded that falling behind on the scoreboard is not ideal, but the reactions speak volumes for the squad and its resolve.

The 34-year-old explained: “It’s not perfect, and not necessarily want we want to do, but when we are down, we know we can come back and that breeds great confidence which is what we need going into the back end of the season.”

Saints found themselves down to 13 men on the stroke of half time as a red card for Curtis Langdon added to an earlier yellow for George Furbank.

It meant the visitors had to kick off the second period still at a two-man disadvantage but they landed the half’s first points when Smith landed a 43rd-minute penalty.

“We had a game plan, and we knew we had to last three minutes of the second half for Furbank to come back on, we knew we had the wind and could start playing rugby again,” said Lawes.

“I think we have got a lot of players now that are maturing as good international standard players which shows in the amount of players going away for the Six Nations, and I can’t wait to watch them. When you have got these kind of players in your team, it brings that confidence.

“They are working exceptionally hard to become consistent players, and it shows. That is why we can win game after game, because boys understand how to get themselves into the right place to go out each week and perform.”

The two-time British and Irish Lions tourist has played in many big games throughout his career, and feels that has helped him in Saints’ recent comebacks and tense moments.

“I kind of understand that when you’re going into the last ten minutes and you’re behind, that you need to find an opportunity, you need to do something to win a turnover or to make a play,” he said.

“So, I suppose that has grown over the years as I have played and start to understand the games a lot more. That is all I am thinking in those kinds of situations. We are down, we need to do something that will give us the opportunity to win the game.”

Attentions now turn back to the Gallagher Premiership, as Saints host Newcastle Falcons at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday afternoon (kick-off: 2pm).

Having played 38 times in the Six Nations across 12 different editions, for the first time since making his tournament debut in 2012, Lawes will remain with his and Club and not reporting in for international duty, following his retirement from England after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

“There is a first time for everything,” he said. “I’m looking forward to next week’s game, and after that, a few weeks off with the family and enjoying myself.”