Langdon: Sale is the test that Saints want

If Northampton Saints are serious about going all the way and lifting silverware this season, Curtis Langdon believes it must start with a home win over Sale Sharks this weekend.

The men in Black, Green and Gold go into Saturday’s sold-out showdown at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens (kick-off: 3.05pm) off the back of five straight wins, which included a victory away at defending Gallagher Premiership champions, Saracens.

Phil Dowson’s side must navigate their way past the side the Londoners defeated in last season’s final to keep their winning run rolling entering the new year and remain in the driving seat for a top-two league finish – and with it secure a home play-off semi-final.

Saints know first-hand the size of the challenge ahead having lost the reverse fixture 20-15 in Round 1, and former Sharks hooker Langdon knows how important the return match will be for his new employers’ title credentials.

“Sale will be up for it this weekend,” he said. “They missed out in the final last year. Their main goal is to go one better this year. They’ve got some good experience from that final.

Since that mid-October loss, Saints have suffered defeat only twice in their next ten games to give themselves a fighting chance of entering 2024 leading from the front both domestically, and in Europe.

“We have come on a lot since losing to Sale,” he added. “cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens is sold out which is going to be nice. It'll be a big occasion, the winner could potentially go top of the league so we’re all excited about it as a squad. Hopefully we can be on the right end of the result.”

Langdon has started seven of the Club’s nine league games this season scoring four tries in the process, including a brace last time out against Gloucester.

It has been a fast start to life as a Saintsman for the 26-year-old who spent six seasons at Sale Sharks, which ended with a short-lived move to Worcester Warriors before ending the 2022/23 campaign playing in the Top 14 with Montpellier.

“I am really enjoying playing in this team,” said Langdon. “I knew how much potential we had coming here. I watched Northampton a lot last year and I was really excited to get involved and try and add my bit to the team.

“It has been going really well, we’ve been putting in good performances. Sometimes even at the weekend wasn’t probably our best performance, we still managed to get the win which was a pleasing thing. 

“So, for us now, it is probably just not to get ahead of ourselves, keep that drive in training to get better and hopefully we can carry on getting wins and putting good performances on the pitch.”