Two-try hero Alex Waller targets another career first at Munster

Alex Waller has ticked off one career first already in the early weeks of 2024 and is targeting another when Northampton Saints travel to Munster this weekend.

On the occasion of his 367th appearance in Black, Green and Gold, the long-serving prop managed to bag a brace of scores for the first time in a competitive Saints game as Bayonne were blown away at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

The 33-year-old struck from close range in each half of the 61-14 victory but was denied the chance of registering the most unlikely of hat-tricks when he made way for Emmanuel Iyogun with 26 minutes remaining.

“I don’t know what I was thinking!” he said. “I can’t remember the last time that happened! 

Waller’s strike rate when going for the line was indicative of the team as a whole on Friday night as Phil Dowson’s side registered its third-highest points total in European club rugby’s elite competition, falling only six short of the total put past Benetton – a match which Waller featured in as a replacement – a little over nine years ago.

“It was a bit of a rough start for the lads last week [away at Exeter],’’ added Waller. “We spoke about starting strong and trying to keep that tempo up throughout. I am pretty pleased with it overall.

“There were a couple of blips second half, I am a bit disappointed to let them in for a couple of tries, but overall, it was really good to be honest.”

A third bonus point victory on the spin booked Saints their place in the Round of 16 and results that followed elsewhere across the weekend also mean that the knock-out game against to-be-confirmed opponents will be held at the Gardens in April.

But before then they have a final Pool match to negotiate against old rivals Munster – a side Waller has packed down against four times and is yet to emerge victorious.

His first taste of tackling the Irish province came in 2011 when Saints were put to the sword at the Gardens losing 51-36. Waller was also on the pitch at Thomond Park alongside Dowson when Munster trailed in stoppage time before producing 41 phases culminating in Ronan O’Gara’s match-winning drop-goal.

The 2022/23 season thrust the two sides back together once more with Saints losing twice more but once again put up a stronger showing when in Limerick.

“It's always a good place to play,” said Waller. “I am fortunate to have played there a couple of times. The atmosphere is fantastic, it is a real colosseum effect. Last season we pushed them pretty close at their place, I've never won there and I would like to.

“It is one of those stadiums you want to play in as a player and experience. Most of the lads have experienced that now and hopefully we can go out there and put our game on them and come away with a win in Munster.”