Lady Luck certainly has been shining on the Saints over the past two months in respect to other results in the Premiership.
After last weekend’s defeats for Wasps and Gloucester, it pretty much gift-wrapped an opportunity for Saints to gain some breathing space in the battle for the critical final fourth-place play-off spot.
It is likely that they are going to need that comfort as their next two fixtures, Sale at home and Quins away, look far from nailed on in terms of taking much away from them.
The main threat for Saints are Gloucester but they have also got a tough finish.
My prediction is that the buffer Saints have should probably be enough for them to be heading to Saracens for the semi-finals.
After the rollercoaster season Northampton have had, I think that will be a reasonable return, and clearly from my wording of the least sentence I do not expect, although it would be great, that Saints will progress any further than that.
It’s not me being a doom-monger but simply a realist.
Saracens’ form is so strong at the moment they look odds on to regain the title, and Saints’ only realistic hope is that Sarries’ European exploits derail and upset their Premiership ambitions.
It’s a long shot, and to be frank I simply do not see it happening.
Reflecting back to Saints’ bonus-point win last Sunday, regular readers of this column will know that I have expressed on a number of occasions my frustrations with the exclusion of Luther Burrell for large parts of the season.
In my opinion he made a big difference at London Welsh, and showed again what a potent attacking threat he is. Saints have missed the go-forward of James Downey and in Burrell they have an interesting potential long-term replacement for the Irishman.
Burrell is raw, there is no doubt about that, but he has that critical attacking edge that Saints have missed for most of the season with the midfield and their strike runners.
He is a talent that needs to be nurtured and given some regular game time, with more time at the coal face will come confidence and familiarity with the hustle and bustle of the business end of the Premiership.
Far too many times, players with raw ability have been overlooked in the English game because certain aspects of their game is missing or still to develop. I would rather see a risk taken than a safer option selected.
So the fairy-tale has ended for London Welsh, and in actual fact over the last few months it has turned into somewhat of a nightmare.
The post mortem this week has been interesting, and the main surprise for me is that there main backer and financial support Kelvin Bryon has decided to desert them at a time when they will need him most.
It’s a strange move, perhaps he is using their relegation as a smoke screen to get out and blame the RFU and Premier Rugby, they certainly haven’t helped the exiles cause, but whatever his real motives are my very worst financial fears for them could now come to pass.
It’s blows like this which can kick start the terminal decline that have seen other clubs fail and wither on the vine. The finger of blame actually does not lie in just one direction, but several, and Welsh should not absolve themselves.
However, for the sake of the livelihoods of all involved, I do hope they can stabilise themselves next season and avoid a freefall.
Looking forward to this weekend’s action, Sale are a huge threat.
They are now free from relegation worries and playing with such enthusiasm and desire that they will put on some show at the Gardens.
There has always been plenty of quality in the Sale line-up and now the stress of recent months is behind them it seems a weight has been lifted from their shoulders. As they proved against Gloucester last week, they are now a very dangerous proposition.
If you are not busy then I would get down to the Gardens to watch or make sure you are in front of a TV as I expect it could be one of the games of the season.
That’s probably now put the kiss of death on that!
Ex-players are entitled to their opinion
As an ex-player of a team, you are often contacted by the media to give your thoughts on recent events at your former club.
Sometimes those comments are taken a little out of context or twisted slightly with a headline that does not bely the real sentiment intended.
I believe the recent war of words between Jim Mallinder and former players Matt Dawson and Ben Cohen is exactly one of those instances.
There is no denying North is a great player, world-class no less in my opinion, and both Daws and Ben would not argue with that.
But I think what they were really implying was that Northampton might have prioritised additions to other more urgent parts of their squad, rather than the back three.
I do not believe it’s a case of them lacking support for the club as Mallinder has said, but about them having an honest perspective.
I haven’t read anything that suggests either player showed a lack of support, and let’s not forget they both left under a cloud so would have every motive to grind an axe should they wish.
I have read their comments very clearly, and there is some common sense about aspects of what they are saying, apart from the fact that there are not too many Nick Evans and Owen Farrells around growing on trees! Isn’t it better that we as ex-players are objective with our views wherever possible?
Seeing an event through rose-tinted spectacles doesn’t do anyone any favours.
As I have said many times before, nobody wants to see Northampton succeed more than I do, but my support will not blind me from having an objective opinion.
But for the avoidance of doubt, let’s get one thing absolutely straight.
I am delighted that North is going to be in Saints colours next season, I am sure he will make a big impact and he is a great signing.