Northampton Saints: Clark will get his chance
Saints latest news
JIM MALLINDER is confident Saints flanker Calum Clark will win his first England cap soon.
And the Saints director of rugby described Clark’s attitude on returning to the club as ‘unbelievable’ after being left out of the 22 by England to take on Scotland in the Six Nations opener.
Instead of taking part in England’s 13-6 victory at Murrayfield, Clark led Saints to an eight-try 57-10 thrashing of Wasps to secure a home semi-final against Scarlets, which will be played on March 9, 10 or 11 with the final a week later on Sunday, March 18 at Sixways.
Clark tweeted he was ‘angry’ after being released by England, and vowed to put everything into Saints instead.
Mallinder described Clark’s performance on Saturday as ‘magnificent’ and feels his attitude after the disappointment of being released by England was exemplary.
“Calum was unbelievable when he came back to us,” said Mallinder.
“He came back and he was just determined to do as well as he possibly could every time he went on to the training field, let alone on the pitch to play a game.
“His time will come and I am confident it will, he has just got to keep biding his time.
“He led by example against Wasps, I thought he was magnificent - he was everywhere.
“We will see what happens with him throughout the Six Nations.”
Saints return to Premiership action this weekend with a tough trip to Gloucester and even though the performance against Wasps was a good one, Mallinder knows his squad will have to raise their game again to beat the Cherry and Whites.
Gloucester, who like Saints reached the Premiership semi-finals last season, sit seven points behind third-placed Northampton in eighth in the league table.
Mallinder said: “We know this week will be a lot harder, it is up a level.
“Gloucester in the league will be different to Wasps on Saturday in the cup. Wasps had nothing to play for, so it will be a lot different this week.
“But winning and reaching an LV= Cup semi-final was ideal preparation.”
Email to a friend
Print this page- BREAKING NEWS: Tributes paid to Niamh Curry as brave five-year-old loses battle against cancer
- BREAKING NEWS: Pensioner dies after collision at Northampton shopping centre
- Man tied to tree and beaten on Northampton Racecourse
- BREAKING NEWS: Woman’s body found after ‘suicide’ in Northampton hotel room
- BREAKING NEWS: Seven-year-old boy dies following house fire in Northamptonshire
- Staff strike at Northampton school over academy plans forces closure
- Northampton binmen at ‘breaking point’
- Saints’ stadium plans get support as long as traffic issues solved
- Eastern European pupils helping school standards across Northampton
- Exclusive: PM David Cameron says Northamptonshire Police Commissioner role is “a big job for a big local figure”
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.