Saints taking 'bigger picture view' as skipper Fraser allays injury fears

And the club captain feels experiences like the one at Harlequins on Saturday will prove beneficial as the season goes on.

Saints were beaten 29-14 at the Twickenham Stoop, failing to score a point during the second period as they lost their 14-12 half-time lead.

They have now endured two tough second halves in as many matches to start the season, having shipped 77 points after the break to lose 96-42 at Saracens a week earlier.

But Dingwall, who returned to match action as he played the first 40 minutes against Quins, feels the games so far have provided a crucial learning curve for the squad's young players.

"We're never happy with losing but what you have to be set on is taking learnings from it and growing as a team," Dingwall said.

"We have a bigger picture view that there are a lot of young guys involved in this and these can be really valuable experiences for them as long as they grow and learn from them.

"Hopefully things like this are beneficial for us later in the year."

Dingwall took a heavy hit to the shoulder during the first half against Quins and was withdrawn at half-time.

But he has allayed any injury fears, insisting he was always due to be replaced well before the end of the game at the Twickenham Stoop.

"I didn't know exactly how long it was going to be but it was 40 minutes today," Dingwall said. "It was always planned and I'm all fine.

"It was a bit of a stinger and unfortunately I get a few of those so it was nice to get one on the first game back!"

Dingwall set up Toby Thame for a try during a first half in which Saints recovered from conceding an early score to take a 14-5 lead.

However, Quins scored from the final play of the opening 40 minutes and then took advantage of Saints' second-half profligacy to claim the cup victory.

"I think there was a lot of positive stuff, I just think the consistency of doing it and actually taking opportunities when we created a lot was probably what let us down in the end," Dingwall said.

"I thought the two boys on debut, Jordan (Els) and Aiden (Reid), went really well so it's positive experience for the boys around how you get things right - and you saw that in the first half.

"In the second, it's the consistency element of it, it's the understanding of how we take opportunities when they come and how important things like breakdown is for our game.

"When someone like (Quins flanker) Will Evans comes after you, it disrupts your attack so those are big learnings for us."

Saints are now looking forward to one final tune-up before the Gallagher PREM starts with a home game against Newcastle Red Bulls on Friday, September 25.

The black, green and gold host Georgian side Black Lion in an historic pre-season fixture at Franklin's Gardens this Friday night (kick-off 7.30pm).

Saints are set to welcome back their international stars from their mandatory rest period this week.

And Dingwall said: "It will be nice to get some more boys involved in this game and it's our final hit-out before the PREM starts.

"Obviously we'll be expecting to face a physical outfit.

"We're excited to get back to the Gardens."