Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

What Northampton made of Skosan, their hat-trick debut-making wing

By PA
(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images

Northampton director of rugby Chris Boyd has praised the all-round game of winger Courtnall Skosan, who marked his Premiership debut with a hat-trick of tries in his new team’s 66-10 thrashing of Worcester. The twelve-cap former Springboks back signed for Saints from the Lions during the summer but had to wait for his Friday night bow at Franklin’s Gardens after completing his quarantine upon arrival in the UK.

ADVERTISEMENT

It was certainly worth that delay as Skosan played a full part in handing Worcester a ten-try drubbing, with a spectacular diving finish in the corner for his second Northampton score the stand-out moment. Boyd said: “He is a good man and he has been a good footballer for a long time – and he is not just a finisher either.

“He got three tries and all of them were pretty decent finishes, but he was busy around the paddock and was good in the air. He is a good defender, he works hard. He is a quality footballer – that is why he has played so many times for his country.

Video Spacer

Ex-England skipper Chris Robshaw guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Ex-England skipper Chris Robshaw guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload

      “By and large, we were pretty decent. There are still some rough edges that we need to smooth out, but I thought we were pretty good for our money most of the time. We knew if we hung on to the ball, went through our process and didn’t get impatient and try to stay in our system, then we would get some opportunities.”

      Northampton had the bonus point wrapped up inside half an hour, as Dan Biggar, Alex Mitchell, Api Ratuniyarawa, Skosan and Rory Hutchinson all scored in the first half, with Will Chudley replying for Worcester. Skosan completed his treble after the break, while there were two tries for Tommy Freeman and another for Mitchell.

      Worcester head coach Jonathan Thomas said: “At the moment we have got a lot of adversity. Pretty much our whole leadership group is out injured, which is naturally going to affect any team. Melani Nanai, Owen Williams, Willi Heinz, Ted Hill, Ollie Lawrence, guys like that. We always talk about the guys that come in getting opportunities and what it feels like at the moment is we are a little bit of a fractured group on the field.

      “Off the field, the boys are working hard for each other, but the game is about 15 players working as one and we look very individual. They had lightning-quick ball, but the biggest thing is we gifted them about six tries – two intercepts, the kick-chase they catch it and go straight through, and a quick tap for the first try of the game. It felt like Saints weren’t even working that hard.”

      ADVERTISEMENT

      ADVERTISEMENT
      Play Video

      South Africa vs Black Ferns XV | Women's International | Full Match Replay

      Play Video

      Namibia vs United Arab Emirates | Asia/Africa Rugby World Cup Play-off | Full Match Replay

      Play Video

      Lions Share | Episode 5

      Play Video

      Classic Wallabies vs British & Irish Legends | First Match | Full Match Replay

      Play Video

      Did the Lions loosies get away with murder? And revisiting the Springboks lift | Whistle Watch

      Play Video

      The First Test, Visiting The Great Barrier Reef & Poetry with Pierre | Ep 6: The Ultimate Test

      Play Video

      KOKO Show | July 22nd | Full Throttle with Brisbane Test Review and Melbourne Preview

      Play Video

      New Zealand v South Africa | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      0 Comments
      Be the first to comment...

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Long Reads

      Comments on RugbyPass

      LONG READ
      LONG READ Ben Kay: 'I think Tom Curry will go down as a Lions great and he’s only just turned 27.' Ben Kay: 'I think Tom Curry will go down as a Lions great and he’s only just turned 27.'