Mallinder: happy to be back in the Premiership

We need to put all our resources in the beginning of the season. We need a good start and we are focussing on that Worcester game.

Jim Mallinder
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THE RUGBY CLUB
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Northampton are back in the Premiership and The Rugby Club went up to Franklin's Gardens to welcome them back into the big time.

Saints won promotion a year after they were relegated to the first division where they smashed all those who came before them.

Coach Jim Mallinder is positive about the future and believes that Northampton are here to stay.

"Impressions are very favourable, what a place," said Mallinder as he pointed out the stadium

"On a Saturday afternoon when it is full, it is a fantastic place to be. This is a rugby town and that is something that has really impressed me."

Mallinder has been at Franklin's Gardens for just over a year after he gave up his coaching role with England Saxons to take on his coaching role at Saints.

"I had a very enjoyable time within the England set-up and I enjoyed the coaching there.

"It was not full-on though, it was not every single day and it was for a few games. I missed the day-to-day coaching and it is something that I am really enjoying now."

Northampton's time in the first division has been good for them and Mallinder believes that it has made them stronger.

"In Division One it was tremendous and it was a real leveller for us," explained Mallinder.

"We went to places where rugby was not their profession but we knew that if we were not prepared physically and mentally they would have a good go at us.

"Certain facets of Division One are as good as Premiership rugby, it is certainly not as quick but it is as physical up in the forwards.

"Although you may not get the expanse and the movement that you would get in the Premiership. It was a great chance for us to go and rebuild and a great chance to look at the players we had and to keep building on that."

Northampton open the Premiership campaign against Worcester and Mallinder is well aware of the importance of getting off to a winning start.

"We need to put all our resources in the beginning of the season. We need a good start and we are focusing on that Worcester game.

"We have got five very tough league games coming up and we are putting every single bit of our effort into winning those."