Northampton's Tom Wood wary of Saracens response
Thursday 21 May 2015 22:42, UK
Tom Wood says Northampton's recent run of success against Saracens will count for nothing at the weekend.
The two sides on Saturday meet for a place in the Premiership final 12 months on from Saints' dramatic Twickenham title-win at their fierce rivals' expense.
Northampton have also beaten Saracens home and away this season - the first time they have managed that in more than 10 years - but England flanker Wood is wary of a response at Franklin's Gardens.
He said: "It was only a few years ago that they seemed to beat us regularly, and on the big occasions as well. They did us the year before I arrived here in a semi-final.
"We seem to have bucked that trend slightly at the minute, and we are having the run of things, but all that will count for very little at the weekend. It is a one-off game on the day.
"We know what a quality side Saracens are. They went furthest of all the English teams in the European Champions Cup this season.
"We have beaten them twice this year and hopefully we have got them figured out, but we won't be counting our chickens because we know what quality they will bring.
"It comes down to two top-quality sides going head to head, the balance swinging backwards and forwards and always wanting to have the bragging rights. That's what rivalry comes from.
"They are an incredibly-organised team. They are well-structured, they come with a plan, and that is something we have talked about in the past. Their analysis is meticulous. They possess that real firepower. What you have got to do is knock them off their rhythm, knock them off their stride."
Wood has also defended his club and international colleagues Alex Corbisiero and Dylan Hartley, whose performances in recent weeks have met with some criticism.
"I don't know where those comments come from," he said. "'Corbs' has obviously had his injury problems, but he is still the force he was, scrummaging-wise. He is still a big powerful man who is a big asset to us.
"As far as Dylan, his set-piece is always immaculate. He's a leader for us on and off the field - he is a talisman in the changing room. That is the way it has always been.
