by Lee Radford may just be a Premier League signing for the season. Northampton’s new defense coach comes from rugby league and is tasked with giving the Saints steel to match their swagger.
Last season Northampton had the best attack in the league but also had the second worst defence. Only bottom side Newcastle Falcons conceded more points and tries. They were duly beaten 38-15 by Saracens in the semi-finals of the play-off.
Radford had no illusions about the Saints’ reputation for cleanliness. “From day one, every presentation I’ve seen, every meeting I’ve sat in, every interview I’ve heard, it’s the same thing: they can attack, but they can’t defend,” Radford said. . “I wanted to change that. If you ask what about Northampton, people will say attack. By the end of the season, I want people to say that they are quite resilient, difficult to play against.”
Radford says they are still taking “baby steps” in that process but already Northampton look like a transformed side from last season. A fortnight ago, Saints returned to Saracens’ StoneX Stadium to end the English champions’ five-game winning streak with an impressive 18-12 victory.
Then, last week, they made 188 tackles to deny United Rugby Championship runners-up Glasgow Warriors a bonus point in a 28-19 win in the pouring rain at Scotstoun.
In every metric, Northampton’s defense has improved. They are surrendering nine points less per game than last season, allowing 10 percent less successful line gains and improving their defensive red zone efficiency by 16 percent. Even more impressive is the vision test. Against both Saracens and Glasgow, Northampton dominated the physical exchanges, which they have not managed for years against stronger opposition.
‘There’s no cheat code – it’s just hard work’
Radford has a wealth of experience as a rugby league coach, winning the Challenge Cup with Hull in 2016 and 2017, and was Samoa’s defense coach when they reached the 2022 World Cup final. He has been on fact-finding missions to other sports too, but he claims that there is no mystery in what is a great protection.
“What I’ve found over the years is that there’s no cheat code for it,” Radford said. “It’s just hard work. It is repetition. It’s the basics. That’s what we’ve tried to do. We are not where we need to be yet but we are closer than when I first arrived.
“All the technical aspects go out the window, if the energy, effort and intention are not applied. Everyone will make a defensive error whether it’s a wrong read, poor technique, poor performance going into contact, but energy and effort can cover so much of that.”
However, buy-in from the playing group is needed which Radford has clearly achieved. As a player, Radford made his debut for Hull FC at the age of 16 and much of his fire was forged in the derbies against Hull KR. “The city is divided by a bridge east and west. Hull KR is to the east and Hull FC is to the west,” said Radford.
“I grew up in the east, but I played for Hull FC in the west so I got s— wherever I went. It is a unique derby. Families are pitted against each other. Pubs open at 10am and the whole city shuts down.”
Radford’s playing career spanned 17 years, winning five England caps and two Super League finals with Bradford Bulls. Outside of rugby, he has a golf course in Hull as well as several bars and restaurants. His energy is infectious, his focus single-minded.
His goal is not to limit the Saints’ attack. One of the reasons he joined was because he liked watching them play. Instead Radford wants to make sure the players are as passionate about the game without the ball as they are with it. He even cites Ben Earl’s over-the-top celebration of the opposition as an example to emulate.
“I want them to celebrate the defense,” Radford said. “It’s funny watching them celebrate the tries we got, as opposed to celebrating an error. If you can reach that level you are half way there. You can give Ben Earl as much stick as you want, I’d call that smart.
“He stays in the zone and keeps it in the zone. There is a consequence that hurts the other team when you celebrate forcing them into an error. Likewise it pumps up their tires.”
Another big challenge is the visit of Toulon’s formidable pack featuring former Saints David Ribbans and Kieran Brookes to Franklin Gardens on Friday night. In the last two seasons, Northampton have conceded the best of 70 points in games against La Rochelle and Racing 92.
These Saints are now made of sterner stuff. “I just want when I listen to a podcast or a TV show and I don’t hear them talking about the defense,” Radford said. “That was quite an achievement.”
