Glasgow Warriors vs Northampton Saints match report: Hosts put in full retreat by Saints’ forward power

Glasgow Warriors 15 Northampton Saints 26

Fast forward: Northampton flanker Tom Wood goes on the charge (PA)

On the day he was anointed at Twickenham, Eddie Jones spoke of clean sheets and this was a good first mark in the new England coach’s notebook by Northampton’s red Rose contingent. It was not a bad one for the Saints’ Samoans either, George Pisi and Ahsee Tuala collecting the visitors’ three tries, as Northampton made it two wins out of two to take an early hold on Pool Three.

There was a sniff of Samoan revenge for their World Cup defeat by Scotland, but this was the English game playing to its strengths, a team with clear direction executing a well-prepared plan to win the battle up front and from there the war. At its heart were Luther Burrell, Ben Foden, Stephen Myler, Tom Wood and, in particular Kieran Brookes, a mighty man of the match from the front row. Glasgow were worn down, conceding six scrum penalties.

“We haven’t really talked about [Eddie Jones],” said Brookes. “But I suppose it’s a fresh slate for everyone and everyone wants to get in the England side.”

Jim Mallinder said he knew what to expect from Glasgow but knowing what to expect and dealing with it are two different things altogether as Stuart Lancaster might acknowledge. The Saints pack took an early grip and never let go, while Burrell, Lancaster’s sacrifice at the altar of Sam Burgess, biffed down the middle to telling effect. Glasgow could not cope and their discipline, a worryingly consistent issue for the Pro12 champions this season, cracked.

Glasgow’s start was briefly bright with Mark Bennett making an angled break to earn the first chance of points. Finn Russell pushed his penalty across the posts but made amends two minutes later to give Glasgow the lead.

Northampton’s response was prompt albeit aided by Glasgow’s sloppiness in dealing with Myler’s towering punt into the 22. It was to become a repeated failing. Stuart Hogg failed to gather and Pisi scooped up the loose ball and was bundled over. It was the visitors’ first attack and, suitably inspired, they seized control.

They ground down Glasgow up front, taking three successive in quick time. The third ended with Ryan Grant seeing yellow as Glasgow’s discipline wobbled against the power of the visiting pack.

Myler’s subsequent penalty took Northampton’s lead to 10 and Glasgow’s frustrations up another notch. They did not help themselves – after Tommy Seymour broke they turned the ball over and conceded a penalty. From the ensuing line-out Northampton flung the ball down the line, Hogg missed Tuala and the Samoan wing strolled over.

Trailing by 15, Glasgow had to score next and this time they were aided by the posts. Russell’s penalty struck the upright but Northampton made a mess of clearing and conceded a five-metre scrum from which Peter Horne darted over. Another penalty from Myler took Northampton’s half-time lead to 11.

The pressure was once more on Glasgow to claim the next score. They encamped in the Northampton 22 but yet again were forced into giving away a penalty by the visitors’ dominance at the coal face. “All week we talked about the set piece,” said Brookes and their preparation paid off. In contrast, and as in the opening period, Northampton scored with their first notable attack of the half, full-back Foden following up his break by chipping through for Tuala to score.

Glasgow salvaged some face with a score by Josh Strauss after Burrell’s yellow card – the centre was the unlucky man after the visitors conceded a string of penalties – but already that longed-for first ever European quarter-final looks a long, long way off. Not so for the Saints.

Glasgow: S Hogg (T Naiyaravoro, 53); T Seymour; M Bennett, P Horne (R Vernon, 63), S Lamont; F Russell, M Blair (G Hart, 73); R Grant (G Reid, 53min), P MacArthur (S Mamukashvili,8), S Puafisi, J Gray (capt), L Nakarawa (T Swinson, 68), R Harley, S Favaro, J Strauss.

Northampton: B Foden; A Tuala (J Elliott, 61), G Pisi, L Burrell, G North; S Myler, L Dickson (capt, K Fotuali’i 41); A Waller (E Waller, 64), M Haywood, K Brookes, M Paterson (T Harrison, 68), C Day, J Gibson (J Fisher, 72), T Wood, S Dickinson.

Referee: P Gauzère (France).

Attendance: 6,800

Glasgow

Tries: Horne, Strauss

Con: Russell

Pen: Russell

Northampton

Tries: G Pisi, Tuala 2

Con: Myler

Pens: Myler 3