Jim Mallinder has high praise for coach Dorian West
Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder has praised the club's forwards coach Dorian West after the side's great start to the season.
Mallinder said: "Games are won and lost up front, and Dorian is a very good forwards coach. He played in a pack which dominated for years, and it's fantastic we're getting like that. We're making slow
progress and we're not getting carried away, but we're happy with how it's gone."
Northampton currently sits top of the Premiership table with a three-point cushion over London Irish. The club has scored a total of 78 points so far this season and a large part of this is down to West.
West has enjoyed success throughout his coaching career and will be determined to maintain this good run. He won four Premiership titles and two Heineken Cups during his time with Leicester as a player
and will want Northampton to achieve something similar.
There are many reasons why West has been very influential in getting Northampton's forwards to play well. The real test will be getting the attack to carry on being lethal for the rest of the season.
Influential coach
West has a tremendous amount of playing experience. He played 78 times for Leicester and scored 45 points, he also scored 15 points during 21 caps for England.
His main playing position was at hooker, which is not a forward role. This makes him ideal to coach forwards because he will know all of the key issues that defensive players don't like. He uses his own
extensive experience as a defensive player to make the Northampton attack more effective.
He is a well liked and admired individual around the Northampton dressing room. This makes him more approachable and players will be more likely to ask for his coaching advice. He interacts well with the
forwards and they play for him as much as they play for the club.
The real test
The real test for West and Northampton's forwards will be the length of the season. A lot of teams have started well in the Premiership but success will go to the sides that maintain the early momentum.
If Northampton continues this good form until next spring then the club will be the champions.
West has been forwards coach at Northampton since 2007. He will know how to handle the team through blips and rough periods. This should mean the attack stays productive during spells where the club is
under pressure and not playing so well.
Tactically West will have to be on the very top of his game. Northampton is going to play teams that display efficient defensive tactics. This means West will have to come up with something different with
the forwards to score points.
Betting advice
Northampton looks like the strongest team in England at the moment. The club is playing well in all areas and is a great bet to lift the Premiership crown this year. The wins over Leicester and Bath have
demonstrated the quality and skill that the side possesses.
Don't be afraid to back Northampton to run away with a game against one of the weaker teams in the league. Northampton has the ability to win a match by a very long points margin and you will always get
good odds on this type of bet.
If you prefer backing players in a team then Chris Ashton is the man in form at the moment. He scored two tries against Bath and the South West club found it very difficult to defend against him. Back
Ashton to score in any game in the next few weeks.
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