"There is that mentality of revenge" – Northampton Saints' Archie McParland is looking to level scores with Leicester in Prem Cup East Midlands Derby

10/31/2024 04:31 AM

By Ben Grundy

Perhaps snatching the centre stage of the opening game week in the Premiership Rugby Cup, it's a chance for redemption for Northampton Saints as they welcome rivals Leicester Tigers to the Cinch Stadium after losing to them in Leicestershire just three weeks ago. 

Being with the Black, Green and Gold since he was 12, nobody knows the significance of the East Midlands Derby arguably more than 19-year-old Archie McParland. 

The scrum-half is excited to face the Tigers again and said: "The whole squad were hurt from the loss in Leicester and there is that mentality of revenge."

The youngster shed some light on what it is like emotionally to play under the Friday night lights at Franklin's Gardens: "It's crazy. Being a fan in the crowd at a young age to then actually being on the pitch and actually playing, it is something I have always dreamed of doing and it is surreal.”

McParland isn't the only fresh face expected to run out of the Church's Stand as George Makepeace-Cubitt is also expected to start at fly-half in place of the internationally occupied Fin Smith. 

Having made his professional debut for the club away at Bristol last week, the 20-year-old said: 

"I was definitely on the phone to my mum straight away to let her know (I was starting the game) and then for me, it was just getting my head around the situation and planning my preparation.

"It's a massive step up playing in the Prem (Premiership) but an enjoyable one. 

 "The player is bigger, quicker, faster and then the game is so much quicker, so you don't have time to see the defence, you don't have the time to be in the defensive line all the time and make those reads.

"It has been a tricky start (at Saints) being injured and not being able to learn stuff at the same speed as people who have been fit and it can be a challenge, but the off-field stuff has been amazing. I have loved it.

"I think Saints and Leicester have definitely had that biggest rivalry in the Prem for so long and I remember watching a couple of their games back in the day and always remember them as physical with fights and all that. 

"Not as much that (violence) nowadays but there is definitely still that derby feeling.

"Hopefully I am playing week in, week out and find my feet in this team and keep pushing up."

Director of Rugby Phil Dowson believes his side needs to reach a level of consistency to improve their performance going into Friday: “Our lineout, breakdowns and set pieces can be better and they are the areas we are going to continue to work on. We have shown we can do all those things, so I think (we just need to) show more consistency over the 80 minutes of our performances."

Despite England reducing Dowson's squad significantly, the Saints boss is optimistic about the young talent in his squad: "There is an undercurrent now of high-quality young players who are getting a bit of that experience, both good and bad. 

"I love the PRC (Premiership Rugby Cup) for the opportunities those guys get. It is good to put them in a Saints shirt and a different environment and under different pressure, so I am excited to see how they play. 

"(The game) is going to be about which of those guys respond to pressure, setbacks (and) what the game gives us and that is what we are excited about." 

Northampton Saints have their chance to redeem their loss in Leicestershire on Friday night as Franklin's Gardens hosts its first East Midlands Derby of the season, 7.45 pm kick-off. 

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