Class of Northampton’s Dan Biggar too much for gallant Worcester

Despite Worcester’s latest Premiership defeat at the hands of a polished Northampton, perhaps the Warriors players on show can consider this a successful audition for lead roles in the club’s new era.

The appointment of Steve Diamond as Worcester’s new director of rugby was announced this week – he remains ‘lead rugby consultant’ for now – and the former Sale head coach will begin a two-year contract in the top job this summer.

In his programme notes Diamond wrote that he had been impressed with the mentality of staff and players in a turbulent week. The scoreless opening 20 minutes at Sixways would have similarly satisfied him: to the uninitiated it would have been far from clear, from the breathless opening, which of these teams is competing near the top of the table and which is second-bottom. But after that the class of Northampton, and the new Wales captain Dan Biggar, began to tell.

Worcester’s ambition was demonstrated early on when two presentable penalty opportunities were passed up for kicks to the corner. The wings Duhan van der Merwe and Perry Humphreys had both looked bright and breezy for the hosts, but after 20 minutes, a well-timed pop pass by Biggar sent the hooker Sam Matavesi scorching through a midfield hole.

Worcester scrambled well in defence but Northampton won a penalty and Biggar kicked for the corner. Teimana Harrison claimed Matavesi’s delivery from the lineout, and after the visitors gained a few metres via a strong driving maul, Rory Hutchinson did well to stretch and touch down the opening try. Biggar converted for 7-0.

The 19-year-old Worcester fly-half, Fin Smith, replied immediately with a sweetly-struck penalty but Northampton soon threatened again with a rousing run through the middle