PAUL REES

Courtney Lawes has never been one to turn his face away from reality. His first reaction at the final whistle of his final game for Northampton, the club he joined 17 years ago, was not unbridled joy at the prospect of lifting the Premiership trophy but annoyance that the Saints had not brought their best clobber to Twickenham.
“I am still livid from the game,” were his first words in an interview 30 minutes after Northampton won the title for the second time. “I do not think we could have played any worse – but what a way to go out.”
Northampton led 15-3 after 27 minutes through...