AT THE start of the month, Northampton were in serious contention for the honour of finishing the season with the cleanest disciplinary record across the three European Leagues. With a mere four cards all season, they led the way alongside Edinburgh and Leinster, one ahead of Connacht, two clear of Exeter and Grenoble.
The Saints had negotiated their first 14 Premiership engagements at the expense of nothing more than two yellows only to be hit by three times as many in their last two matches. Having lost two to the bin at Saracens, they then lost twice as many in the last ten minutes again...