Boss Mallinder rallies his Saints troops

Jim Mallinder is urging improvement (picture: Linda Dawson)

The director of rugby says his team were ‘a long way behind’ Clermont Auvergne in their 37-5 Champions Cup thrashing at Stade Marcel Michelin last Saturday.

And he knows his Aviva Premiership table-toppers must up their game if they are to get a positive result at Exeter Chiefs.

Saints, who are 10 points clear of second-placed Saracens, are closing in on securing a home play-off semi-final with just four games of the regular season to go.

And Mallinder said: “We were a long way behind Clermont last weekend.

“It does help that they’ve got really passionate fans who do get behind the team and it’s an awesome atmosphere out there.

“A lot of credit to their team, club and the whole town for supporting the way they do.

“But it’s 15 against 15 and on the day we weren’t good enough.

“We need to improve this weekend.”