'˜Kick up the backside' has inspired Dickson's Saints scoring streak

The club captain registered his fifth try in his four appearances as he propelled his team to a vital 20-15 Aviva Premiership victory at Saracens on Saturday.

Dickson has been a player reborn since playing a starring role in the win at Harlequins last month.

That last-gasp victory has kick-started Saints’ season, with Jim Mallinder’s men having won four of their past five matches.

They have altered their style, with the half-backs kicking more sensibly and dictating a running game, and it has brought the best out of Dickson.

“I had a kick up the backside,” said the scrum-half. “It’s about how you react.

“Rugby’s a tough game. Sometimes you get quite low but I’ve got a very good family at home, a strong family base and I know the coaches are well behind me.

“I had a quick word with myself and they (the coaches) had a word with me, and this is what’s happened - I’m probably playing some of my best rugby and enjoying it again.

“I’m enjoying playing alongside the lads and we’re winning, which is the main thing for me.

“I just had to go back to myself. Sometimes I get caught up on trying to please other people, whereas, me being me, I’m energetic, mouthy, I make the boys tick. I’m just a general nause on the pitch.

“I’ve just gone back to basics, making sure my passing’s right, my kicking’s right and making the team tick. That’s the job of a scrum-half and I’ve just gone back to my strengths instead of trying to be something I’m not.”

On his recent try-scoring streak, Dickson added: “It doesn’t matter how many we score, as long as the team wins that’s all that matters.

“I think it’s a grand total of about four metres for five tries so that’s quite good for me. I’ll take that.”