Cancellation points no consolation as Saints boss Boyd insists 'we just want to play'

And the Kiwi boss insists being given points is no consolation for not playing matches.

Some pundits have suggested that Saints have profited from Covid cancellations that have given them 10 points from the three games they were unable to play in.

Boyd's side are now fifth in the Gallagher Premiership standings, just two points outside of the top four.

However, the black, green and gold have shown they have the ability to earn victories in games in recent months and they are currently on a three-match winning streak.

They would have been confident of winning all three of their cancelled matches, against London Irish, Leicester Tigers and Newcastle Falcons.

And Boyd said: "We've had three cancellations now and you don't have to be Einstein to work out that you could get anywhere between zero and 15 points from those three games.

"If someone had said they would give us 10 from those games we wouldn't have taken that.

"We wouldn't take any number of points because we want to play.

"It's very frustrating that we've had our third Covid cancellation but it is what it is and we need to be exemplary and cautious about that.

"We know once it sneaks into your bubble it can be problematic.

"It's our third Covid cancellation, which is disappointing, but it is what it is and we just want to play."

When it was suggested that last Saturday's cancellation will allow Saints to enjoy some crucial extra rest ahead of a hugely difficult game at Exeter on Saturday, Boyd said: "We would rather have played.

"The boys want to play - they were terribly disappointed.

"We prepared well last week in difficult conditions with the snow etc and we had a good training week.

"Then to find out on Friday that we couldn't play was disappointing.

"We just hope both Exeter and ourselves get through our testing from Monday morning and the fixture can go ahead on Saturday."