Mindset so key for Saints attack coach Sam

Vesty is not only affable but he is able to explain his approach as attack coach in a simple yet impressive manner.

Since arriving from Worcester Warriors, Vesty has played a key part in reigniting Saints’ attacking game.

They now play some of the best rugby in Europe, with slick youngsters teaming up with experienced players who have proved that you can teach old dogs new tricks.

There is an X factor about Saints that had faded away after the club hit the heights of topping the regular-season table for the first time in 2015.

But just how has Vesty, who was brought in during the summer Chris Boyd arrived from the Hurricanes, helped to alter the playing style at Franklin’s Gardens?

“Ultimately one of the things we’ve come round to is we’ve got lots of people all with the mindset of looking to see where the space is and to see what the best way to attack something is,” Vesty explained.

“That mindset shift from when we first came is really key to getting your game going because if five people are looking where the space is but 10 are thinking of different aspects of the game, you’re not going to be as smooth as if everyone is looking for space, is in tune and looking for the same sort of thing.

“We’ve got some really good ball players in the backs anyway but I’m always encouraging the forwards to really work on their skills in that space and that’s been a massive shift that the skill level of the forwards has gone up quite a lot.”

Whenever you speak to any of the backs at Saints, they typically highlight the contribution of Vesty.

A likeable man with a plan, the former Leicester Tigers player has lived up to expectation so far.

And that is exactly what he hopes this talented young crop of players will do in the years to come.

“We talked about having a good group of young guys for the past 18 months and now we’ve got a commitment out of everyone in the organisation and we need to put in some time and work to see how good we can be,” said Vesty, after seeing 19 players agree new deals at Saints at the end of last month.

“It will take time but it’s also extremely exciting.

“We’ve got a good group who work well together.

“I love it at Saints because we’ve got a really good group of guys.

“It’s an exciting time for Saints because we’ve got a young group with some older heads in it and there is real potential.

“There’s bags of enthusiasm to keep getting better as a team and a group and as a coach that’s all you ever want.

“I’m really happy and the coaching group is all nice and settled.

“I’m just really enjoying it.”

While one key cog in the Saints wheel recently extended his contract, another departed for pastures new.

Vesty was asked about Dan Biggar, who is staying, and Cobus Reinach, who has left.

On Wales fly-half Biggar, he said: “Dan’s a great player and to get him onboard is great news for us, especially with a bit more experience to add to a young group.

“He’s one of the leaders of our team and it’s really good to have Biggs.

“He shows every day why he’s a good player because of how hard he works, how much he wants to get better, how much care he takes over his preparation.

“He’s a really good model for what a top rugby player looks like and it’s really good to have a player of Biggs’ quality staying.”

Vesty presented the typical farewell framed shirt to Reinach at an empty Franklin’s Gardens before the South Africa scrum-half headed off to Montpellier.

And Vesty said: “It was very weird.

“It is sad to see Cobus go. He’s obviously a quality player but he wanted to take his family elsewhere and it’s a great opportunity for the guys who have sat behind him for a while.

“Mitch (Alex Mitchell) is a player of bags and bags and bags of potential, so he’ll be really looking forward to stepping up.

“HT, Henry Taylor, will get those opportunities as well.

“But Coby is a great player and we wish him all the best with Montpellier.”

Another player who will rival Alex Mitchell, Henry Taylor and Connor Tupai for starts in the No.9 shirt is Tom James, who has arrived from Championship club Doncaster Knights.

James is one of a few new signings at Saints this summer, with the likes of props Nick Auterac and Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi and back row forward Shaun Adendorff coming in.

Saints appear to be signing players who have maybe not fully realised the huge potential they showed as youngsters.

And when asked whether that was the case, Vesty said: “Things may not have gone their way, the style may not have suited their game or they may never have had the right opportunity, and getting the best out of those guys is a great way of increasing your squad strength and depth.

“The one thing you know you’re going to get with Boydy is opportunity.

“There are not many new boys so everyone’s at a level and we’ve asked a lot of them because we don’t want to go back to bring a few guys forward.

“We want to be moving forward together and those guys have really pushed themselves to get to grips with it really well.

“All the guys who have come in have looked to work hard to get all their calls down and get all their bits and pieces around the training to make it work.

“Tom James has only been in for a couple of weeks, the same with Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, but already you can see they’re fitting in well and getting to grips with what we’re doing.

“They’re not slowing us down and we didn’t expect they would.

“We have been able to start our training at a really good level and go from there.”

Saints certainly seem to have a happy camp, despite all of the chaos caused in rugby by the Covid-19 pandemic.

And Vesty has added his voice to the chorus of praise for how the club’s hierarchy has handled things.

“It’s testament to Boydy and Mark Darbon for leading us in a really transparent way and getting us through the difficult times,” Vesty said.

“People want to buy into it and they feel they’ve been treated as well as they can be in these difficult times.

“The good thing for us is that it feels like there is a general coming together and commitment by lots of players wanting to stay and see how good and successful we can be as a group.

“I do think we’ve come out of this in as good a place as we could possibly wish to be.”

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