'No panic at Saints', says co-captain Waller

The black, green and gold have suffered 11 successive defeats, winning just two of the past 18 matches they have played.

Saints travel to an unbeaten Leinster side on Saturday for a daunting Champions Cup encounter.

And co-captain Waller said: "I don't think there's one miracle cure - I wish there was.

"There's not one thing we can just fix and it will solve everything.

"Everyone talks about the results and rightly so because it's 11 defeats on the bounce now but we've got to park last season and think about this one.

"Okay, we've lost four games this season and we need to reassess and build.

"I was out injured from lockdown onwards last season so I was a touch separated from the emotion of it the lads playing every week and my focus was on rehab and getting back to play so I wasn't at the forefront of it, not at the coalface every week.

"We've got a very young squad and a small group of senior players whereas in the past it's been the other way around and we've had a big group of senior players and a few younger players coming through.

"There are a few of us who have been in this situation before and we're trying to steady the ship a little bit.

"The mood's very good in camp and when we do play well, we play really well but we just need to keep that consistency throughout a game.

"We need to level it out rather than being at a 10 and then a two.

"When it clicks, it will really click and you only need that one win to remember how to win again.

"Winning solves everything."

Saints have lost their past four matches against Leinster since claiming a stunning win in Dublin in December 2013.

But Waller said: "We've had some really good games against Leinster and I remember when we beat them over there before Christmas in the Aviva.

"It's a shame there are no crowds at the moment because it's always a good one, but we're just focusing on ourselves and our consistency.

"Pre-lockdown we were on fire and in a real hunt for trophies but lockdown put a stop to that momentum.

"We haven't got it right since lockdown and now it's about getting back on the horse.

"It's not panic stations and we've got the players and the coaches to do it.

"It's about making that little step up and we'll be away."

Saints were agonisingly close to claiming a much-needed win against Bordeaux-Bègles last weekend, but they were eventually edged out.

And Waller said: "The message for us moving forward is consistency and being consistent throughout the 80 minutes rather than having peaks and troughs and allowing teams to come back in.

"When we're playing good rugby we look dangerous and threatening, but it's about not letting teams come back into the game.

"We're under no illusions that Leinster are a massive team and their run speaks for itself but they're always fun games to play in.

"It's as close to Test rugby as you can get in club rugby and we're looking forward to testing ourselves and focusing on our roles.

"Every game's a must-win in any competition now and there's no easy games, no matches you can earmark for a rest or to get a bit of momentum back like you could maybe 10 years ago.

"It's about trying to get some consistency throughout."