Northampton Saints 29 Harlequins 49: Tom Vickers' review and player ratings

And what is unfolding at Franklin’s Gardens right now is right up there, or right down there, whichever way you want to view it.

Off the field, the club continues to battle the immense financial impact of an unprecedented global pandemic.

And on it, there is just as little cheer.

For the majority of this calendar year, it has been about somehow seeking positives in defeat to keep spirits up.

Saints have now suffered 14 losses in the past 16 matches they have played in what is surely one of the most striking and surprising slumps in modern sporting history.

There can’t be too many teams who have reached the end of January in such rude health but approached December in such dismay.

Saints, from securing a sensational win at French giants Lyon have fallen to shipping 49 points at home to a, let’s be honest, largely average Harlequins side.

Yes, Quins played really well on another sobering Saturday at the Gardens.

But let’s not forget that this is a team who were beaten 33-3 by Exeter Chiefs on their own turf just last week.

This is a team that finished sixth in the Premiership last season.

And this is a team that had not won in Northampton since December 2012.

But here, eight years on, they came up against a team that has not been this horrendous against Harlequins since a shambolic day at Twickenham in the final game of 2017.

Back then, Saints were outplayed and completely overwhelmed as they slipped to a shocking 50-21 defeat.

They were rudderless, with long-serving and largely successful boss Jim Mallinder having left the club earlier that month.

They looked lost and it looked like it would take a miracle to turn around a team that had racked up 12 defeats in 13 matches in all competitions.

But in came tough-talking Aussie Alan Gaffney, who teamed up with Alan Dickens to not only save Saints but to lay a platform for the following summer, when Chris Boyd arrived as boss.

And Saints had seemed to have rebuilt since then.

Boyd brought smiles and a style of play that lifted backsides from seats. Rather than walking out early, fans were standing up to applaud their players.

And until a lowly London Irish side secured a shock success in Northampton at the end of January, the upward curve was very much continuing.

But how badly things have unravelled since then.

So much so that Saints have now lost all eight home league games in a hugely troubled 2020.

Some performances have brought the occasional positive, hope that a corner could soon be turned.

But that was not the case on Saturday afternoon. Not at all.

Saints conceded six tries against a Quins team who seemed to cut through at will at times.

The black, green and gold were never in front in the game, always playing catch-up, just as they were when losing 32-23 in the season opener at Sale Sharks eight days earlier.

There was some resilience against the Sharks, some things you felt Saints could build on.

They had character and strength in the set piece, but again they proved far too porous in defence.

And that was the story against Quins, except the good bits had gone, left on the AJ Bell Stadium soil.

Saints were pulled apart by Quins in alarming fashion.

Once more, it felt like whenever the opposition entered the home 22 they would score a try or, if they couldn't do that, win a penalty to pile more points on the scoreboard.

It has become a tortuous theme this year.

While teams like Exeter and England seem to love defence and pride themselves on it, Saints seem so from that.

They missed a massive 31 tackles against Quins, who danced their way through via the likes of Danny Care and Marcus Smith, the two players who Saints forwards coach Phil Dowson picked out as potential threats in his pre-match interview.

That Saints knew what they could do but couldn’t get anywhere close to stopping them is a huge worry in itself.

The messages are not being received and the execution is not there.

And there is now a real fear from fans about what is happening and what will follow.

Saints have leaked an eye-watering 81 points in two Premiership games this season, a continuation of the second half of the previous campaign.

Time and again they have come up against teams you expect them to beat - and who they were beating in 2019 - and come away with little if any reward.

And with Bristol, Bordeaux and Leinster now lying in wait at the start of December, it almost doesn’t bare thinking about.

Answers and solutions haven’t been forthcoming, and this humble reporter has none. Just a desperation to retain some hope that is sadly ebbing away match by horrible match.

The coaches, who have all signed new contracts this year, and the players, who are all here until at least next summer, are the only ones who can turn this around.

There will be no silver bullet or sea change that was brought by the alterations that arrived after that Quins debacle in December 2017.

Instead, this group will be the ones who are tasked with restoring pride in a Saints shirt that has taken its fair share of hits in a pain-filled year so far.

How they rated...

HARRY MALLINDER

Set up Hutchinson's try and did manage to do some good things in attack for his team. Was left exposed in defence as Quins ran riot at times... 5

AHSEE TUALA

Managed to beat a couple of defenders as he tried to have a say, but Quins didn't really let him get in the game and they overloaded him out wide... 3.5

MATT PROCTOR

Did well at Sale but this was a really difficult afternoon for the centre, who saw Quins fly past him and who couldn't have any real impact in attack... 3.5

PIERS FRANCIS

A tough day for Saints' centre pairing and this man was forced to concede a couple of penalties as Quins moved the ball quickly... 3.5

TOM COLLINS

Saints were taken on in the wide spaces and their wingers were unable to stop the slide while having little impact in attack... 3.5

JAMES GRAYSON

Couldn't make his mark in this game and was withdrawn on 55 minutes as Saints reshuffled their backline... 3.5

ALEX MITCHELL

Was released by England earlier in the week and didn't really settle in this game, with his decisions not working out and his defence tested to the limit... 3.5

ALEX WALLER

The co-captain worked hard again but he has returned to a team that is struggling badly and there wasn't much he could do to change that... 4.5

REECE MARSHALL

A rare start for the hooker and he didn't do too much wrong despite the fact it was a hugely disappointing day for his team... 4.5

PAUL HILL

The prop did well at Sale in the previous encounter but Quins made Saints' forwards work hard and it was a far from easy afternoon... 4

DAVID RIBBANS

Returned from England duty but it wasn't a happy homecoming as he missed a few tackles and gave away a few penalties on a tough afternoon... 3.5

API RATUNIYARAWA

A great line and offload for Ludlam's first try but that was the only impact he was able to have on the game... 4.5

NICK ISIEKWE

Must be wondering what he's walked into with Saints winning just once since he arrived on loan from Saracens. Etched his name on the scoresheet... 5

LEWIS LUDLAM

Showed real fire and desire to score two tries for his team, the second of which came from sheer will power, but did miss a couple of tackles... 5.5

TOM WOOD

Started the season strongly at Sale but though he battled away, there was nothing he could do to turn the tide... 4.5

Replacements (who played more than 20 minutes)

RORY HUTCHINSON (for Francis 52)

Added a spark for Saints, looking really lively at times and scoring a try, but was taken out by Quins and it led to a crucial try... 5.5

SHAUN ADENDORFF (for Wood 55)

Wasn't able to make an impact from the bench as Quins started to step things up again and beat him on a couple of occasions... 3.5

FRASER DINGWALL (for Grayson 55)

Usually sound defensively but he too was give trouble by Harlequins as Saints continued to be all at sea... 4

NICK AUTERAC (for Waller 57)

Wasn't the easiest game to come into, and the prop wasn't really able to have an impact on it... 4

JAMES FISH (for Marshall 57)

As with many of his team-mates, a couple of tackles weren't made and with Quins showing plenty of belief it was a difficult day for the replacements... 4

OWEN FRANKS (for Hill 57)

Hasn't had the easiest time since joining Saints and wasn't able to have his say here... 4

ALEX COLES (for Ratuniyarawa 58)

Carried with some determination after coming on and didn't do too much wrong in this cameo appearance... 5

HENRY TAYLOR (for Mitchell 59)

Showed his worth at the breakdown again with a good penalty win, but his decision making was called into question after taking a quick tap penalty that really didn't work out... 3.5

CHRON STAR MAN - Marcus Smith (Harlequins)