Tough 2020 to make Saints stronger, says Vesty

The black, green and gold will play their final game of 2020 today, when they welcome fellow Gallagher Premiership strugglers Worcester Warriors to Franklin’s Gardens (kick-off 4.30pm).

Saints have yet to win this season and are currently on a 12-match losing streak in all competitions.

They have only won five matches during the current calendar year, one of which was at Worcester in March.

But Vesty insists the bad times will ensure the good times roll when Saints finally get that long-awaited win under their belts.

“The only way you can deal with this situation is to be ultra-honest and ultra-realistic in terms of where you’re making progress,” said the Saints attack coach.

“You can’t ‘b******t’ because that doesn’t carry any weight at all so you have to base getting better on viable things you can see improving.

“We are improving in a load of different areas and in the long run when this pandemic is over, we’ll be in a much stronger position - I truly believe that.

“In these instances when the heat is on you learn a lot about yourself.”

Saints produced a spirited showing last Saturday before eventually losing 35-19 to Leinster at the RDS Arena in Dublin.

They now return home with big expectations ahead of three crucial Premiership clashes, with a trip to London Irish and a Gardens date against Leicester Tigers to start 2021.

First up it’s that clash with a Worcester side Vesty knows well, having left the Warriors to join the Saints coaching team in the summer of 2018.

“I always enjoy coaching against Worcester - I know lots of their guys and they’ve got some great people there,” he said.

“It’s always nice to see some old friends.

“They are playing well and it will be a really good contest.”