'We might have to check his passport!' - Craig hails Saints teenager Lewis
James Craig joked that Saints might have to check Jack Lewis’s passport after the 17-year-old put in a performance that belied his tender years on Saturday.
Lewis produced a huge showing from start to finish as he lined up at seven and helped to drive the black, green and gold to a dramatic 35-33 PREM Rugby Cup victory against Saracens at a sold-out cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
The Saints Academy back row forward doesn’t turn 18 until June 22, but he already appears to have the physicality and ability needed to compete at the top level.
In just his third senior appearance, he was a big breakdown threat and made plenty of important metres and tackles in the win against Saracens.
And Saints coach Craig said: “We might have to check his passport!
"He's a tough lad and he would have to get dragged off that pitch because I don't think he would come off willingly.
"He's been brilliant.
"He's been excellent from the first day he stepped into the senior environment.
"He's driven the level around training and his physicality is what he clearly prides himself on.
"The thing that's really impressive with Jack is that the nuance around his game a year ago he was asked to improve.
"He was asked to improve his attacking skillset and he's improved that.
"He's now working on his jackalling and he got a couple there on Saturday.
"He learns fast and if he keeps doing that, he'll have a bright future ahead of him.”
Saints were 12 points down with six minutes to go, but they produced a thrilling comeback to leave Saracens deflated.
"I hope no one left in that last five minutes because it showed anything can happen!” Craig said.
"It is good fun and we've got lads out there like Jack Lewis, who is 17, making his first senior start and had 25 minutes with cramp.
"There were some cracking efforts in there.
"There will clearly be bits we will be better at but some lads had five weeks off and there was some great rugby.”