'We've never not wanted to scrum', says Saints coach Ferguson ahead of latest Bath battle

Hooper questioned Saints at Franklin's Gardens back in August, saying live on BT Sport 'Saints don't want to scrum, do they?'.

While Bath, who won 18-3 on that occasion, were keen to keep the ball in the set piece to earn penalties, Saints were more eager to move the ball to their backs.

And that led to criticism from Hooper.

But Ferguson said: "We've never not wanted to scrum so Mr Hooper was wrong there.

"He bought it on the back of them being free-kicks for an early engagement and they're entitled to their opinion.

"Mr Hooper can say what he wants and we'll respond with what we think will be best for us to win at the weekend."

Saints certainly wanted to scrum last weekend as they bossed Exeter Chiefs in the set-piece battle at Sandy Park.

The black, green and gold used a solid platform to secure an impressive 13-12 success, their fourth Gallagher Premiership win on the spin.

And Ferguson says the challenge is now to maintain that level of performance in the weeks and months ahead.

"We've talked about earning trust by performance," Ferguson said.

"You only earn the respect of your peers by doing things in a match and our supporters can now see some evidence of us doing it (dominating the set piece).

"You only earn respect if you can maintain it and the message for this group is that we've talked it, we've walked it and we have to maintain it.

"We have to be able to produce it minute after minute week after week in this league.

"You've got to front up against Exeter, you've got to front up against Bristol, you've got to front up against Bath and then it's Quins and you need to front up there.

"The challenge for this group is that we've shown we've done it, we've got a mark in the sand and within the group you only get respect from the bloke next to you if you continually do it.

"Our lads now trust their mates, knowing five metres out they're going to do the business for each other, and now it's about doing it month on month when called upon."