Wilson backs fellow Kiwi Dickson to star for Saints

Utility back Dickson and Otago team-mate Rob Verbakel have put pen to paper on deals which will see them move to Northampton this summer.

The pair are highly-rated in their homeland and have done enough to impress Saints boss Jim Mallinder.

Dickson has a reputation for a long kick and a good handling game, while Verbakel is an athletic lock who had a brief spell at Glasgow Warriors last season.

And while Wilson doesn’t know too much about the latter, he has plenty of good things to say about Dickson, who he came up against during his time at Southlands.

“I played against Glenn quite a bit, and know him as well, but I don’t know too much about the other guy,” said the 29-year-old. “But Glenn is a good footballer, a carrier and he’s decent. He’s got a hell of a boot on him as well.

“He used to captain the side over in New Zealand (Otago) so he’s a leader and he’ll be good for the outfit. It’s going to be good.”

Dickson will add to the competition in the Saints backs department next season, with plenty of talented players battling it out for first-team spots.

The likes of George North and Kahn Fotuali’i are also set to join this summer, while the current crop showed their strength during the 47-7 demolition of Sale Sharks on Saturday.

Wilson grabbed two tries as a replacement in that rout and he is now hoping this season’s squad can finish the season with a flourish as they head into the Premiership play-off semi-finals.

“It’s about finishing as well as we can, going into the semi-finals on a confident note and keep rolling on with that,” he said.