By Ed King

Pountney has restored Saints' morale

As a player for both Northampton and Scotland, Budge Pountney was never one to shy away from a challenge.

Often bloodstained but always defiant, Pountney played through a catalogue of injuries that included a fractured eye-socket and the loss of a testicle.

A troublesome ankle finally ended the former Scotland skipper's career on the pitch - he retired last year - but he found himself back in the front-line far sooner than even he expected.

When Alan Solomons left the Saints in November after a run of eight straight league defeats, owner Keith Barwell came calling, asking Pountney to bail out a sinking ship.

Two months on and all seems well.

Franklins Gardens is a far happier place, and the team are on a run of five successive wins - but Pountney admits it has been a steep learning curve for all involved.

THE SEASON SO FAR Under Alan Solomons: P: 12 W: 4 L: 8 League position (22/11/04): 12 Under Budge Pountney: P: 8 W: 6 L: 2 League position (20/01/05): 9

"It's been a strange time for myself and the squad, but also quite an exciting one," he told BBC Sport.

"We've moved on slightly from where we were, and the squad is relishing the challenges ahead - we're actually quite enjoying it.

"But it wasn't something I wanted to do at this stage of my career - I was quite happy following a different line in strength and conditioning.

"I never imagined I'd be in charge of the side this season, and to be honest I'm still getting used to it, but I'm reasonably enjoying myself."

Tales of poor morale and discontent seeped out of Franklins Gardens at the start of the season - Ben Cohen in particular was known to be unhappy.

The quality of the squad had never been in question - but the players desire to play under Solomons was - a factor the arrival of Pountney has eliminated.

With the former flanker coaching the forwards and Paul Grayson marshalling the backs, the Saints have rediscovered their zest for the game.

"We've got a good squad, but there's no point having strength in depth if you're not performing," he said.

Steve Thompson has been a very good skipper Budge Pountney

"Paul Grayson is the tactical genius - I just make sure the forwards are in the best condition they can be - but they're such a good group they do most of the work for me.

"Paul sees the game far better than me - that's why he plays fly-half - I just make sure the players are in the right frame of mind before they play."

And while many of his fellow Premiership head coaches have been turned prematurely grey by the stresses of top-level management, Pountney appears to be impervious to the pressure.

That, perhaps, will come, but for the moment he is enjoying every game as it comes.

"To be honest, I don't know why people think it's a frustrating job. Once they're on the pitch I can't do anything about what's happening out there - that's down to the players.

"I'm actually quite pleased that I have such a good seat to watch the rugby - you've just got to relax."

Simple it may sound, but Pountney's partnership with Grayson has seen the Saints climb out of the relegation zone and qualify for the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup.