Northampton Saints Dominate Scarlets In Champions Cup Clash

Franklin's Gardens was alive with anticipation on January 18, 2026, as the Northampton Saints hosted the Scarlets in a high-stakes Investec Champions Cup Pool 4 clash. Both sides had plenty to play for—Northampton, already assured of a Round of 16 berth, were chasing favorable seeding, while Scarlets needed nothing less than a bonus-point victory to keep their European dreams alive. The atmosphere was electric, with five busloads of Scarlets supporters making the journey and both teams fielding strong lineups packed with international talent.

Scarlets, bottom of the United Rugby Championship and winless in Europe, arrived in Northampton facing not just a formidable opponent but also internal upheaval. The week had seen former Wales coach Nigel Davies parachuted in as interim director of rugby, with Dwayne Peel remaining as head coach—a move designed to shake up a squad that had managed just two wins all season. Davies was clear about his role: "From day one I was quite clear that if I was to come in I would have to have complete accountability for performance and selection. Dwayne is still head of that coaching group. I sit above that in terms of working with them, helping them to do what they need to do. Dwayne is completely 100% on the field now, he's an excellent coach and that's what we need him doing."

Despite the daunting challenge, Scarlets began with real intent. Early pressure in the Northampton 22 paid off when Taine Plumtree charged down Alex Mitchell's box kick, allowing Ryan Elias to cross for the opening try. Sam Costelow added the extras, giving the Welsh visitors an early 7–0 lead and sending their travelling fans into raptures. Northampton, however, soon responded. After a period of pressure and a few near-misses, a long pass from Mitchell put Italian teenager Edoardo Todaro over in the corner, with Anthony Belleau converting to level the scores.

Scarlets weren’t fazed. Their defensive line speed forced Northampton into handling errors, and an intercept plus a brilliant 50/22 from Ellis Mee swung momentum back their way. Scarlets’ improved attacking structure was evident; a slick pass from Costelow sent Mee racing up the sideline before he turned the ball inside for Archie Hughes to score. Costelow’s conversion from the touchline made it 14–7, and Scarlets looked every bit the part of a side fighting for their European lives.

But adversity struck as Jake Ball, the Scarlets’ talismanic lock, was forced off for a Head Injury Assessment. With no second-row cover on the bench, the Welsh pack began to struggle at scrum time—an Achilles heel that Northampton would exploit ruthlessly. After conceding a series of penalties, Scarlets’ Kemsley Mathias was sent to the sin bin, and Saints capitalized via a clinical finish from Todaro, who showed his electric footwork to touch down in the corner. Belleau’s conversion tied the game once more.

The pendulum swung decisively before halftime. A silky offload from full-back James Ramm put Todaro in for his third try—a remarkable hat-trick for the young Italian wing—giving Northampton a 19–14 lead at the break. Saints’ ability to punish Scarlets’ set-piece frailties was becoming the story of the match.

Northampton came out firing in the second half, eager to put daylight between themselves and their tenacious Welsh visitors. Belleau orchestrated a lovely backline move, releasing Ramm, who in turn set up Ollie Sleightholme for a try out wide. Belleau’s boot was on target again, stretching the lead. Saints continued to apply the pressure, and after a powerful driving lineout, replacement hooker Craig Wright crashed over for Northampton’s fifth try. At 33–14, it looked like the contest was slipping away from Scarlets.

Yet, to their credit, Scarlets refused to fold. Josh Macleod, the captain and emotional leader, rallied his teammates. "If everyone's on point and everyone performs then we've got a fighting chance, more than a fighting chance," he had said before the match. That spirit was on full display as Costelow squeezed over for a try after sustained pressure, and moments later, a deft chip from the fly-half allowed Jac Davies to score Scarlets’ fourth try, narrowing the gap to 33–28 and briefly raising hopes of a sensational comeback.

But Northampton, so rarely beaten at home in Europe since 2023, were not about to let the game slip. Belleau steadied the ship with a penalty, making it a two-score game, and in the dying moments, Callum Chick crashed over from short range to seal a 43–28 victory. The win capped an impressive attacking display from Saints, with Todaro’s hat-trick the headline act and Belleau’s 13 points from the tee proving crucial.

For the Scarlets, the defeat brought their European campaign to an end, but there were positives to take. Their improved attacking structure under Davies was evident, and the pack fronted up for long periods despite the scrum issues that ultimately proved decisive. The likes of Costelow, Elias, and Hughes showed real promise, and the passionate traveling support was rewarded with a performance full of heart and ambition.

Northampton, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their ability to weather an early storm and turn the screws when it mattered. Their back row, led by the ever-controversial and dynamic Henry Pollock, provided energy and go-forward, while the backline’s cutting edge was on display throughout. With seeding implications still to be resolved as the competition heads into its Easter break, Saints will be keen to maintain their momentum when the Champions Cup resumes in April.

As the dust settles on a dramatic weekend of Champions Cup rugby—which also saw wins for Glasgow, Harlequins, and Bordeaux—the competition now pauses until Easter. For Northampton, the focus shifts to domestic matters, but they’ll return to Europe as genuine contenders. For Scarlets, attention turns to the URC, but they’ll take heart from a much-improved showing and the sense that, with a little more set-piece solidity, brighter days could be ahead.

That’s all from Franklin’s Gardens, where Northampton’s firepower proved just too much for a brave Scarlets side. The Champions Cup drama will resume after a well-earned break, and both teams will be eager to build on the lessons learned from this pulsating encounter.