Proctor: We still believe we can make top four

MATT Proctor was expecting the Premiership to be a slog when he arrived from New Zealand but the All Blacks centre has felt at home in a league where variety has spiced up his sporting life.

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The 28-year old arrived at Franklin’s Gardens after the 2019 World Cup, when he had been on stand-by for the All Blacks having made a try-scoring international debut against Japan the previous year. He rejoined the Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd who had coached him at Wellington and the Hurricanes.

“The Premiership is good, a lot faster than I thought it would be,” said Proctor, who was in the Hurricanes team that won the 2016 Super Rugby final and has another year to run on his contract. “I was expecting it to be slow with a lot of kicking but a side like Bristol play a lot of rugby in their own half and operate at a quick tempo, encouraging x-factor players to throw the ball around.

“Then you have Exeter who have had another good season playing in a different way. They have a big, physical pack and like to do everything on their terms, slowing a game down when they need to. The rugby can be dictated by the weather, especially when it is cold and wet in the middle of winter, but it has been a good experience and I am enjoying it.”