FURBANK FUELLED FOR CALL-UP

GEORGE FURBANK threw his hat into the Six Nations ring as Saints came from behind to go top of the table and prove they are title contenders.

- Adam HATHAWAY

Stand-in captain Furbank has now led Northampton nine times and won all of them and, with Lewis Ludlam sidelined, he repeated the trick.

He made the difference with some sharp thinking when he took a quick tap penalty and was tackled by replacement prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour, who was offside.

Referee Matt Carley had no choice but to sin bin the youngster and hand Saints the winning penalty try.

Furbank played at 15 but is at home at 10, and boss Phil Dowson reckons he is a different player to the one who won a handful of caps before missing out at the World Cup in France.