Manoa: Saints owe Gloucester for Kingsholm defeat

The Cherry and Whites are the only team to have beaten Northampton in the Aviva Premiership this season.

Since the dramatic late 26-24 loss at Kingsholm on September 21, which saw Billy Twelvetrees land a controversial late penalty, Saints have remained unbeaten in the league.

They have won their past 10 games in the Premiership and are keen to right some wrongs from the defeat in the west country earlier in the season.

“It was a good game down there and it went to the last kick,” said Manoa, who scored in that game. “We owe them one.

“They’re the only team we’ve lost to in the Premiership this year so we owe them one. Hopefully the boys can get it done on Saturday.”

Manoa will be among the replacements this weekend, given a well-earned breather after impressing in recent weeks and months.

The reigning player of the year has nine tries to his name this season – although he labels them ‘nine lucky ones’ - helping his team recover impressively from that Gloucester loss.

“We’ve learned how to play with the internationals gone and we’ve got some young players coming up and filling their shoes,” he said.

“A lot of the young players are playing really well and with the big cats away we all know how we play.

“We’re spending a lot of time with each other on and off the field and when we train out there on the back pitches we get down to the nitty gritty to make sure everyone knows their role.”