Saints Q&A: Tom Vickers talks to lock Chunya Munga

The 25-year-old produced arguably his best performance in the black, green and gold as he continues to get better and better following his move to Northampton ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

This week, we caught up with the lock to discuss that brilliant victory at Bath, last Sunday’s battle with Union Bordeaux Bègles, in which Munga came off the bench to help Saints claim a try bonus point, and much more ahead of Sunday’s crucial clash with Scarlets…

Q: How much did you enjoy the win at Bath?

A: “Going into that game, we had a mantra of 'whatever happens, happens - and we're just going to go down there and give it our best'.

"We came out of it absolutely buzzing.

"It wasn't perfect and it wasn't the best Saints performance in history but it came from a bunch of lads who were champing at the bit to get an opportunity to go to Bath and play a team that are a quality side who made the PREM final in the past two years.

"For me personally, it was just a great day out. Just to play rugby with your mates, it's even better when you get to beat a team like that.”

Q: Where did that win rank for you in your career?

A: “There are a couple of games I've played in that are really, really special for me - and that's definitely one of them.

"I think back to playing away to Exeter in 2024 with Saints, it was a top-of-the-table clash and we were down 25 points in the first half an hour but went on to win that game.

"To be honest, that Bath win was very different in the sense we weren't chasing the game the whole time, but the euphoria at the end was pretty special.”

Q: How strong is the Saints mentality?

A: “The interesting thing is that we don't necessarily hammer the pressure of 'we have to win, we have to win, we have to win'.

"What we believe in is putting together strong performances and then the wins take care of themselves.

"We very much believe as a team that we can win, but not because we're just going to go out there and just get a W out of nothing. It's because we've trained so hard and everyone's plugged into the game plan.

“We understand both sides of the ball what we want to do and we understand having a good level of intent gives us a good opportunity to perform, which in turn hopefully leads to wins.

"Having been here for a couple of years now, we're pretty confident that if we step onto the pitch and do what we need to do, we're pretty confident we can win.”

Q: How much can you take from the Bordeaux experience and is it better it happened at this stage of the season rather than later on?

A: “Irrespective of when it comes in the season, it's such a massive game to learn from.

"Having the final last year was pretty tough because it's one shot and you find out.

"But now, the biggest loss for us would be if we come out of that game and we don't take any lessons from it.

"What that game taught us was we are good enough to compete in Europe but if we don't execute X, Y and Z at certain times, we get punished, because there are such good sides out there and such good individual players.

"For us looking back at it, there was some frustration because you leave that game having scored 28 points against one of the best teams in the world and you think 'if we can do that, we can play against anyone', but at the same time we have to take the lessons and keep moving forward.”

Q: It sounds similar to what you said after losing at Leinster in the first semi-final and then you went over there and won it the second time round. Does it feel like that?

A: "I think so. Almost three or four years ago you'd be thinking there's a good young team here but actually now we're getting to the point where we walk into European fixtures where we can compete with anyone, and we're not in that same bracket of 'oh, let's give it a go'.

"We are really able to compete, but that doesn't come out of nothing.

"It comes because we train so hard on our basics, fundamentals and process, and we just want to put that on the pitch when we get the chance.”

Q: How do you feel you've developed since you've arrived here?

A: “I'd definitely say I've improved holistically in most areas I've wanted to in the game.

"I'm definitely fitter and stronger than when I first came here. From an S&C point of view, I think my athletic base has kicked on massively, which I'm quite pleased with because the guys we work with are so good.

"I'd say the individual coaching I get is very good.

"I also had some very good coaches before I came here, and that's just allowed me to try to improve.

"As a second row, I pride myself on my set piece first but outside of that with the likes of Tram (James Craig), Radders (Lee Radford) and (Sam) Vesty, they're so good at their little sections it means you're constantly trying to improve, whether that's on the ball, defensively, trying to make an impact. I feel I've benefitted in those areas thanks to these coaches.”

Q: Back at the Gardens on Sunday, how much are you looking forward to this match?

A: “I just love playing so whether it's one minute on the other side of the planet or 80 minutes at the Gardens, I just want to play.

"It's going to be a very tough contest against a Scarlets side who are going to be physical with a big chip on their shoulder.

"They had a tight fixture against Bristol and we've had a look at them playing against Glasgow when they did a job on them.

"It's going to be tough, physical and for the group of players it's perfect.

"We want to kick on in the competition, we've got our round of 16 secure but it's now can we get home in the last 16 and home in the quarters.

"Without looking too far ahead, we understand the importance of this game so we're all really excited.”