The Prodigal Son Returns!

Tom Wood has praised "stalwart" Calum Clark following the flanker's positive displays for the Northampton Saints so far this season.

The 25-year-old has played his part in the Saints' run of five wins from seven games this campaign, particularly catching the eye in the 20-11 European Rugby Champions Cup defeat at the hands of Racing Metro last weekend.

"Cal's got a huge engine," the Northampton Chronicle quotes Wood as saying. "He's full of heart and desire and he puts his body on the line week in, week out.

"He hasn't had a huge amount of luck with injuries and suspensions and he's been in the trenches a lot when the internationals have been away from Saints. He's an absolute stalwart, he grafts, he leads during the week doing his own thing. He's very professional.

"He gets his reward in big games playing like he does. He's a warrior in there for us and we rely a lot on him for energy and physicality. He's very good at the breakdown, a big heavy man, and much heavier than you'd think for his agility and his work rate. He goes really well in our pack."

Northampton are currently top of the Aviva Premiership table.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Yeah its a curious one.

But i cant really comment as i havent seen him much for Saints. Has he been playing well?

He's very much Lancasters type of back rowers....they're all near enough identikit players....Wood, Robshaw, Johnson, Clark...good alrounders roughly 6'4, 17.5 stone...

Playing a Left and right flanker rather than a traditional 6 & 7

LondonTiger wrote:Prodigal and Calum

GeordieFalcon wrote:Ah FA...that was a monstrous back row. Tim Rodber is one of my favorite England players of all time.
And i had the privelage of tackling him in a 7's game many years ago.

As for Clark...thats high praise from Wood. It echos what many of the coaches have been saying for a long time now.

GeordieFalcon wrote:...The last serving member of the forces to represent England...

yappysnap wrote:The bit about bad luck with suspensions is funny though! Yes they just happened to appear out of no where...

GeordieFalcon wrote:Rugbyfan,

Not sure actually....maybe he did. I had forgot about him actually.

Poorfour wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Rugbyfan,

Not sure actually....maybe he did. I had forgot about him actually.

I think Lewsey handed back his commission when he started playing professionally (didn't feel he could justify it given he'd never be there) but was always proud to be associated with the military.

HammerofThunor wrote:On topic, Clark is a favourite of Lancaster. He coached him up at Leeds and has always seemed to give him a chance when 'we' thought others were more deserving.  If he is playing well (I've not really seen that many Saints games, but I would hardly trust a team mate's comments, rarely do you get a "he's ok, nothing great but solid") then he does fit the role Lancasters sees for his flankers.