Fin Smith proves he has nerve for international rugby in Northampton v Bath classic By Fin Smith’s own admission, this was not his finest performance and this was far from the hardest kick that the Northampton fly-half has faced in his career, but context matters.
Now with the clock into the red and Bath winning 34-32, not only the game but Northampton’s whole season was on his shoulders with the champions a full 13 points back from the top four at the start of play.
I tried to picture myself at the local rugby club kicking a ball and really relax, to block out everything and thank God it went over.
In his previous three penalty attempts, he had shanked one, missed one from inside his own half and made one off the post.
So he tried to recall the advice given to him by Jonny Wilkinson in England camps and picture himself as a kid back at Shipston-on-Stour in Warwickshire.
