Meehan less than bubbly over Bath

Despite returning to the top of the table the win was less convincing than the scoreline suggests.

Meehan said: "I don't think we will be overly pleased with that performance. There were improvements in certain areas compared with last weekend's win over Sale. Individually there were some fine performances but there is more to work on."

Saints enjoyed plenty of possession but did not possess a cutting edge sharp enough to open up the home defence until the final minute when lock Juandre Kruger crossed in the corner.

However, it was another South African, Bath scrum-half Michael Claasens, who was man-of-the-match, scoring two tries and relishing the physical contest around the breakdown.

Commenting on the two-try performance by scrum half Claasens, Meehan added: "That was his best performance for some weeks. He's like an extra back rower in that he has the ability to get to the breakdown but he's been looking for scoring opportunities. His tries today, though, were also the result of good work by his forwards."

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder conceded that Bath "are a good side", before adding: "But if you look at the tries, their first was a bit soft. In the first 15 minutes today we weren't quite at the races.

"It was frustrating to come away with nothing. It's little things - every time we scored we then seemed to concede. But Bath are a good side with good strong forwards."

Bath's first try came in the second minute when Matt Banahan latched on to Butch James's grubber kick before Claasens' double.

James landed two conversions and two penalties with Stephen Myler hitting three penalties to add to Kruger's try.