Lawes ready for 'perfect' Saints send-off

Ex-England flanker Courtney Lawes says he "couldn't image a amended way" of finishing his Northampton Saints profession than playing successful a Premiership last against Bath astatine Twickenham connected Saturday.

The 35-year-old has made 282 appearances complete 17 seasons astatine Franklin's Gardens, but will play his last crippled for nan nine connected Saturday earlier joining French nine Brive adjacent season.

Saints narrowly defeated defending champions Saracens astatine location successful nan Premiership semi-finals past weekend, and caput into nan last arsenic favourites aft topping nan array during nan regular home season.

"With it being a really precocious pressured business you person to interest astir enjoying it much than putting unit connected yourself," Lawes told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly.

"[You want to] really clasp nan week arsenic this is why you play rugby. These are nan situations you want to beryllium in, you want to beryllium successful these scenarios moreover though you person a upland of pressure.

"It's cleanable [playing astatine a packed Twickenham]. I couldn’t image a amended measurement to finish."

Northampton's triumph complete Saracens meant they reached their first last since 2014 - erstwhile they won their only Premiership title.

Lawes, who retired from world rugby pinch 105 caps aft nan World Cup successful France past autumn, played successful that last triumph complete Sarries.

"You want to bask these weeks arsenic they don't travel astir very often," Lawes added.

"It is conscionable astir going retired location and doing what we've been doing each season. We person specified a bully squad that is moving good together and is truthful cohesive.

"We've grown passim nan play and proven to ourselves complete and complete again that we don't request to person a 10/10 capacity aliases do thing retired of nan ordinary."

Since Lawes announced his status from England duty, nan flanker has deed immoderate of his career-best form.

Lawes, who has been connected 2 British and Irish Lions tours, antecedently said he would consider touring 1 last clip pinch nan Lions if he is still playing travel 2025.

However, nan contiguous attraction remains connected winning a 2nd Premiership title and to adhd to his 3 Six Nations titles that he won nether erstwhile England coach Eddie Jones.

"I don't deliberation I will ever consciousness I person sewage wherever I want to get successful rugby, but that is portion and parcel of why I person been capable to play astatine a decent standard," nan ex-England flanker added.

"I americium proud successful a batch of ways but I americium ever pushing and I americium ever unsatisfied, but I americium proud and grateful for nan magnitude of games I person had.

"The infinitesimal I consciousness I americium not getting amended astatine rugby is nan infinitesimal I will retire. I don't cognize if I tin get amended now but I americium going to try."

On Saturday Bath will look successful their first Premiership last for 9 years, aft an awesome semi-final victory complete Sale Sharks astatine nan Recreation Ground.

Scotland fly-half Finn Russell has helped toggle shape Johann van Graan's side's onslaught this season, but Lawes is assured Saints are "prepared" for immoderate Russell will bring.

"A batch of teams spell aft him reasoning they are going to rattle him, but he is specified a bully subordinate now you tin extremity up doing nan opposite," Lawes said.

"Regardless if we triumph aliases not, it is simply a last and thing tin happen.

"We are going to spell retired location and springiness it each we person got, I will beryllium proud sloppy of what happens.

"I will beryllium leaving nan nine successful an unbelievable spot."