The Premiership is discovering Anthony Belleau. And Northampton supporters are starting to take to him… Signed to general surprise last off-season, the former Clermont fly-half joined the Saints hungry and eager. “I’m loving it“, he told our colleagues at L’Equipe before the start of the season. And it shows… This weekend, in the big clash with Leicester Tigers, the 29-year-old changed the course of the match.

A replacement to begin with, the international (12 caps) came on in the 43rd minute. First, on 50 minutes, Belleau, out on the wing, found himself over the gainline after a fine attack from his side. England scrum-half Mitchell went back to the short side and put the Frenchman away for a try that was already decisive in this game.

But that is not all. On the hour mark, with the Saints trailing by a single point, the former Agen and Toulon player collected a kick around halfway. He tried a little chip over the top, got a rebound that was fortunate to say the least and ran in unopposed. Franklin’s Garden erupted. A few moments later, a whole squad could savour a win on the line.

Pau and UBB on his path

Hero for a day? Not just that. Last week, on the trip to Gloucester, the Monflanquin (Lot-et-Garonne) native handed the East Midlands club victory with a penalty inside the final 10 minutes. The ultimate “supersub”… And above all the rebirth of a player who was sometimes criticised and rarely started last season with ASM (11 starts in 25 team sheets).

The attacking game played by the Saints, who count Furbank, Mitchell, Fin Smith, Pollock, Hutchinson and Freeman among their ranks, appeals to Belleau. “I’m coming across new working methods“, he explained to L’Equipe. “In England, the game seems more structured to me“, he added.

At Northampton, the welcome given to the Frenchman has also gone very well. And as proof, the European runners-up have taken on plenty of French reinforcements in their history. Notably lock David Gérard, back-rowers Louis Picamoles and Christian Labit, centre David Dantiacq, and wing/full-back Matthieu Bourret.

The fact remains that Anthony Belleau is shining and thriving across the Channel. Far, too, from the pressure that weighed on his shoulders in Top 14. The fly-half will get the chance to face UBB and Pau this season in the Champions Cup. Perhaps for a little extra motivation.