Saints' Munga aims for new level of consistency

Chunya Munga is a former England Under-20 international

Northampton Saints lock Chunya Munga believes consistency is the key to taking his game to the next level in the season ahead.

The 6ft 7ins second row made 19 appearances last term and hopes a regular place in the team can help him push for international honours.

Champions in 2024, Saints reached the final of the European Champions Cup in May but lost to Bordeaux in Cardiff.

"I'm the kind of person that doesn't think too far ahead - I often end up looking back more than looking forward," Munga told BBC Radio Northampton.

"Last season I had some good opportunities, good games, a good run of minutes. I just want to start well, get performing and make it as hard as possible to not have me in the team.

"Consistently performing at Premiership level is what gets you there (to the next level) and being one of the most standout figures in a team.

"If you look at boys who play at levels above, they are consistently performing in the Premiership - it's not like they're doing everything special at all times, but they have a physicality a level above, a skill level and an accuracy."

Munga, 25, will captain Saints in their first pre-season game, away to Champ Rugby side Bedford Blues on Friday, an indication of director of rugby Phil Dowson's belief in his leadership potential.

Their first competitive game will be away to Saracens in the Prem Rugby Cup two weeks later, with their first league game at home to Exeter Chiefs on 28 September.

"There's a feeling now, an understanding, that for this small little town in the Midlands with a bunch of lads that grew up locally - most of them, though not me - we can compete at the highest level," said Munga.

"There's no reason we can't go to Cardiff and beat Bordeaux, there's no reason we can't try and push for the highest accolades.

"We're very focused on the week to week and the process and how we get better and better at what we do.

"What that experience showed the lads was 'we can compete at this level'. It wasn't our day in Cardiff but we took a lot of confidence from that."