Jim Mallinder: 'Too early for Northampton Saints Champions Cup title talk'

Northampton Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder has warned that it is "too early" to consider his side as contenders to win the European Rugby Champions Cup.

His team opened their campaign with a narrow 15-11 win over Scarlets, despite having two players yellow carded during the match at Franklin's Gardens.

However, Mallinder is more concerned with the pool games to come before discussing whether Northampton can win the tournament.

He is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "It was an arm wrestle but it's a cracking start for us.

"It's far too early to be talking about winning the competition as we are in cracking pool.

"We have Glasgow away next, who beat us away last time and they will play like the Scarlets so we need to be strong in the set piece."

Saints are currently third from bottom in the Aviva Premiership after winning only one league game so far this season.