Jim Mallinder cautious despite Northampton Saints win

Northampton Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder has refused to get carried away by his side finishing top of the Aviva Premiership table.

The Saints secured a home semi-final in the playoffs on Saturday as they thrashed relegated London Welsh 46-0 at Franklin's Gardens.

Despite seeing his team seal top spot with a game to spare, Mallinder insists that there is still plenty of hard work to come if they want to be crowned champions.

"It is pleasing to finish top for the first time in the club's history, but we know it is all about winning the Premiership. You have got to win a home semi-final and then take that to Twickenham," he told BBC Sport.

"We are where we want to be; we have a home semi-final with a game to go which is awesome, but we need to make sure we get ourselves right for that semi-final."

Northampton end the regular season next Saturday when they face Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.