English Premiership league leaders, the Northampton Saints, continued their unbeaten start to the 2023-2024 Investec Champions Cup by defeating Bayonne 62-14. 

Scoring inside the opening minute of the fixture, Northampton set the stage for what would be one of its most impressive Champions Cup performances of all-time. 

Getting the scoring underway was winger Tommy Freeman, who pounced on a clever kick from center Rory Hutchinson. 

Backrow Tom Pearson scored two tries in quick succession, before veteran Courtney Lawes secured the bonus point within 29 minutes. 

The Saints went on to score seven tries and led 42-0 at halftime. 

Northampton started the second half in the same fashion as the first half, with two quick tries, as Pearson secured a hat trick, and Alex Waller barged over. 

Bayonne was better in the second half, but it took until the 64th minute to score, as replacement Tom Spring received a smooth offload from Uruguayan international Manuel Leindekar and trotted over. 

Continuing this incredible run of form will do the Saints players' chances of Six Nations selection a world of good. 

A point commentator, Austin Healy, was keen to stress, saying, “I would select four of them in the backline,” before expanding on the point and saying he believes Alex Mitchell, George Furbank, Tommy Freeman and Ollie Sleightholme should make the cut. 

Next up for Northampton is a trip to Limerick to face Munster, which will play against Toulon on Saturday afternoon in what is a must-win match for both sides.