Double tonic for sick Saints

Cohen, reinstated at centre for a stirring renewal of collective faith in the virtues of blood and guts, does not intend to stall on any new deal. 'I want to stay,' he said. 'I have got to show my commitment to the Saints and, hopefully, by doing so it could help bring other players to the club because recruitment is never easy when you're bottom.

'I have other offers and the clubs involved are pushing me for an answer. I have told the others that I have to see what happens at Northampton.

'This is where I started and this is where I want to finish but it's not down to me. I was unhappy but things have changed and we have found the spark again.'

Toulouse should still top the pool despite playing their part as the fall guys to such perfection that at one point Guy Noves was reduced to kicking the touchline ice-box in frustration. The visiting head coach finished up gesticulating at the scoreboard clock and throwing a few bewildered shrugs towards the fourth official in another contretemps over time-keeping.

The 12,000 crowd had been warned they would have to endure six minutes' stoppage time and there were still at least 80 seconds left when the final whistle blew.

Victory clinched by a drop goal from substitute stand-off Shane Drahm was a triumph for bulldog spirit.

Paul Grayson, thriving in his new role as player- coach, had nailed four first-half penalties when Mark Robinson made the most of Omar Hasan's sin-bin.

To make room for a substitute prop, Toulouse withdrew Christian Labit for a scrum 20 yards from their line and Robinson was sharp enough to shoot down the narrow side to exploit the space left by the absence of the blindside flanker.

Toulouse, galvanised by the excellent Jean Bouilhou, delved into their box of tricks for a marvellous try finished off by the skidding Florian Fritz and it said everything about Northampton's resolve that they came from behind a fourth time after conceding a second try to the other French centre, Yannick Jauzion.

Pountney was realistic enough to accept Saints will have to win at Llanelli if they are to squeeze into the last eight as one of the two highest-placed runners-up.

He knows what awaits him in Toulouse on Saturday.

'We have stirred a hornets' nest. Toulouse will want to show their fans this was a mistake,' said the former Scotland captain.