This has been a season for growing up, for Ben Foden and for Northampton according to The Times' David Hands.
"No one would accuse Foden, 24, of lacking confidence but this season his feet have been firmly on the ground, planted there by Jim Mallinder, his director of rugby and a former England full back. In his previous life Mallinder was a teacher and it is easy to identify his methods: suggest to Foden that he could double up between his original position, scrum half, and full back and become a fringe player or be a full-time full back and be involved all the time.
"For too long Foden resisted the choice, despite the man-of-the-match awards showered on him when he wore 15. This season has been the first in which he has regarded himself as a full back pure and simple, in which he has worked specifically to improve his skills in the position."
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