Premiership final: Danny Care says Bath must slow down Northampton Saints at Twickenham - 'The final we deserve'

Danny Care insists Bath must slow down Northampton Saints' "unbelievably quickly" backline if they are to stand any chance in the Gallagher Premiership Rugby final at Twickenham.

It will be first against second after two fantastic semi-finals, with Saints beating serial winners Saracens 22-20 at Franklin's Gardens and Bath dispatching Sale Sharks 31-23.

Care knows a thing or two about rising to the top of the domestic game having won the competition in 2012 and 2021.

He believes Saints are the team to beat after dazzling the Gallagher Premiership with their pace this season.

"It is the two best teams in the league, it is one vs two, which is probably the final we deserve," he said.

"Northampton have been the best team of the season, they play unbelievably quickly, they play a fast-tempo pace with Alex Mitchell and Finn Smith pulling the strings and they have got some electric backs out wide.

"Bath have to slow them down somehow, they have to find a way of slowing the ruck speed down and slowing Alex Mitchell down.

"It is easier said than done, from personal experience he is on fire at the moment."

Care has 101 England caps after a more than decade-long tug-of-war for the nine jersey with fellow scrum-half Ben Youngs.

England's most capped men's player, Youngs retired from international rugby at the end of the last World Cup, with Care joining him in March.

Their old shirt could be hanging in the balance at Twickenham with Mitchell and Bath's Ben Spencer set to go head-to-head.

Care believes the battle at nine could decide which team walks away from Twickenham victorious.

"In Ben Spencer, I think you have got a fascinating match up," he said.

"He is Bath's captain but also the way that Spencer defends, he stands behind the ruck like he is ready to slow the nine down.

"There is also an England tour for him to try and get on as well, this is a huge game for him personally and for the club.

"Somehow you have got to get a hold of Alex Mitchell and try and slow him down."

This is the first Gallagher Premiership final not to feature either Saracens since the 2012–13 season.

Care believes fans are witnessing a changing of the guard, with a new generation of players ready to step up to the grandest stage.

"I think potentially yeah, it's been years since we haven't had Saracens or Exeter in the final which is mad when you think of it like that," he added.

"I think Northampton Saints have been building nicely the last couple of years but this season they have fully hit their stride.

"They have got some unbelievable young English players playing really well which is great even for the neutrals to watch.

"You kind of get inspired by that, and you can see the confidence running through their veins.

"Bath have almost been a sleeping giant, maybe Johann van Graan was the guy to wake them up."

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