By ChrisC
October 29 2012

Good Old Oscar!                                                                                               I loved the cinema; it was where I spent Saturday mornings and sometimes the afternoons together with my father, who didn’t work after lunch on Saturdays, watching the latest Western or Second World War tale of bravery, with steely eyed commandos risking all for King and Country.  Later it was the place to do one’s courting, the Empire in Leicester Square was very popular as it had double seats, and then even later for adult distraction from the humdrum of daily life.

Oscar Deutsch started the Odeon cinema chain and it was suggested that O D E O N was an acronym for Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation and good old Oscar’s creation, together with ABC., Gaumont, Ritz, Savoy, Roxy, Tivoli, Palace and Astoria, is redolent of the golden age of cinema going. 

They were cavernous places were these “popcorn palaces” and had a mixture of smells; stale tobacco smoke, ice cream, perfume, sweat and in some cases, in the early days of my “going to the pictures”, the all pervasive disinfectant that was used to prevent the audience leaving in the newly acquired company of Bedbugs, Lice and Fleas which were rife in the wider post war community.  Ah the romance of it all! 

My favourite Odeon was the vast Finsbury Park Astoria which had a magnificent sweeping staircase leading from a foyer, designed in a Moorish style with real fountains, to the circle and upper circle, while the main auditorium had a ceiling peppered with hundreds of tiny lights which were like a clear starlit night sky.  But it was the stage that was so startling as it was built as a Mediterranean village, oddly prescient, when it was built way back in 1930, of the current day ethnic make-up of the building’s environs. 

By the time I was a teenager the Astoria also had leading bands playing there and later, in the 1970s, it became the Rainbow Theatre and hosted such as The Who, Pink Floyd, Yes, Queen and Genesis. I drove by the old place in the 1980s after it had closed and was looking in a poor state but later, when I passed by again, it had become some sort of church and the historic building was in better shape. 

Visits to the cinema are now rare for us as we don’t much like the new “multi-screen” arrangement with its claustrophobic “studios” and soundtracks so loud as to make me fear for my auditory well being. 

We do though enjoy the theatre with musicals our particular choice of escapism and go as often as we can. The downside of live theatre is that having paid for your ticket, unlike with film, you don’t always get to see the cast you’ve paid to see and on more than one occasion, having taken our seats, an announcement has been made that one of the leading characters is to be played by an understudy rather than the theatrical luminary we’d paid to see.  Of course this is sometimes due to illness but at a West End theatre a few years back the leading lady was supposedly indisposed yet the following day there she was in the press smiling at the cameras as she strutted her scantily clad stuff at one of those awful awards’ ceremonies, where the self appointed “great and the good” spend another evening stroking each other’s egos, when she should have been entertaining us. 

I thought how similar this circumstance is to that which rugby supporters, to a greater or lesser extent, have to suffer during the Autumn Internationals (or End of Season Internationals as they are know in the ANZAC countries to who’s tune the northern hemisphere unions endlessly dance) and then again during the Six Nations competition. 

Odd that in soccer, even with more matches in its Premiership, it is possible for league competition to be suspended when internationals are played.  Of course the soccer Premiership is not managed with the incompetence that we have come to expect from the IRB., RFU., ERC and PRL who must surely be the epitome of self serving bureaucracies. 

Lancaster and his crew, as did forebears, will command the cream of the England crop for longer than the other participants in the international matches and even if he released those surplus to requirements on match day by then the die has usually been cast as to the match day squad. 

Given this bizarre situation it serves no great purpose to rake over the coals of last weekend’s matches other than to say that Saints and their supporters had to suffer the torments of playing and watching Saracens, while Tigers looked tired and lethargic after a mere five day turn round since their gruelling match against the Ospreys, which followed hard on the heels of an even more taxing trip to Toulouse.  Gloucester on the other hand had the benefit of a coherent back row, a longer recovery period and the opportunity to have rested first choice players against the two French teams they played in the Amlin Cup. 

For all that though Tigers went to Kingsholm and came away with a valuable bonus point, a feat which, not so long ago, would have led to cavorting, rejoicing and street parties amongst the Tigers’ faithful. 

It is a travesty that a local derby such as that which awaits us next weekend should be enfeebled by the mores of the IRB and their acolytes but, as the adage goes; we are where we are. 

Although  Soane Tonga’uiha is soon on international duty with Tonga he should be available next Saturday while it looks as if it’s Springbok Brian Mujati’s turn with the #3 shirt as he’s been on a job share with Paul Doran-Jones, whereas  Tonga’uiha has been the default selection for Dorian West.  Mike Haywood, promoted from Saints’ academy for this season, will probably complete the Saints’ front row to face the Tigers trio. 

 Dan Cole and Castrogiovanni are both in their country’s international squads but it is possible that Castrogiovanni may still be available as there’s no agreement for the early release of players to Italy as is the case for Lancaster’s England and if so he’ll start with George Chuter, who’ll have been chomping at the bit for some game time as he’s been forced to sit on the sidelines watching Tom Youngs make a Horlicks of the line out at Kingsholm.   Ayerza and Mulipola will be available for the same reason as Castrogiovanni and so I’d like to see Ayerza get a start after a decent outing against Gloucester and Mulipola’s later arrival, against a tiring or largely second string Saints’ replacement trio, could be an important weapon. 

American Eagle; Samu Manoa has been getting a good share of the #4 shirt for the Saints and again while the feisty and dynamic Yank has been included in the USA’s squad the Eagles don’t play until they travel to Colwyn Bay to meet Russia, so I expect the excellent Manoa to be on parade alongside Kiwi Mark Sorenson and provide a full strength presence at the line out. 

Happily Louis Deacon is at last restored to Tigers and looking in good form so I’d expect him to be partnering Graham Kitchener, who’s had a rest.  This could be an abrasive contest but with Chuter doing the throwing in and at Welford Road I’d reckon the hosts will edge it especially if Mafi is available, as should be the case, and with Saints likely denied the services of Tom Wood and Dowson. 

The back row is a torment for Tigers with retirements and injuries aplenty and I hope that the “stinger” that drove Jordan Crane from the fray at Kingsholm is not going to further deplete Tigers’ resources, as with Waldom probably still in the loving embrace of England, Crane will be needed to carry the ball up.  Slater could be deployed but Crane’s presence would be a big positive for the home side. It’s unclear as to how Thorpe, Noone, Jooste and Salvi are progressing but Tigers badly need some good news on the open side front otherwise, as has been the case since Salvi got injured, they could have a hard time at the breakdown as Brett Deacon will have to play out of position if he’s fit of course. 

Dowson and Tom Wood will have been with England and as Lancaster won’t have made his mind up as to his squad for the Fiji match they’ll likely be absent, so it’ll possibly be ex Leeds flanker Rhys Oakley, who joined Saints this season via Bourgoin, filling in with another new arrival, this time from the Blue Bulls; South African Gerrie-Jan Van Velze and maybe James Craig will get a start.  I saw him play last season and the Yokshire born lock cum back row looked pretty useful or perhaps young Teimana Harrison will get a start to add to his solitary appearance from the bench against London Irish when he replaced Manoa. 

Unless the longed for good news is received from the treatment room at Oval Park then I can see problems again for Tigers at the breakdown although maybe less severe if both Wood and Dowson are away. 

Behind Tigers’ dominant scrum at Kingsholm young Sam Harrison, like Tom Youngs, had an afternoon he’ll want to forget.  Harrison’s play was predictable in the extreme and the Gloucester defenders hardly had to be inspired to work out what he was going to do as he repeatedly shovelled the ball out to Flood. Harrison’s defensive positioning was culpable for two of the hosts’ tries and when Tigers had a two man advantage in the backs he didn’t release them but instead kept the ball in the forwards where Gloucester had parity.  

Quite why Richard Cockerill persists with Harrison, when he’s clearly not ready, I fail to understand, especially as the experienced Pat Phibbs is on the bench and the fit again England Saxon  Micky Young is somewhere in a darkened room. 

Even though Dickson will probably be off with England Saints are unlikely to mirror Cockerill’s error by not playing the experienced Wales international; ex Scarlet Martin Roberts who, truth to tell, I personally prefer to Dickson who is rather too histrionic for my taste whereas Roberts just goes about his business with great assurance and pace.  If Harrison again starts, and I wouldn’t bet against it, then with the scrum likely to be even I can see Saints getting an edge with the experienced Roberts, just as Gloucester did with the even more experienced Cowan. 

With Stephen Myler injured last weekend I suppose we’ll see the sometimes flakey, sometimes brilliant, Ryan Lamb at fly half facing George Ford who will at last get a start and be looking to make the most of it, showing Cockerill the error of his ways in not giving the talented youngster more game time, especially as Flood’s form has been patchy.  Given something to work with I’d expect Ford to get the better of the contest.  The question is will the Tigers’ flankers and particularly their scrum half be able to do the necessary? 

Tigers’ first choice centres will also be on England duty and so I’d hope to see Daniel Bowden get another start alongside the estimable Matt Smith who must also be wondering what he has to do to get a start, it’s obviously not good form that influences Cockerill’s selection otherwise Smith would be a fixture. 

It would be a very different centre pairing and less direct than the Allen/Tuilagi combination and none the worse for that and if Ford can be put on the front foot then Bowden’s distribution skills should come into their own but  I do have some concerns as to the robustness of Bowden’s defence. 

Luther Barrell arrived at Franklins Gardens from Sale this term having spent just the one season there and playing only three times.  I thought he looked the pick of the bunch when he was at Leeds and now looks a player who’s been on vitamins.  My goodness he’s blossomed under the tutelage of Jim Mallinder after being wasted up at Edgeley Park and has already scored three tries from his seven appearances so I expect to see him opposite Bowden on Saturday and giving the ex London Irish centre an examination of his defensive skills. 

With the arrival of, for me, one of the outstanding talents of recent times, Dominic Waldouck from an injury blighted time at Wasps, Mallinder has an enviable choice between the youngster and his  standout signing from last season; George Pisi, who’s a constant threat.  Saints’ options don’t end there either as they still have the veteran Tom May to call upon.  After a couple of seasons topping up his pension fund over in Toulon he returned to Saints last term getting plenty of game time and rewarded Mallinder with some good performances and a trio of tries.  May is one of those players who I’d have loved to have seen in Tigers colours and it’s surprising that he got just two full caps back in 2009 when he started against Argentina in back to back fixtures. 

I think that to give vent to Bowden’s distribution skills and the likely aggressive defence of the Saints’ it is essential that Tigers line up in a deeper formation than they do when Flood is playing to permit Bowden to bring his backs on to the ball at pace.  If Ford lays flat and Harrison is back on shovelling duty then I can see Tigers’ attack getting stifled again as it did at Kingsholm. 

Out wide is another Pisi; Ken, who joined from North Harbour to keep his older brother company and recreating the shared employment  they briefly had in New Zealand before George went off to Taranaki and Clemont and then back to Taranaki from where he joined Saints, becoming a first choice selection for much of last season.  Matt Smith is a great defender and he’ll need to be as when George comes into the line he can do real damage if he gets in behind the opposition’s defence as his brother will be in close support having made the shirt vacated by Chris Ashton his own. 

On the other wing Mallinder can choose between Russian speedster Artemyev who will be happy not to have either of the Tuilagi brothers running at him, as defending against big South Sea backs isn’t really his thing, and Noah Cato.  I think the Russian will get the nod again over the ex Saracen and probably wouldn’t much like the look of Goneva but will relish the chance to get past him and add to his solitary Premiership try this season. 

I suspect Cockerill will start Goneva again but Adam Thompstone who, after a hat trick against Exeter, must wonder what he has to do to get another chance or even get into the match day squad. 

Scott Hamilton had another unfussy, sound and try scoring performance down at Kingsholm and I expect he’ll continue although I’d quite like to see Niall Morris get a start now that Geordan Murphy is back although the Tigers’ skipper didn’t look fully fit to me and wasn’t running freely but Cockerill being Cockerill I expect Hamilton will be on parade and the talents of Morris and Thompstone, like those of Young, will be left to moulder. 

If he’s fit the visitors will probably deploy Kiwi James Wilson at full back who’s also arrived from ProD2 side Bourgoin, his having spent just a solitary season there after leaving the land of the long white cloud where he played for NPC side Southland.  The experienced fly-half cum full back scoring twice in the match with Wasps. He wasn’t in the match day squad against Saracens so if he’s injured then it could be that Artemyev will get the #15 shirt with Cato replacing him on the wing, which would make for a very speedy back three compared to that of Hamilton, Murphy and Goneva although they may lack something in defence giving Tigers an opportunity. 

Tigers have eight players likely to be messing about with England while Saints have just five so we’ll likely be denied of seeing thirteen players of international standard and as four of Saints’ absentees are forwards influential at the breakdown Tigers’ should not find themselves at quite the disadvantage they have of late.  It will be interesting to see how the re-jigged 10/12/13 axis goes for Tigers against what looks to be a first choice trio for Saints. 

I think as usual it’s going to be very tight, as these matches always are, but that maybe at Welford Road Tigers may just edge it and get themselves back in the top four of the Premiership. 

Just picture what a match to savour it would be with two full strength sides though!

Tigers v Northampton Saints Match Preview

Discussion started by TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk , 29/10/2012 21:46

TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk
29/10/2012 21:46

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:11:07:12:22:37 by Tiggs.

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Waggydog
30/10/2012 07:20

What an excellent preview, thank you.

I'm glad we agree that us Saints are definitely underdogs

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Duncan Keene
30/10/2012 07:49

Thanks Chris. Could be a few more England players back for both sides if Lancaster only keeps his starters. I suspect we'll get Waldrom, youngs and Allen back. Maybe even flood.

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Johns
30/10/2012 11:17

Thanks Chris.

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St.Rich Joe, Niamh and Sam's Dad
31/10/2012 06:11

That's good work. I have to tell you I don't think you'll see either Wilson or Craig. The choice on the left wing may also include Jamie Elliott as he had a run out for the wanderers last week. For once even our saintly optimism is kerbed and most of us right now would rip your arms of for a losing bonus point. We'll see though, we did after all walk away with a win from your roundabout the year we were relegated. Odd things derby matches!

No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.

Dryathlon

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NGSB
31/10/2012 09:19

Well, despite recent form, Mrs Mobbs and I will be on the Crumbling terrace as usual for our annual beating.

Be gentle with us

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Connorman
31/10/2012 09:59

Great previewing. On a non-rugby point, the Rainbow was one of my favourites - I have a particular memory of seeing Lynyrd Skynyrd there early early in 1977.

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St Dormouse
31/10/2012 10:10

Remarkably well informed and level headed preview chris. Will be there once again, in fact I'm bringing my boots as we have so many missing I may get a game. Anybody found Mrs. D's engagement ring yet/ Yes I know it was a couple of years back but I'm still hopeful!!

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Rich W
31/10/2012 10:18

Methinks they protest too much.

Thanks as always Chris.

...

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StBleach
31/10/2012 10:25

Great preview although I'm not expecting the game to be close..Tigers will win with ease.

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Bob Stainsby
31/10/2012 11:39

What a well researched informed preview thanks Chris! As St Rich and Mr Domestos allude expectations from us Saints to get anything are lower than a dachsunds do da's! I can't attend but will watch from behind the sofa in the pub (I am taking our from the living room)

Top of the League 2014-2015 Season

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Stopsy
31/10/2012 20:49

Many thanks Chris, always good to read your work and even better the well deserved and nicely delivered comments from the Saints fans above.

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Yorkie
31/10/2012 21:24

Thanks Chris.

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Purebob
01/11/2012 15:06

Top stuff !

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Johns
02/11/2012 08:55

What is all this we would rip your arm off for a losing bonus point?

This double bluff just proves we really are the underdogs this week end.

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ra
02/11/2012 13:11

Given what happened at the last meeting any talk of ripping arms off may be a tad insensitive!

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Flinstone Saint
02/11/2012 13:22

Oh Ra. You are a one.

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