Northampton Saints
News: AP: Northampton Saints vs Saracens - Match Preview
By Phil Hollis
November 24 2011
Northampton Saints return to Aviva Premiership action this weekend, welcoming Saracens to Franklin's Gardens. After last Friday's poor Heineken Cup performance against Scarlets, Saints are in desperate need of a positive outcome against one of the Premiership pace-setters. COYSDC editor Phil Hollis looks ahead to the game...
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs. SARACENS
AP: Saturday, 26th November 2011 - 5pm (Sky)
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS
MATCH PREVIEW
CAN'T GET SAINTS OUT OF MY HEAD
After an October where Saints turned round their faltering start to the season, the last couple of weeks have shown up the enigma that is Northampton Saints. Narrowly defeated by the lastest of last-gasp Ronan O’Gara drop-goals in one of the outstanding Heineken Cup matches of recent years, Saints failed in almost every department under the lights at Franklin’s Gardens last Friday. Guided by a sublime performance by young fly-half Rhys Priestland, Scarlets took every opportunity that Saints coughed-up and took all five points back to the Valleys. On a night like this, all the forward momentum and locomotion which Northampton should have taken from their performance in Limerick was blown away in the first few minutes, Saints were spinning around, shocked. Scarlets gave them no time to breathe and, hand on your heart; you knew it wasn’t going to be our night.
So, it’s back to Aviva Premiership this weekend and the Green, Black and Gold welcome Saracens to Franklin’s Gardens. A Saturday kick-off! Huzzah! Celebration! What’s that? 5pm? Ah well, it’s close. I guess.
Mark McCall’s side arrive in town topping their Heineken Cup group and in second place in the AP table, four points behind leaders Harlequins and a full twelve ahead of Saints in 6th. Well drilled and efficient, Saracens are seven from eight in the current campaign and look certain to be there or thereabouts once the season reaches its denouement come May. That said, both suspension and injury mean at least two players of the highest quality will not be taking to the park on Saturday. In the front-row, hooker Schalk Brits is kicking his heels on the side-lines after receiving a three-match ban for a dangerous tackle on the Benetton Treviso wing, Benjamin De Jager. South African youngster John Smit takes his place. Don’t they know you can’t win anything with kids? It may be that we’ll see the battle-hardened Carlos Nieto and Matt Stevens make up the front three and behind them, captain Steve Borthwick will be his no-nonsense, pain-in-the-butt self. Then it’s toss-up between the current incumbent Hayden Smith and the England qualified Mouritz Botha. Given McCall’s rotation policy, perhaps Botha will get the nod. Saracens have a settled back-row so expect no change from Brown, Burger and Joubert.
In the backs, an arm injury to Neil de Kock compounds the recent loss of Richard Wigglesworth at scrum-half meaning that there’s an awful lot on the young shoulders of 19 year-old Ben Spencer. However, he performed well in Saracens’ narrow defeat to Biarritz and will not necessarily be a weak link. In any event Spencer should have veteran fly-half Charlie Hodgson outside him as a calming influence. At centre, Brad Barritt won’t take a backward step all evening and if McCall again pairs him up with Owen Farrell (a la Biarritz) then that’s a potent combination. The back three is a bit of a conundrum because of rotation but a trio of former Saint Chris Wyles, England international David Strettle and young tyro Alex Goode would make up a solid fifteen to test Saints all over the park.
And what of Saints themselves? Well, whilst it’s no secret that Saracens employ a rotation policy, Saints’ Director of Rugby, Jim Mallinder, is more circumspect. Step back in time to September and Jim didn’t confide in me but to the Chronicle and Echo. He said, “I don’t think it is rotation we are looking at. It is picking the right players for that upcoming game. It is horses for courses…” There’s plenty of scope for change on Saturday after Friday’s debacle – will we see any?
Starting up front, skipper Dylan Hartley had one of his poorest games in a Saints shirt and both Mikey Haywood and Brett Sharman continue to breathe down his neck for the number two shirt. Dylan needs a big game and he must grasp this chance this Saturday. The conventional front three is made up of Soane Tonga’uiha and Brian Mujati. The Mooj was one of the few came away from FG last week with ticks in the credit box. I expect him to start but I wonder if Paul Doran-Jones will take the 1 shirt to rest Tiny for the first 50. Probably not. In the second row, Saints continue to miss the influential Christian Day so it’s perm any two from Lawes, Sorenson and Manoa. Given the likely Saracens back three, I wonder if Phil Dowson will get the nod for this game. He is a steadying influence on the pitch, a quality sadly lacking in the Saints side against Scarlets.
If there are to be changes then I think they are more likely to be behind the pack. At scrum-half, it would be no surprise to see Martin Roberts ahead of Lee Dickson and I wonder if Jim will prefer Stephen Myler’s more conservative kicking game at fly-half to that of Ryan Lamb. In the centres, Tom May has offered a more expansive game to the head-down go-forwardness of James Downey and would be more likely to ignite the back-three. However, as May had a full run-out for the Wanderers against Oxford on Monday, change is unlikely and I expect to see the usual Downey/Clarke midfield combination.
There must be change amongst the flyers. Drop Chris Ashton. There, I’ve said it. Wow! As a part of a team at this level, there is no excuse for what Ashton did when he dropped the ball and just stopped playing. It’s schoolboy stuff and the more I think about it, the higher my blood pressure rises. I dread to think the rocket he must have received post-match. Just because he is an England international doesn’t preclude him from sanction and the management must be prepared to make the hard choices. Both Scott Armstrong and Paul Diggin are handy replacements and deserve their chance. Indeed, Digger had done little wrong on the pitch whilst the big boys were away, only to be usurped by Vasily Artemyev as soon as he became available. In any case, perhaps our Russian ace is due a rest, still coming to terms with Premiership rugby. Note the word rest – not dropped, it’s important. We are told this is a squad game and the coaching team must trust their squad. To complete the XV, assuming he has recovered from his sore ribs, Ben Foden will return in place of the unfortunate George Pisi who was cruelly exposed at full-back.
As to a result, I’m not sure I can predict one; give me just a little more time. Saints will be hurting from their Scarlets reverse and can’t afford to fall off the pace for a top four finish. Saracens will arrive at Franklin’s Gardens full of confidence and convinced they can turn over the Green, Black and Gold once again. Throw referee Dave Pearson into the mix (better the devil you know, in my opinion, over Messrs Owens and Fitzgibbon) and it's very hard to make the call. Heart says Saints by five (I should be so lucky); head says Saracens by ten.
And breathe…
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Stumbleupon24/11/2011 13:57
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As said, scrumhalf is the place to watch
I wish your boys well...just not that well
But you are dead right to say that Sarries will be confident - perhaps over-confident? And the evil Dr Venter will be there spinning his satanic spell. It's going to be a big, big game...
if selected i just want him to play full on rugby but fear he needs to grow up a bit first
Ginger - The Colour of Sexual Rejection
Btw I didnt spot the hidden link Phil told me, I'm not that observant.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:11:25:08:14:03 by ElmaFudd..
Ive been saying this since he came back from World Cup... his head is away in the clouds (IMHO)... Bring back Digger, he must be hungry for some First Team Rugby..
Quote:I dread to think the rocket he must have received post-match.
With a player yesterday - there is no chance that Ashton will ever do that again.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
its no secret
after another read through I give up on the last one Phil you win Dr Pop.
Quote:ElmaFudd.
after another read through I give up on the last one Phil you win Dr Pop.
The last one is a stinker, Elmypoo...
Quote:me, scribbling...
It’s schoolboy stuff and the more I think about it, the higher my blood pressure rises.
"Higher" - Taio Cruz featuring Kylie Minogue #8/2010.
16 out of 17, though. Bravo, Sir!
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