Northampton Saints
News: LV: Bath Rugby vs Northampton Saints - Match Preview
By PelerinStJames
January 26 2012
Northampton Saints travel to The Recreation Ground this Saturday afternoon to face Bath Rugby in the third of four pool matches in the LV= Cup. Regular COYSDC contributor PelerinStJames looks ahead to the match...
BATH RUGBY vs. NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
LV= CUP Saturday, 28th January 2012 - 2.30pm (Sky)
THE RECREATION GROUND, BATH
MATCH PREVIEW
After a tough Heineken campaign, now comes the LV=, a competition that unlike some teams, the Saints take pretty seriously. Under the current sponsorship, we have played 12, won 10, drawn 1 and lost 1, so it’s pretty fair to say that we truly do LV this Cup.
However, never before have we lost 13 players to the various England squads. In fact, we are only a pair of centres and the odd prop short of losing an entire XV. So whilst Messrs Foden, Ashton, Elliott, Lamb, Dickson, Day, Hartley, Doran-Jones, Lawes, Clarke, Dowson, Wood, and Nutley all disappear, we have a wonderful opportunity to look in detail at the depth of the Saints squad.
On the face of it, things may look pretty bleak, however, Jim still has 9 full internationals to call upon as well as many other former “A” internationals. What is more, everybody will have a point or two prove regarding the rest of the season. I am really not confident about whom I think who will be playing on Saturday, so I thought I would look at some of the options that we might expect to see in the next couple of weeks.
Full Back: A choice of two current Internationals here, one from La Vila Joiosa and the other Moscow. 35 capped Spaniard Cesar Sempere came to us in the summer from championship side Nottingham, having also played in Spain and Montpellier before making his debut against Sarries in the earlier LV round. Vas Artemyev arrived after playing for Russia in the world cup and so far has scored 7 tries in his 12 games on the wing, including 4 in 2 in this tournament. Failing one of these two, Paul Diggin from Northampton can play at 15 and has previously played for England u16, u18, u19 and u21 levels.
Wings: Cato, an England Saxon, Armstrong, Digger or Mogenson will be looking to take their opportunity and force their way into the first team during the VI Nations. Cato came from Sarries, Armstrong from Leeds and Mogenson from Zimbabwe, and are all in the early stages of their Saints Careers. Diggin would be a more experienced option.
Centres: International stars Pisi and May will contest these berths with “A” internationals Downey and Clarke. Greig Tonks and Armstrong have also featured this year in the A league, although Wanderers watchers will note the lesser-spotted Paul Diggin has been seen in the 13 shirt earlier this season.
Fly-Half: Stephen Myler continues to climb the Saints all time points scorers lists (he is now up to 4th) and boasts an kicking percentage of over 90% this year. South African born Greig Tonks has been playing 10 for the Wandies, and whilst he made his LV cup debut for the Tigers, he came to Northampton via Nottingham and has played u20 Rugby for England. You may also like to know that according to Paul Diggins’ Wikipedia entry, he also plays at Fly-half.
Scrum Half: Another full international should be playing here on Saturday in Martin Roberts, who since his arrival in the summer has played in 20/21 first XV games, scoring on debut against Gloucester. Stuart Commins has had few chances and will be looking for some game time, although personally, I have always thought that Paul Diggin would make an excellent 9 if ever he was given the chance.
Front Row: Injury deprives young Mike Haywood of some more deserved game time so, Brett Sharman and veteran Andy Long will be contesting the hookers berth. Either side, Tiny and Mooj may get rested, allowing academy product Alex Waller and England Saxon Tom Mercey their opportunities. The rumours that Paul Diggin has been working on his scrummaging and lineout throws have yet to be confirmed.
2nd Row: Our 3rd generation International from the USA Samu Manoa (his grandfather and father played for the South Sea Islands) will continue his rugby education, most probably alongside either Saxon Christian Day or Kiwi and ex-Newcastle man Mark Sorenson. I am also confident that Paul Diggin has NOT been experimenting with spring loaded boots for line outs, and thus will not feature here.
Back Row: Irish International Roger Wilson may well captain the side from no.8 with another ex Leeds man James Craig at no.6 which just leaves us with no. 7 to fill as we have 4 senior flankers all with England. In my opinion, there is only one player who readily springs to mind; he is experienced, hardworking, very quick to the breakdown, and is very much a crowd favourite. He has hardly played this year, and would have a huge point to prove. For me, it has to be DIGGER!
Of course, like any other squad, resources are finite, and in certain areas, we do seem incredibly thin. That said, it does provide opportunity, and you only have to look at Mike Haywoods’ meteoric rise to realise what can happen if you take the chances when they come to you.
Bath are slightly less affected by the call ups, losing Mears, Wilson and Attwood from their pack, and Banahan and Abendanon from their backs. According to their fans forum, we could expect their team to be something like
1 Catt
2 Batty
3 Perenise
4 Beattie
5 Caldwell
6 Skirving
7 Louw
8 Taylor
9 Classaens
10 Donald
11 Biggs
12 Barkley
13 Carraro
14 Woodburn
15 Vesty
Like us they are unbeaten in the LV= this year, and they will be taking it the game seriously as it represents a route into the Heineken Cup next year. Their 9, 10, 12 combination on paper at least looks like pretty impressive, and if these 3 play well, then it will be a tough afternoon at the Rec.
That said, I am anticipating a close encounter between these two sides, but given the Wanderers form this season, it is a game that I think the Saints will just about edge by the odd score. For the players who have so far been on the edge of the Saints team, the time has come to to show us what you are capable of, after all, as Lennon and McCartney wrote, all you need is LV.
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Do you think Digger may get a game?
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
Saint til I die
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
wot no digger?!
wot no digger?!
wot no digger?!
wot no digger?!
wot no digger?!
wot no digger?!
Ah, there he is..
Some questions and quibbles:
The "Disappearers"... Is Elliott away with an England side? And you mention Day and Nutley, too.
Also, it's Clark not Clarke who went away with Fodes et al.
It's probably too soon for Clarke to return at 13, after a back operation.
I can't wait to see Mogensen get a start. very promising with great pace.
And I agree the local lad with a black lab called Jake should get a game
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
Thanks for all your comments.
I have to admit I burnt the midnight oil on this last night and incorrectly assumed that Alex Day, Jamie Elliott and Ben Nuttley were away with the with the England U20's prior to their game next Friday and therefore unavailable for selection.
Neither did I realise that Jon Clarke was injured and in each case there was certainly no intention to mislead or misinform, so please accept my apologies for these errors and also the incorrect spellings.
As for Tonks at FB, skybluesaint, you might well be be right on that one, I hadnt considered that option as he has played at 10 & 12 for the Wandies this year.
The question now for everyone to debate is What would your XV for Saturday be?
In which case my answer is...
LV=55
Quote:Robby Richmond
for a 1st attempt that was outstanding. well done, very well done.
Robster,
That's PSJ's third preview in the last month or so.
Do try and keep up 007...
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Quote:Phil.Quote:Robby Richmond
for a 1st attempt that was outstanding. well done, very well done.
Robster,
That's PSJ's third preview in the last month or so.
Do try and keep up 007...
shurrup Phil, Ive been busy!!!
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