Northampton Saints
News: AP: Northampton Saints vs Gloucester - Match Preview
By St Dormouse
February 28 2014
Top of the table Northampton Saints welcome Gloucester Rugby to Franklin's Gardens this Saturday in another vital Aviva Premiership fixture. Regular COYSDC contributor, St Dormouse, looks ahead to the game...
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs GLOUCESTER RUGBY
AP: Saturday, 1st March 2014 - 3.15pm (BT Sport)
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS, NORTHAMPTON
MATCH PREVIEW
‘Tis the first day of March, Saint David’s Day, a day of joy in the valleys, the first day of spring, roundabouts everywhere will be awash with bright yellow Daffodils. Snowdrops and Croci emerge to banish the bleak, long, soggy winter. A day to remember the life of a tea total, tight fisted, 100 year old Welsh monk, a day when Eif Jones might possibly find the grace to say something nice to somebody English...hang on what am I saying....ignore that bit, but most importantly a day to get yourselves down to Franklins Gardens to cheer on the Saints in their attempt to put some records straight against another great rugby town, Gloucester.
It is said that among the last words of St David was the simple phrase “Keep the faith”. It is a phrase much repeated on this website and it appears that that faith is starting to be rewarded. Northampton have lost just once in the Premiership so far this season, and we all know who that was against don’t we boys and girls. Many things have been said about that day at Kingsholm and many a finger has been pointed but it’s there for all to see in black and white, Gloucester 26 Northampton 24.
Apart from that Fox inspired loss and a draw at Poo Corner, Saints have vanquished all comers both home and away in the League. A current club record of 10 premiership wins on the bounce and 11 without loss in all competitions speaks volumes for club and management, especially considering the amount and quality of players out through international call up or injury throughout the season.
Gloucester, much to the frustration of their hardy followers, have not managed the success a club of that size and breeding should expect in recent years. What a shame says I, not particularly convincingly, but despite their under achieving they seem to be a bit of a thorn in our side. Who can forget, as Mr Mallinder has alluded to, last year’s game at the Gardens which was quite possibly the lowest point of the season for me. A terrible performance unworthy of the Saintly faithful and a particular slate I would like to see washed clean.
Gloucester have only won 5 games in the premiership this year, lost 10 and currently lie in 9th place on 27 points. 6 of those points are losing bonus points and it is to be noted how many of their games, particularly recently, have been close run things. Their match at the roundabout a couple of weeks ago was of particular interest to me and presumably the Saints management. By far the better team for most of the match they perhaps should have beaten Tigers. They have speedy backs who run quite exquisite lines and can cross the whitewash from virtually anywhere. Nigel Davies has injected the West Wales adventurous spirit into an already talented back line which includes Charlie Sharples, Henry Trinder, Rob Cook and Martyn Thomas. Currently Dan Robson and Ryan Mills seem to have the nod at half back over the 51 cap All Black Jimmy Cowen and (world’s worse kept secret) allegedly Leicester bound Freddie Burns.
Unfortunately Davies has also brought the West Wales crap front row syndrome with him as well and the pack and in particular the scrum has been their downfall for most of the season (so much irony!!) The scrum certainly lost them the match at Welford road and needs to be exploited. Any ref apart from Martin Fox on Saturday and on current form we should compete strongly in that department. They do have some classy forwards such as Elliott Stooke and Matt Kvesic as well as Wales international Will James and Tongan Sione Kalamatoni so should definitely not be taken lightly, especially in the loose but I am hoping that the wealth of talent we have in the back 5 positions will be able to handle that lot.
Last week Gloucester finally got a result to justify the endeavour and beat Quins at home by 5 points. That will be well up in the thoughts of Jim and the tracksuits this week. Gloucester are a good side when they get their act together. Significantly with Vunipola’s injury I can’t imagine that Ben Morgan will be released this weekend and they will also be without Billy Twelvetrees and Johnny May with England and the sublime yet cursed James Simpson Daniel due to yet another injury. Significant losses from any team sheet.
Against the Cherry and White horde Saints are still able to put out a team that has won all their matches since the start of the 6 nations.
We will still be without Dylan, Courtney, Woody and Luther but I would imagine Lee Dickson will be released and available. If it was up to me I would keep Khan Fotuali’i at 9 as he is playing so well having been given a bit of a run. The backs will more than likely be as last week but don’t be surprised if at some stage a certain Mr Foden appears off the bench after a long layoff. Good to have such a class act back on the strength. Young Tom Stephenson has enjoyed his stretch at centre and has impressed, as has another youngster Tom Collins who is apparently available after a bang. Maybe he will also feature on the bench. Along with Jamie Elliott, who will doubtless start unless injured, the Academy is starting to knock out some handy young backs.
Talking of injured players a little bird whispers that James Craig may be back to fitness but I expect Jim to stick with Day and Manoa behind Haywood, Waller and Ma’afu. After his man of the match performance against Worcester I thought Van Veltze was unfortunate to get dropped last week but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him on the bench again with Clark, Dowson and Dickenson starting in the back row.
This core of players have done well with the internationals away, their best result being a last minute away win at the ever dogged Exeter by a single point. An element of good fortune has meant us playing Worcester and Newcastle in the last 2 weeks which were both won, all be it not particularly convincingly. The boys will need to dig deep to keep the winning streak going against a side playing well but although I am slightly nervous about this one I shall put my head over the parapet and predict a home win, 4 more points and hopefully a favour from those other bewellied westerners Bath against Saracens.
Looking out of the window it is pouring with rain, just for a change, but fear not, come Saturday the deluge will cease, the sun will shine, everybody put a couple of quid in the Marie Curie Box and don your Daff, maybe the good Dewi Sant will look down kindly upon our Saintly Host and grant us victory on this hallowed day.
Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus as they say west of the Severn.
Happy Saint David’s day to the rest of us.
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Stumbleupon28/02/2014 14:12
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Apologies for the delay in publishing your fine piece - the real world got in the way!
Many thanks for an entertaining read. I hope the match lives up to it.
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oh and really enjoyed it
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