Northampton Saints
News: AP: London Welsh vs Northampton Saints - Preview
By Rob Leach
November 27 2014
After a satisfying away win in the rain at Saracens last time out, Northampton Saints are on the road again this weekend - a Sunday afternoon trip to Oxford to face London Welsh in a top vs bottom encounter. Regular COYSDC contributor, Rob Leach (Bleach), looks ahead to the game...
LONDON WELSH vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
AP: Sunday, 30th November 2014 - 2.30pm
KASSAM STADIUM, OXFORD
MATCH PREVIEW
I defy anybody to write any article, preview for London Welsh without using references to the 1970’s, Old Deer Park, British Lions, JPR, Legends etc. Take those buzzwords away and what do you have left? – London Welsh, Played 8, Lost 8. Imagine, if you can or if you are old enough to remember, what the reaction might have been had we been playing the London Welsh team of 1971 at the dawn of the ‘professional’ era with the first introduction of the Salary Cap. The SportsNetwork message boards of the time were alive with debate raising question marks as to how London Welsh were allowed to build such a powerful side…
OldDeerBoy: “Great to see the lads turn out for the Lions again, well done to John Dawes, John Taylor, JPR Williams, Gerald Davies, Mervyn Davies, Mike Roberts, Geoff Evans, we will blow Northampton away“
LondonBuzzWasp: “Yeah, its ok for you guys and your defiance of the salary cap, hardly surprising you beat us 72-6!, we are an honest club playing within the law, how you get away with it remains a mystery“
OldDeerBoy: “Prove It“
SlightlyYoungerPete: “Can’t believe Bob Taylor was never picked for the Lions, anyway, the kippers have been eaten and it’s with fear that I’m heading down to Old Deer Park”
NotSoLarge: “All this talk about salary caps is beyond me and it’s obvious that something special is happening at Old Deer Park, praise the lord that Saracens are a traditional club, long may this last”
WelshForever: “Advice to you travelling Northampton fans, set off as early as you can there was nearly 10,000 fans at the Cardiff game packed into Old Deer Park, I’ve never seen anything like it and doubt we will see it again"
Yeah, ok that was then and this is now but what else can you say? London Welsh are struggling big time at the moment just one single try bonus point gained in 8 matches, they have scored just 59 points and conceded 369 and crossed the whitewash just 8 times (four of those were against Bath). You have to feel a little sorry for the way the Fixture List Generator has worked for the Welsh, Wasps, Tigers, Saints and Saracens all in a row – life doesn’t get much harder than that. But, having said that, this is amidst the wonders of the Autumn Internationals which I believe ends this weekend – praise the lord.
It seems that London Welsh have been ravaged by injuries, 15 players were unavailable for selection against the weakened Tigers last Sunday – veteran Gordon Ross (36) played his first game with Olly Barkley and scrum half Piri Weepu side-lined – whether these guys are fit for Sunday is unknown but there quality must be a massive loss to them. I watched some of the Welsh v Tigers game hoping for a miracle which never came and was impressed with Opeti Fonua who is a big, big unit - he will need to be ‘managed’. I suppose I should mention the evergreen Tom May who attempted in vain to marshal his troops – good to see him still playing.
Some London Welsh factoids for you to consider
• London Welsh, established by and for London's Welsh community, has played senior-level rugby in England since its formation in 1885. It's name in Welsh, is Clwb Rygbi Cymry Llundain.
• Over the years the club has contributed 177 players to the Wales national team and 43 players to the British and Irish Lions. Seven London Welsh players were selected for the 1971 tour to New Zealand
• London Welsh has one of the longest standing women's sides – LWWRFC, who celebrated twenty years of women's rugby at the club in the 2005/6 season
• Despite the name, there are now only 6 players associated with Wales in the squad
• The club set up an association football side in 1890 called London Welsh F.C
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I’m writing this verbiage long before the England Team has been released and so have no idea who will be available for selection on Sunday. The team put a huge shift in on Sunday so I’m expecting some serious squad rotation with a strong bench. James Wilson is a ‘must start’ as far as I am concerned, he had a massive game at Allianz Park and not because of his tries but his kicking out of hand was superb to witness. Daisy needs a rest ahead of the testing fixtures that are on the horizon, give him a week off Jim he has deserved it. After that, I have no idea – Dicko might be benched, his box kicking was off the mark but his ‘I’m getting in your face mate’ was second to none. Whoever plays for the Saints we know they will leave nothing on the pitch, I can only imagine how disappointed it must have been for Dicko, Calum Clark, Luther and Smyler last week to be snubbed by Lancaster last weekend and now this weekend – what do they have to do. It would be foolish to underestimate the Welsh they are obviously ‘getting better’ and improvements are being made.
Watering Holes
Such a shame that the Priory is long shut down – I remember the last visit there and the sight of the Gold, Black and Green in abundance. The landlord who was obviously facing troubled times was still generous enough to hand over a cheque for Saints With Heart – respect.
The Fanzone – promises a Real Ale Bar
The Holiday Inn Express – based on Grenoble Road by the Kassam Stadium (if you are desperate)
The George Inn – based in Littlemore on Sandford Road, about a 10 minute walk away from the Kassam Stadium. It appears to be a Fullers pub (Casque Mark), no idea whether it’s any good you can research it yourselves. The postcode for Sat NAV purposes is OX4 4PU.
Previous Encounters
14/04/13 London Welsh 14 Saints 31
24/11/12 Saints 23 London Welsh 16
Travel Advice (from the Dragons Den site)
Yellow lines on the road outside the stadium (a couple of areas where parking is allowed but these fill up quickly). It is patrolled, don't end up with a parking ticket. The stadium is part of a leisure complex with cinema/bowling alley/eateries so plenty of parking and it's free, BUT there is only one entrance in/out and this is the problem at the final whistle. Everyone is escaping at the same time and with fans crossing the road and holding up traffic it's every driver for himself and a bit chaotic. Expect delays getting out or alternatively go for a bite to eat, or back to the bar for a drink and wait for it to clear.
UPDATE: Although parking arrangements have greatly improved during the season, the more popular games can still create very long delays at the car park and in the surrounding roads before and after the match. Please ensure that you allow plenty of time!
The stadium/leisure complex is immediately off Grenoble Road, which is PARTLY regulated by double yellow lines on both sides, but there are a number of VERY long parking bays on this road. Use this area and avoid the car park and the after match chaos... Do not try parking in the housing estate nearby as the residents will not like you, and a permit system operates on match days there really is no need as the carpark and Grenoble Rd has plenty of capacity.
The Grenoble Road bays right by the stadium get filled up quickly (now that the regulars realise there's a problem with leaving the car park after the match), but if you are able to walk 300-400m the on street bays east of the stadium entrance have plenty of capacity There are some bays to the west of the stadium entrance too on the westbound carriageway.
Oh, and the Preview
I suppose the biggest challenge is complacency and focus – theoretically, we should not have lost to Exeter at home and the reasons why we did remain a mystery. Theoretically, despite the record, we probably were not fancied to win in the rain down at Allianz Park. The facts are there to read, London Welsh, played 8 lost 8 a win for Saints is critical. Thoughts about try bonus points should only be considered when the game is safe – I’m not looking for champagne rugby just a ruthless performance. I’m not seeing any banana skins and perhaps I’m guilty of complacency myself.
Enjoy the game.
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Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
Good preview thanks.
Saint 'til I die
BTW I have a vague family connection to the great JPR
- he once treated my sons broken finger in the casualty dept. of the Royal Berks.
We LONDON WELSH will try our very best i'm sure to help you WIN on Sunday.
Thought a saintly icon would be appropriate. Enjoy the day. Well done again, 
and see you up at Franklands Gardens. PADDYTAF. looking forward to Sunday.
alive and well in Shrubbery Terrace
"GIVE THEM NO BALL OR BAD BALL WELSH"
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