Northampton Saints
News: AP: Sale Sharks vs Northampton Saints - Match Preview
By James Bruce
September 22 2011
With just one tick in the win column from their first three games Northampton Saints travel to Cheshire this Friday evening to take on Sale Sharks. Wee Jim looks ahead to the game...
SALE SHARKS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
AP: Friday 23rd September 2011 - 7.45pm (ESPN)
EDGELEY PARK
MATCH PREVIEW
Northampton Saints versus Sale Sharks – Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the Premiership.
I doubt there has been sufficient time for us supporters to put last Saturday’s horror show out of our minds and ready ourselves for the next round of the Aviva Premiership. This time it is a tricky away trip on a Friday night to Edgeley Park to face a Sale side that have started the season quite brightly when you consider how they fared last season and all the changes they’ve undergone during the break. In contrast I think it is fair to say that the Saints season start hasn’t quite met with expectations. It’s hard to see why that’s the case after a good pre season set of friendlies and some useful signings. Some might blame the Rugby World Cup and its true that’s probably a contributing factor however there are doubtless some home grown issues too.
Firstly the new signings and increased depth in the squad have allowed a greater degree of rotation compared to last season. This will pay off in terms of maintaining a marathon pace through the season but we may have to accept some teething problems while this beds in. More worryingly to my mind is the occasional lack of leadership and cohesion on the field combined with a rather curious trait of failing to score, and indeed conceding scores, when playing against 14 men. These aspects were present last season and contributed to the mid season slump we endured. I think they may all stem from a common cause in that Saints know they are very fit and very skilful and so try to force the pace, playing with a frantic energy in an effort to make things happens. When it works it leads to some cracking tries, but the price that’s paid is a loss of control and more often than not a loss of the ball! So I’d like to see Saints reverting to a Plan B when things go awry that sees them playing a more steady controlled game that focuses on retaining possession.
Turning to Friday’s opponents firstly I’m saddened by the news of Sheridan’s injury as he has had a tough year fighting to get fit and I do hope he bounces back from this latest setback. I’m equally sorry that Fourie is out injured. He is one of the stand out sevens playing in the Premiership and unlucky not to be in New Zealand. It’s probably to our advantage he can’t play on Friday but I’d rather not gain such an advantage through a player’s injury. One player we are likely to face is former Saint Mark Easter and I am sure he will be keen to show us what we are missing.
Sale probably fear our pack, specifically the front five at the scrum but they have excellent back row forwards in Seymour and Easter and a good set of half backs in Peel and Macleod – the latter minimising the impact of Hodgson’s departure at the end of last season. They may also be joined by their new captain Tuitupou, who returned to training this week. He signed from Munster but we Saints may remember his powerful runs from centre when playing for Worcester. He will certainly punish any defensive lapses and Saints need to maintain their organisation. In some respects if I were Sale’s DoR I'd try an lure Saints into a scrum contest, knowing I couldn’t win it but rely on the experience of Peel behind the scrum to get the ball out the backs and exploit any gaps.
Saints need to avoid being sucked in too much as they have shown a frailty out wide. They sometimes get too carried away using the scrum and I’d rather they rediscovered that fabulous rucking/counter rucking game that blew Leicester off the park at Franklins Gardens a couple of season ago where they played with a controlled pace that the defence simply couldn’t live with. In Roberts we have another scrum half who can make this approach work - it does require a patience and focus that Saints seem to lack at times at the moment. No teams announced as yet but there is an excellent thread on the message board discussing the possibilities and I commend it to you. I agree with much of the suggestions there – Id probably go for Tonks or Sempere at fullback and a strong front five including Day, Mujati Sorenson and Sharman. I’d start with Ryan Lamb keeping Myler in reserve in case things went pear shaped. However I’m no DoR and don’t pick the team and as you can see from all my waffling I don’t bring any great insights into how to run a rugby team, particularly when they are having a wobble. I don’t enjoy Saints having these bad patches but oddly I’m still entertained by it. Its interesting thinking our way through the current problem– it’s not the first and it won’t be the last time Saints form drops but its all part of the journey and the end result will be interesting!
Sadly I can’t make the game – these Friday kick offs are a real pain but I wish you all a safe journey and hope everyone – Saints and Sale – enjoys the game whatever the result. Me? I’m hoping for a Saints win – it can be messy, dirty and by the narrowest of margins or it can be a thing of beauty and a joy to behold. If we lose? Well it is back to more thinking our way through the current conundrum.
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No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
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
Let's hope Sale keep 15 on the pitch at all times. This habit of losing to teams who've been reduced to 14 and even 13 is a tad worrying. I think you've hit the nail on the head on one of the reasons for that. As Johnno has said this week about another malfunctioning team a few thousand miles away - "keep it simple!"
A win, no matter how narrow the margin or ugly the display, would be a very good result indeed. The only thing I'd add to your preview is the name of Gaskell to their "excellent back row forwards" - IMHO the best of the 3.
Seems the DoR hasn't taken your advice and will revert to using Clarke at FB, more's the pity...
Just a note of thanks from me for you, Whaley Shark at Sale and all the others who keep writing the front page stories and hence keep the websites going. Thanks.
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