By Daventry Saint
December 22 2011

It's Northampton Saints' final home game of 2011 this Christmas Eve and they welcome Bath Rugby to Franklin's Gardens hoping to build on their Heineken Cup demolition of Castres last time out. Regular COYSDC contributor Daventry Saint looks ahead to the match with his usual comprehensive preview...

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS v BATH RUGBY

AP: Saturday, 24th December 2011 - 3.15pm (Sky)

FRANKLIN'S GARDENS

MATCH PREVIEW

After two weeks of Heineken Cup action and Northampton’s effective elimination from the tournament, the Saints attention turns back to domestic issues in the Aviva Premiership. This Saturday is an important fixture for Northampton as they look to close in on a regular top four position. However, standing in their way are another side desperate for a win in order to stop their concerning dip in form – Bath Rugby. A loss for Bath could prove catastrophic for their hopes of making this season’s play-offs, with the club already sitting awkwardly in 10^th position in the league table.

In the same fixture last season Northampton disposed of Bath 31-10 after a storming 15 minutes in the second-half of the game which saw Chris Ashton score two tries before Joe Ansbro touched down for the bonus-point. That win saw Northampton reach the top of the Premiership table after three consecutive wins to start the season. The return fixture saw a complete turnaround of fortunes as Bath – or more specifically Matt Banahan – handed the Saints a comprehensive drubbing finishing 38-8. On that day, the Saints were heavily depleted due to their England internationals being unavailable, but it was the presence and performance of Banahan that really set the tone for the game. The giant wing ploughed his way through a number of Saints defenders on his way to a hat-trick of tries in the process handing Northampton their first bonus-point loss of the season. If Northampton are to conquer Bath this weekend, stopping Banahan on the gain-line must be a relative priority.

Bath are a side with a number of attacking options available to them. With an abundance of pace out wide in the shape of Nick Abendanon and Tom Biggs, the West-Countrymen are more than capable of hitting you on the counter-attack with speed and precision. If the gaps for the speed merchants are not there however, then Bath have the ability to make their own gaps with the grunt of Banahan and Jack Cuthbert available, as well as Danny Hipkiss in the centre. And this talent pool is only in the back five of the side. With the financial backing of Owner Bruce Craig, Bath and former Northampton Director of Rugby Sir Ian McGeechan have been able to assemble a plethora of talent across all positions. A particular strength for the side lies in the back-row, with established names such as Simon Taylor, Lewis Moody, Ben Skirving and South African Francios Louw complimenting the emerging Guy Mercer, Josh Ovens and Carl Fearns. A combination of any of those (aside from injuries to Ben Skirving, Carl Fearns and Lewis Moody – surprise surprise) will pose a hefty threat to Jim Mallinder’s men come Saturday. Despite the strength-in-depth in the back-row, Bath are facing somewhat of an injury crisis in the No.2 shirt, with Lee Mears and Pieter Dixon both out through injury. The void is left to be filled by Chris Biller and Ross Batty – one a USA Eagles regular, the other a converted prop. Although both are good players in their own right, Mears and Dixon are more regular starters, with greater Premiership experience to their name. Of course there is also the other dilemma that Bath face – which overseas players will they select? Stephen Donald is a shoe-in, and it will depend on the faith that they have in their pack, and particularly Ross Batty, as to whom gets the second overseas slot – Matt Carraro on the wing, or Chris Biller at hooker. Considering  the style of play they want to deliver, it is more likely that Carraro will get the nod.

The beating of Bath may be as much of a psychological tussle as it will be a physical for Northampton. Bath have the talent and ability to beat anyone in the Premiership, and on their day, anyone in Europe. Be that as it may, Bath harbour many of the same hang-ups as the Saints, the main being a seeming inability to win really big fixtures. It has been a trait of the side for many seasons, stretching back to the days in which John Connolly was in charge of the club. Many around the game believed that the man to turn those fortunes around was Sir Ian McGeechan, however he has failed to truly buck the trend with the club continuing to be consistently inconsistent. If the Saints can impose themselves on Bath enough mentally, as well as building up a lead in the early stages of the game, it is possible that their opponents’ heads will drop, providing Northampton with an opportunity to really stick the boot in. On the other hand, if Bath are allowed to establish a foothold in the game, then Northampton will be in for a rather rough afternoon. With that being said, there is an obvious area of physical play that the Saints will be targeting on Saturday – the set piece.

Without wishing to be derogatory, or wishing to know the fine details of the dark-arts in the front-row, it is reasonably safe to assume that Northampton are a more accomplished scrummaging outfit than Bath. The battle of the front-rows will be particularly crucial to the game’s outcome. If Northampton are able to assert dominance up front (as they did in the fixture last season) then they should be able to dominate possession. Of course there is always the added potential of the penalty count racking up against Bath, and with Stephen Myler and Ryan Lamb in very pleasing form with the boot, Northampton may be able to build a very solid lead directly from their scrum. Add to that Bath’s flaky line-out in recent weeks, and it is possible that Northampton could have a field day at the set-piece. Bath desperately missed Stuart Hooper last week against Leinster, and Mark Sorenson, Courtney Lawes and Tom Wood will be chomping at the bit to get their claws into the visitors’ line-out.

The Saints welcome back Phil Dowson to the fold this week following his two-match suspension for a dangerous tackle on Alex Goode. Where Dowson slots back into the side is anyone’s guess, with Samu Manoa impressing at No.8, as well as Ben Nutley providing two very solid performances on the flank. What is most likely is Dowson coming back in at No.8 due to his larger experience with the ball at his feet come scrum-time, with Manoa dropping to the bench in place of Jamie Ingle. Of course Dowson could well start from the bench in order to up the ante in the second half should Saints be lagging. Another selection dilemma comes in the centres – will James Downey and Jon Clarke be retained for his defensive work or will Tom May and George Pisi slot back in for increased pace and attacking threat. Personally I would like to see Downey retain in place and Pisi come in outside him. George Pisi has debatably been the Saints outstanding player in recent games, with his ability to unlock a defence with his jinking and offloading something Northampton have been lacking in recent times. Pisi is also not one to shy away from a tackle, so Northampton lose little in defence, but perhaps lose Jon Clarke’s sterling work at the breakdown. Lee Dickson provided such impetus following his introduction against Castres that the scrum half must start this week. If Pisi is selected in the 13 shirt, it will also be interesting to see him link up with Stephen Myler, who as of yet has yet to have the players outside him to set alight in attack – that is of course provided that he retains his place at 10.

Once again, the Northampton Saints supporters will play a crucial role in the fixtures outcome. The supporters have been through a tough patch recently, and can fully sympathise with Bath supporters’ frustrations regarding results. This weekend however, there is no time for sympathy. The Franklin's Gardens faithful will need to be in full swing in order to inspire Northampton to a victory – a bonus point victory. Let’s fire the side back into the Top 4 and deliver a statement of intent with a solid victory against solid opponents.

And for God’s sake, don’t let HMS Banahan score.

Saints by 10.

Sat 24 Dec, 3.15pm: Bath Rugby
DaventrySaint’s Predicted Team:

15 Ben Foden
14 Vasily Artemyev
13 George Pisi
12 James Downey
11 Jamie Elliott
10 Stephen Myler
9 Lee Dickson
1 Soane Tonga’uhia
2 Dylan Hartley
3 Paul Doran-Jones
4 Courtney Lawes
5 Mark Sorenson
6 Tom Wood
7 Ben Nutley
8 Phil Dowson

Replacements:
16 Mikey Haywood
17 Alex Waller
18 Tom Mercey
19 James Craig
20 Samu Manoa
21 Martin Roberts
22 Tom May
23 Jon Clarke

News: AP: Northampton Saints vs Bath Rugby - Match Preview

Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 22/12/2011 14:05

ComeOnYouSaints.com
22/12/2011 14:05

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ClaireJ
22/12/2011 14:35

Nice preview good sir!

Shay Lovell, the media manager at San Francisco Golden Gate Rugby Club pointed out to me that there could be two ex-SFGGRC players on the pitch on Satdee... Samu Manoa and Chris Biller.

Now I bet that's never happened before

ClaireJ
RedHatPhoto.com review of 2015 photos here...


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Broonie
22/12/2011 15:03

i think we may well choose downey and clarke at centre, but think that if we do we will be allowing the opposition to select our team

mind you, i'd have no religious objections to running tiny, mooj and Big Sam down the 13 channel a couple of times early on.

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ChrisG
22/12/2011 16:04

With Maisie playing at Cov tonight that could be the plan.

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Robby Richmond
22/12/2011 16:39

With bath continuing to play centers at full back, back rowers and outside halves in the center, full backs on the wing and also having an issue with picking from 3 important players who dont come under the Kolpac agreement, it could be very interesting to see how they deal with Foden and Pisi.

Expect to see Bananaman opposite Jamie, interesting to see what happens there...

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Duckonstilts
22/12/2011 16:46

Easy... Jamie will tackle HMS Banahan with his face, get up and still run in a couple of tries. The lad has spirit.

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marshie10
22/12/2011 17:22

An outstanding preview, a great analysis of Bath on and off the pitch. Just if you guys are interested, I expect the Bath team to be the following:

1. Flatman
2. Batty
3. Wilson
4. Caldwell
5. Attwood
6. Ovens
7. Mercer
8. Louw

9. Claassens
10. Donald
11. Banahan
12. Barkley
13. Williams
14. Carraro
15. Abendanon

16. Tanner
17. Beech
18. Perenise
19. Spencer
20. Beattie
21. Cook
22. Heathcote
23. Vesty/Cuthbert

Simon Taylor joining the likes of Mears, Dixon, Skirving, Moody, Fearns, Biggs, Hipkiss etc. on the injury list.

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Matthew
22/12/2011 17:24

Quote:

Duckonstilts
Easy... Jamie will tackle HMS Banahan with his face, get up and still run in a couple of tries. The lad has spirit.

... and from what I've seen, good tackling technique.

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Saint Dom in Hanoi
23/12/2011 10:17

That is some injury list that Barf are suffering from. Puts ours into perspective: Wilson, Clark being the only significant omissions, now that Day and Cato have come through Wanderers runout.

Is Digger injured - or out of favour?

If Bath get their top starters back, and learn to click, they will create chances later in the season.

But hopefully, not just yet...

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Clegthorpe
23/12/2011 10:21

Quote:

Saint Dom
Is Digger injured

He has been. According to twittertwatter he was hoping to be back training this week.

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St.Rich Joe, Niamh and Sam's Dad
23/12/2011 12:38

He did weights this AM-again according to Twittertwatter (God bless Nanny Iris)

No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.

Dryathlon

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gwjc12
24/12/2011 11:37

Anyone thinking of having a punt on the game, please check out this betting preview: [www.liveoddsandscores.com]
It gives an overview of the main markets including; handicap, HT/FT and First Tryscorer.
Looks set to be a cracking game.

Anyone having a wager on the World Cup then please check out the RWC 2011 Betting Previews at:

www.liveoddsandscores.com

Also betting previews on many other major sporting events

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