Northampton Saints
News: LV-SF: Northampton Saints vs Scarlets - Match Preview
By Daventry Saint
March 8 2012
Northampton Saints stand just 80 minutes from the final of The LV= Cup and welcome Scarlets to Franklin's Gardens this Sunday lunchtime. Regular COYSDC contributor Daventry Saint looks ahead to the match with his usual comprehensive match preview...
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs. SCARLETS
LV=SF: Sunday, 11th March 2012 - 1pm (Sky)
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS
MATCH PREVIEW
It has been a fair amount of time since Northampton Saints lost in a Cup semi-final. Despite losing in two consecutive Premiership semi-finals, you would have to go back to the 2008/09 season to find the Saints last defeat in the semi-final of a Cup. Since that day at the Ricoh Arena against eventual EDF Energy Cup winners Cardiff Blues, the Saints have been victorious in a European Challenge Cup semi-final and an LV= Cup semi-final, both against Saracens, as well as a Heineken Cup semi-final against Perpignan. On two of those three occasions, the Saints have gone on to win the final and collect the trophy. However, let’s not start counting chickens.
This weekend’s opponents are an old foe. The Saints and Scarlets have met on many previous occasions – most notably the semi-final of the 2000 Heineken Cup that Northampton would go on to win. In these meetings there have been various memorable moments – none sticking in the memory longer than Steve Thompson’s wonder try at Stradey Park in the 2004/05 Heineken Cup campaign that sealed a 20-22 victory for the men in Black, Green and Gold. Nevertheless, in recent meetings, most notably in the pool stages of this season’s European campaign, the Scarlets stormed Franklins Gardens and stunned the Northampton faithful into silence, forging out a narrow, but no less deserved 23-28 victory that all but ended the Saints Heineken hopes for this season. On that night it was a kicking master-class from Welsh Number 10 Rhys Priestland that sent the Scarlets home with the win, coupled with more than a couple of horrendous mistakes from the Saints side that featured a debuting George Pisi, out of position at full-back. Thankfully this weekend Priestland, along with compatriots in the backline George North, Scott Williams and Jonathan Davies will all be away with Wales competing in the Six Nations – along with Sean Lamont with Scotland and Ben Morgan with England. Also fortunately for Northampton, George Pisi has settled into the 13 shirt and has become the Saints most potent attacking weapon, and debatably their top performer this season. Although the Scarlets may be missing a good number of players to internationals, it can hardly be an excuse given the Saints large number of absentees in the England camp, as well as injuries also taking their toll, with Brian Mujati, Courtney Lawes, Jon Clarke, Noah Cato and Jamie Elliott likely to be out of contention for selection (as far as we supporters know, anyway!).
Northampton come into the game off of the back of a relatively good run of form, even despite last weekend’s loss at Premiership champions Saracens. The Saints have begun to demonstrate their attacking potential on the firmer summer surfaces, with attacking rugby being played with precision and pace as the vital components to victory. Through the winter months, Northampton have ground out victories without being too flashy by doing the basics well and using forward power to gain field position. Hopefully against the Scarlets we will see this forward domination continue, whilst also looking to spread the play into the wider channels and bring the attacking threats of Paul Diggin, Vasily Artemyev and the like into prominence.
The Scarlets play an attractive brand of rugby, and are not shorn of experience with the likes of Stephen Jones possibly available for selection this weekend. The Welsh province are a tough outfit, and will not shy away from the physical battle that Northampton will want to bring to them, however they may look to move the ball away from the point of contact more than Northampton, whilst also utilising a very effective kicking game. One would hope that the Saints have learnt their lesson from the earlier encounter this season and have had Paul Diggin practicing collecting up-and-unders all week long.
In terms of team selection, as it is a semi-final, I would guess that we are unlikely to see too many changes from last week’s line-up, with the exception of Phil Dowson returning to England duty. With Dowson back with England, we could see the return to the starting line-up of Tom Wood, although this may be a risk due to his long lay-off. Depending on the state of the pitch and the weather, we could well see Tom May start at inside-centre ahead of James Downey, with a view to playing some more expansive rugby and really taking the game to the Scarlets. Stephen Myler should retain his place, and hopefully we will see some more of the sublime passing he displayed in the victory over London Irish two weeks ago. In the pack, I would like to see Alex Waller given a run-out ahead of Soane Tonga’uiha, only to give the big-man a little rest and have him unleashed in the latter stages of the contest.
Personally, I would start Samu Manoa at 6 and leave Tom Wood on the bench, with Sorenson and Day starting in the second row. Hopefully we can see some fast, expansive rugby being played – provided that Piggy Powell has earned his corn and kept the pitch in tip-top shape (what a silly question, of course he has!). With that being said, what do I know about team selection? I’ll predict that we’ll see pretty much an unchanged side from the Saracens trip, with the exception of Tom Wood in at 7 and Calum Clark moving to 6.
This weekend’s result could set the tone for the rest of the Saints’ season. Win, and there is not only the opportunity to win one trophy, but there is also scope to build massive momentum leading into the remaining rounds of the Aviva Premiership; lose and the season could fall apart at the seams. This is a must-win game for Northampton if we are to win anything this season. Some consider the LV= Cup as a second-string trophy, however it is still another pot to potentially add to the cabinet, and I’m sure the prize fund for winning would come in handy for the future development of the club – plus, it is a bona-fide route to the Heineken Cup.
So come on you Jimmies, let’s have a win and a Final to look forward to for next weekend!
Sun 11 Mar, 1.00pm: Scarlets
DaventrySaint’s Predicted Team:
15 Paul Diggin
14 Vasily Artemyev
13 George Pisi
12 James Downey
11 Scott Armstrong
10 Stephen Myler
9 Martin Roberts
1 Soane Tonga’uhia
2 Andy Long
3 Paul Doran-Jones
4 Samu Manoa
5 Christian Day
6 Calum Clark
7 Tom Wood
8 Roger Wilson
Replacements:
16 Ross McMillan
17 Alex Waller
18 Tom Mercey
19 Mark Sorenson
20 Ben Nutley
21 Ryan Glynn
22 Ryan Lamb
23 Tom May
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Stumbleupon08/03/2012 12:28
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*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*
a shame that the Kick off time has put many people off.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Those who can, do
Those who can't, stand on the side and lecture.
Ignore him Dav - I enjoyed the read
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Glad the rest of you enjoyed it!
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