By David Lowrence
October 11 2012

With a silly o’clock kick off time, we enter what may be the penultimate season of the Heineken Cup for English teams. Amid claims for better cash share-out and a fairer set of entry criteria, this wonderful topsy turvey mixture of National and Club Rugby cultures makes a start at Franklin’s Gardens. Let us hope that it can bring a better set of behaviours between the contestants on the field than off.

Heineken Cup Pool 4 Round 1

Northampton Saints v Glasgow Warriors

Franklin’s Gardens Sunday 14^th October 2012

KO 12:45

It is nearly eight years since we last met Glasgow Warriors in the Heineken cup, and my last memory was of this fixture in 2004, in Glasgow, where the downpour was horrendous, and Sky spent all morning drilling holes in the pitch and sweeping away a mass of standing water.  We beat them 9-13 that day, and made the acquaintance of an impressive Sean Lamont, for whom we made a successful raid the following year.

The Glasgow Warriors of this year is a very different team from that of the last decade. (Although the Lamont brothers are both back at the club!) With help from a knowledgeable exile here is a run down of the Glasgow team

1 Ryan Grant - Pushing Jacobson hard for the National team

2 Dougie Hall  - One of the best scrimmaging hookers in the UK

3 Mike Cusack - Big, improving player 19.5 stone – ex Leeds

4 Tim Swinson  -One of the Falcons diaspora – we have seen him before

5 Al Kellock (CAPTAIN) - In the absence of Daisy will be the best lineout jumper on the park

6 Josh Strauss - South African exile

7 John Barclay - Not been quite the same since the world cup – but can turn it on

8 Ryan Wilson - Contender for the Scottish No 8 Berth                                  

9 Henry Pyrgos - Ex Saints Junior Academy

10 Ruaridh Jackson - Born in Northampton – yet another International – can kick a bit

11 Sean Lamont  - Big, fast handful will be hard to stop

13 Alex Dunbar  - Bash and Crash 13

12 Peter Horne - Plays all across the backline, Scottish 7’s player and deadly place kicker

14 Tommy Seymour  - Ex Ulster returning home – 6’ streak

15 Stuart Hogg  - International, teenage Scottish elite development player from a famous Scottish rugby dynasty.

Bench

16 Finlay Gillies 
17 Ofa Fainga'anuku 
18 Gordon Reid 
19 Tom Ryder 
20 Chris Fusaro 
21 James Eddie 
22 Niko Matawalu 
23 Peter Murchie

Not an Impact bench

Glasgow come with a reputation this season for hard, forward play and look more fired up than for some time.

Beware - Slippery when wet and a hard pack

So, after last weeks aberration which Saints team will turn up? I was at the Irish match, and I think the problem was one of complacency coupled with panic. I do not expect to see the side play like that again this season, and also this is the glory competition, which the Saints love. (Ackford in the Telegraph is sarcastic about JM’s hunt for a 10 – and says this pool is Muster’s to lose). I think we will prove him wrong, starting tomorrow.

Difficult team to pick but I would go with –

15 James WILSON 
14 Ken PISI 
13 Dom WALDOUCK 
12 Luther BURRELL 
11 Vasily ARTEMYEV 
10 Stephen MYLER 
9 Lee DICKSON 
1 Alex WALLER
2 Dylan HARTLEY (capt) 
3 Brian MUJATI 
4 Samu MANOA 
5 Mark SORENSON 
6 Courtney LAWES 
7 Tom WOOD 
8 Rhys OAKLEY

Replacements 
16 Mike HAYWOOD 
17 Soane TONGA'UIHA 
18 Paul DORAN JONES 
19 Teimana HARRISON 
20 G J van VELZE
21 Martin ROBERTS 
22 Ryan LAMB 
23 Tom MAY 

Hard decisions in the back row, and I think Alex has earned a start. I pray that Luther Burrell has leaned to count, look right, and pass, this week.

This is not an easy pool. I think we will prevail, and hopefully the game heads that have been in place until 2 weeks ago will return. If we can beat this Glasgow side up front and stop Lamont,  it augurs well for our progress. Saints by 8

(Be stingy with those BP’s lads they are so important,,,)

Now a propos of Mr Ackford being so rude about us – perhaps he might like to see this again – I know I would!!

Unfortunately removed from Youtube - so just imagine Inspector Ackford spark out on his 'arris

He claimed he meant to hit Probyn. A Saint of taste and discernment!

News: Match Preview Saints v Glasgow Warriors

Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 12/10/2012 00:01

ComeOnYouSaints.com
12/10/2012 00:01

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St.Rich Joe, Niamh and Sam's Dad
12/10/2012 00:12

Good preview

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

Dryathlon

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bonso
12/10/2012 00:42

Nice one Dave, liked the player breakdown.

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tedge
12/10/2012 09:22

Good preview for what I agree will be a tight game. Possibly Dows rather than TH on the bench ?

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ch saint
12/10/2012 21:10

Thanks very much for the rundown, much appreciated.

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Saint Dom in Hanoi
13/10/2012 21:23

Really good to get the lowdown on the opposition.

Jackson apparently was born in Olney, which is practically MK these days, but none the worse for that!

A proper front roe battle in prospect. Bring it on…


*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*

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