Northampton Saints
News: AP Preview - Twas The Night Before Waspies
By PelerinStJames
December 20 2013
PelerinStJames is in festive mood as he looks forward to Saints' trip to London Wasps on Saturday...
LONDON WASPS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
AP: Saturday, 21st December 2013 - 3pm
ADAMS PARK, HIGH WYCOMBE
MATCH PREVIEW
So, last weekend, what a game that was, incredible wasn’t it, two tries and 19 points from the boot of Joe Carlisle against Grenoble if memory serves. What, you didn’t see that? You were otherwise engaged, small matter of a game in Ireland. I thought we weren’t going to speak about that, after all given the thrashing at the Gardens the week previous, it was all a bit of a foregone conclusion wasn’t it? All Leinster had to do was turn up, and with 47,000 Irishmen supporting them, then the victory, the glory and a home quarter final was all theirs. And as we all saw, nothing went to plan, and our men in GBG kickstarted the festive season in style with an astonishing performance that took our collective breath away.
So c’mon folks, it’s officially the season to be merry, so loosen up those the vocal chords, this preview as you might have already gathered, is not just any preview, it is the all singing all dancing Christmas Singalonga Megamix Preview. Hopefully you will pick up the tunes as they are all festive favourites, even if the words have been re written. (All rights freely given to the assembled masses of C Block and/or Una from the Saturdays) So loosen the vocal chords, and let’s get the ball rolling with Rudolph the red......sorry, Georgie the Lions Winger
Georgie, the Lions winger,
Came to play at Jimmys End
And as Eif always posted
Did nothing but defend
All the Comeonyousaints members
Used to laugh and call Eif names
but pity poor welsh Georgie
1 try in 8 Saintly games
Then one windy winters’ eve
Waldouck couldn’t play:
"George, with all your strength and might
can you play thirteen tonight?"
Then how the Saints fans loved it
especially those from the Shrubbery
A try from George the centre
that'll go down in history."
A try from George the Centre,
That will go down in his-tor-ry”
Yes, it was a tremendous performance last week, but as the saying goes, you are only as good as your next game. So enough of this revelry and reliving of past glory, there is another game to be played in only a few days, by which time those of you who were in Dublin may well have sobered up. This week, sees another trip on the road for the Boys in Green, Black and Gold, to play the boys in err, Black and Gold. (It’s good to see that Saints are ahead of their rivals in ecology and sustainability as well as on the pitch) London Wasps as you may know have had a really impressive history, multiple times League and European Champions, and home to many illustrious players, but more recently, money has run short and they only just avoided relegation two years ago. Since then, stability has ensued with the arrival of coach Dai Young and an off the field take over. Last season, they consolidated themselves in mid table, and had it not been for the Saints last gasp winning try in the corresponding fixture last year, it could have been Wasps heading into the playoffs not Northampton. This time round, their backline has been decimated by injuries, Messrs Wade and Masi two prime examples, but their close season signing at 10 remains fit and firing on all cylinders, and I am sure all Wasps fans will agree, their new saviour definitely needs to be celebrated in song.
Away in High Wycombe, nowhere else for their ground,
For the once great Waspies, stability has been found.
The stars of the noughties have all gone away,
only leaving Goode Andy to dictate their play.
The ref is blowing when other teams make mistakes,
But little Goode Andy no crying he makes.
we love you, Goode Andy; look up to the sky,
And kick the ball over until morning is nigh.
Be near us, Goode Andy, we ask you to stay
Kick at Wasps for ever, and love Wasps, we pray.
Bless all the dear backline in your tender care,
All fit for heaven, to live with you there.
Now, whilst I hope that Little Goode Andy plays well (but not too well) on Saturday, I would also like to wish him the very best of luck and think it is only fair, given that it is the season of good will, that we give him a few words of warning about what may or may not happen during the game…
You better watch out!
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Courtney Lawes gunna knock you down
Courtney Lawes gunna knock you down
Courtney Lawes is going to knock you down
He's making a list
And checking it again;
He’s found out who's playing at 10
Courtney Lawes is going to knock you down
He sees you when you're running
He knows how to dump you in the mud
and if you think you can escape
Then go and ask Toby Flood!
O! You better watch out!
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Courtney Lawes will knock you down
Courtney Lawes will knock you down
Courtney (or Samu) BOOM!
Ah yes, homage to the brutal physicality of the Saints pack. Of course, if Courts doesn’t get you, then Mr Manoa no doubt will. Two men who are well known to rampage around the park causing mayhem and destruction in their wake. There is however someone else in the engine room of the Saints Eight, who’s work may not be as visable or as eyecatching, but none the less it is his work that ultimately gives the freedom to others to do the smashing. He has described himself this week on twitter as a piano shifter, well should he ever decide to tinkle the ivories himself, then perhaps he should look no further than Bony M for some musical inspiration
Northamptons Line out king was born, his name is Christian Day
A man who will call for ever more, his name is Christian Day
Long time ago in the North West, so the holy website say,
Northamptons’ Lineout King was born, his name is Christian Day.
Hark, now hear the Gardens sing, a king was born that day,
The man with the call for every ball, his name is Christian Day.
Northamptons’ Lineout King was born, his name is Christian Day.
The Pundits on Rugby Tonight,
They see a bright new shining star,
They hear C block sing a song, the music seem to come from afar.
Hark, now hear the Gardens sing, a king was born that day,
A man so strong at ruck and maul, his name is Christian Day.
Northampton’s Lineout King was born, his name is Christian Day.
Now, time is moving on, as most probably is your patience, so although there are many others in our scrum that we could sing about, perhaps it is time to move on and look at what lies behind. At 9 these days we have serious competition between Dickson and Kahn. It is my hunch, that we may see a change at scrum half for this next match. These days, rotation is an essential part of squad management and so, with two such great 9’s it would seem right to alternate them to some degree. The same, however cannot be said of Stephen Myler, who will almost certainly unless unfit, be playing at 10. I also expect Luther and George North to continue in the centres, and only time will tell if this just an in extremis measure for George to play 13, but he has already played there not just as a schoolboy, but for Wales and indeed the Lions – which is some pedigree! As for the back three, I see no reason to change anything there, with Ken Pisi continuing at Fullback, with Elliot and Tom Collins having further opportunities in the 1st team. Up front, it is unlikely that our scrum will match the intensity of last week, however I am sure they will come close. As always we will look to dominate the set pieces, and I foresee a front row of Alex Waller, Dylan and Salesi, Day and Lawes in the back row and the back row Samu, Wood and Clarke given another chance to shine.
As for Wasps, well having read their message board it is unclear as to whether they have a fit scrum half, and how many positions Elliot Daly will play in one game. None the less, the general concensus seems to be suggesting a front row of Mullan, Festuccia and Cooper-Wooley, the in form veteran Tom Palmer and Joe Launchbury at lock, with a back row of Johnson, Haskell and Jones. Scrum Half is potentially Joe Simpson, with Goode Andy Outside him. Centres and could be any of Bell and Helu, Daly, at Full back with Bassett and Varndell on the wings. That said, the injury list amongst the backs in horrendous, and at time of writing I am not entirely who is or isn’t fit.
Playing a tight game is not currently the way that Wasps like to play, preferring to get the ball wide, which when you have Christian Wade and Tom Varndell last years leading try scorers in your ranks is a very good plan indeed. Last seasons’ encounter at Adams Park, typified each teams preferred style. Wasps wingers scored, as did the Saints forwards, most crucially with virtually the last play of the game to snatch victory. Wasps are also the masters of grabbing bonus points, and as the majority have sadly been losing ones, it points to a tight game. I would expect this trend to continue, and for it to be a relatively high scoring affair. For me, this will probably be decided by the accuracy of the kickers, Goode and Myler. With St Stephen leading the way across the premiership stats this season, I am leaning towards a Northampton victory. That said, Andy Goode clicks then Wasps could nick the win. None the less, it does once more provide the opportunity to support the lads once more before Christmas comes, so I am going with the Saints to be joyful and triumphant which neatly leads us into one last carol for us all to sing.
O come all ye faithful joyful, and triumphant
Oh come ye, O come ye to Franklins Gardens;
come and behold ‘em,
coached by West King and Mallinder;
O Come let us adore ‘em,
O come let us adore ‘em
O come let us adore ‘em,
Green Black and Gold
Sing choirs of C Block, sing in exultation
Sing all ye citizens of Tetleys above;
Glory to the Saints, glory in the highest:
O Come let us adore ‘em,
O come let us adore ‘em
O come let us adore ‘em,
Green Black and Gold
Yea, Saints, we greet thee, play this happy evening;
Jimmies, to thee be glory given;
Here are the Saintsmen,
in flesh appearing,
O Come let us adore ‘em,
O come let us adore ‘em
O come let us adore ‘em,
Green Black and Gold
Merry Christmas!
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you do realise that you referred to Andy Goode as 'fit' in that preview?
That is absolutely brilliant. Many thanks for that.
I sincerely hope are singing O Come Let Us Adore Em tomorrow afternoon.
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Please sponsor me for Saints with Heart [www.justgiving.com]
Once a scrum half .... always a scrum half
COME ON YOU SAINTS!
I for one love to read other peoples take on all matters Saints and I am sure the Editors would appreciate some new scribes especially for the Bath game later this month,
Merry Christmas to one and all,
David / PSJ
I will be printing a batch of the songs for the choir at Adams park today
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
So good in fact that it's the most popular read on SN at the moment (see icon below "how many on line" on left of home screen)
Think you ought to claim a SWH donation from Waspies for brand image promotion
Saint til I die
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