Well amid all the mince pies, mulled wine and far too much turkey it was a case of swings and roundabouts over the Christmas period for the Saints.
Securing five points out of a possible ten after the treks to Newcastle and London Irish we are still well set for the grandstand finish but it could have been all so different.
Up in the far windswept north east the Saints really only had themselves to blame for coming away without the win at Kingston Park. Despite possession and territory they lacked the killer instinct to put Falcons away and came home with just a losing point.
There was of course controversy over Stephenson’s ‘try’ which it seems was seen by just four people, Gardens, C Block regular Ashley Rowden refereeing the game, his touch judge and just two spectators out of ten thousand who jumped up when the ball was grounded (for the second time?), but then perhaps they, just like everyone else, were just trying to keep warm. But it’s no good crying over spilt milk when in all truth Saints should have been out of sight after squandering several clear cut scoring opportunities.
On Sunday a repeat performance looked on the cards against London Irish after the Saints went in at the break 15-10 down at the Madjetski.
Now whatever Wayne Smith said, or whatever they popped in their halftime cuppa, is anyone’s guess but it certainly did the trick. The lads came out in the second half all guns blazing to score 26 unanswered points as they blew the Exiles away. Indeed by the final whistle they were only half a gnat’s kneecap from taking the bonus point for four tries such was the turnaround in fortune.
Central to it all was Paul Grayson who I must admit I thought would have a real problem getting his shirt back off livewire Shane Drahm but ‘Larry’ has risen to the challenge and put down his marker. If Matt Dawson rises in the same manner to the standard set by Sharky Robinson then we are going to have an embarrassment of riches at halfback. That can only be good for the Saints.
So as we take a month’s break from the ZP to concentrate on Europe the Saints are sitting pretty in third place in the table behind pacesetters Bath and the team that’s going to take some stopping this season, Wasps. With just eight games to go before the playoffs it looks like it could go right down till the large woman bangs out a tune with a further four teams hanging on to Saints coat tails just four points behind. It could prove an interesting second half to the season so don’t throw those rollercoaster tickets away just yet.
LOOKING AHEAD
On Saturday it’s back to the premier competition of the season, the Heineken European Cup. First up it’s the visit of Borders to the Gardens, a team with a fair smattering of ex Saints in their ranks. Youngsters Andy Rennick and Kelvin Todd now ply their trade over the border alongside Scottish international wing Craig Moir. The Borders team is built around a blend of Scottish up and coming players and a few old wise heads including ex Newcastle trio, Garry Armstrong, George Graham and Doddie Weir.
However when all is said and done the Saints should be far too strong for a side that has won just twice this season in the Celtic League and would be looking at setting the pace in the group over the next two weeks in their double header with the Scottish side.
With the group on a knife edge, and with Llanelli and Agen playing back to back games too over the next two weekends, by the time we go to France we could have a clearer picture of exactly what needs to be done. I’m sure the team will go into the game with confidence but not in the least underestimating Borders as I’m sure we all remember that last minute dropgoal that gave the then lowly Edinburgh a win at the Gardens three years ago.
FIXTURE PROBLEMS (yet again)
I wrote several weeks ago about various clubs supporters, and indeed the clubs themselves, being inconvenienced with late fixture changes in the European Cup due to the demands of TV broadcasters.
But being the eternal half glass full optimists we all booked up for a weekend in Agen in three weeks time covering both Saturday and Sunday safe in the knowledge that they never ever play games in France on a Friday night.
Yes you’ve guessed it. In Christmas week we received news that the game was indeed switching to Friday night at the request of French TV channel Sport+ (yes as much as you’d like too you cannot blame Rupert Murdoch and Sky for this one).
On checking our arrangements our group of ten found that we actually arrive in Agen less than an hour before kick off so not wishing to tempt fate, especially given its mid-January, we have had to rejig the whole weekend. Instead of a leisurely tootle down to France via Eurostar we have had to opt to fly to Toulouse a day earlier losing both money on the original train fare and hotel.
And yes I know at the end of the day we’ve probably got no-one else to blame but ourselves but I know we are not the only supporters to have been caught out by this including some that cannot afford that extra expense or the time off work for the new date.
It seems that in future, unless the powers that be see sense and have a change of heart (don’t hold your breath) people will be expected to book five day excursions to cover all eventualities or risk booking it late and paying premium prices.
Yet again those hit in the pocket are the ones given least thought, the humble old rugby supporter but hey when have we ever been considered in the big scheme of things?
SAINTS INTERNATIONALE
What a cosmopolitan bunch we are. When Tevita Taumoepeau took the field for the Saints last Sunday he, by my reckoning, became the 13th full international player in recent years from a different nation to don the Gold Black n Green. However I’m sure there must be someone I have missed over the years that played open side flanker for Tawain or flyhalf for Outer Mongolia so please let me know if you can improve on this list.
England – Wally, Ben, Daws, Grays et al
Scotland – Budge, Wee Tam, Big John Leslie et al
Wales – Allan Bateman, Steve Williams
Ireland – Jonny Bell, Allen Clarke
France – Olivier Brouzet
Italy – Luca Martin
Spain – Oriol Ripol
Argentina – Freddie Mendez, Martin Scelzo
South Africa – Garry Pagel, Johann Ackerman
Australia – Mark Connors, Jorgy.
Samoa – Pat Lam, Shem Tatupu
New Zealand – Andy Blowers, Bruce Reihana, Sharky, Buck et al
Tonga - Tevita Taumoepeau
Up in the far windswept north east the Saints really only had themselves to blame for coming away without the win at Kingston Park. Despite possession and territory they lacked the killer instinct to put Falcons away and came home with just a losing point.
There was of course controversy over Stephenson’s ‘try’ which it seems was seen by just four people, Gardens, C Block regular Ashley Rowden refereeing the game, his touch judge and just two spectators out of ten thousand who jumped up when the ball was grounded (for the second time?), but then perhaps they, just like everyone else, were just trying to keep warm. But it’s no good crying over spilt milk when in all truth Saints should have been out of sight after squandering several clear cut scoring opportunities.
On Sunday a repeat performance looked on the cards against London Irish after the Saints went in at the break 15-10 down at the Madjetski.
Now whatever Wayne Smith said, or whatever they popped in their halftime cuppa, is anyone’s guess but it certainly did the trick. The lads came out in the second half all guns blazing to score 26 unanswered points as they blew the Exiles away. Indeed by the final whistle they were only half a gnat’s kneecap from taking the bonus point for four tries such was the turnaround in fortune.
Central to it all was Paul Grayson who I must admit I thought would have a real problem getting his shirt back off livewire Shane Drahm but ‘Larry’ has risen to the challenge and put down his marker. If Matt Dawson rises in the same manner to the standard set by Sharky Robinson then we are going to have an embarrassment of riches at halfback. That can only be good for the Saints.
So as we take a month’s break from the ZP to concentrate on Europe the Saints are sitting pretty in third place in the table behind pacesetters Bath and the team that’s going to take some stopping this season, Wasps. With just eight games to go before the playoffs it looks like it could go right down till the large woman bangs out a tune with a further four teams hanging on to Saints coat tails just four points behind. It could prove an interesting second half to the season so don’t throw those rollercoaster tickets away just yet.
LOOKING AHEAD
On Saturday it’s back to the premier competition of the season, the Heineken European Cup. First up it’s the visit of Borders to the Gardens, a team with a fair smattering of ex Saints in their ranks. Youngsters Andy Rennick and Kelvin Todd now ply their trade over the border alongside Scottish international wing Craig Moir. The Borders team is built around a blend of Scottish up and coming players and a few old wise heads including ex Newcastle trio, Garry Armstrong, George Graham and Doddie Weir.
However when all is said and done the Saints should be far too strong for a side that has won just twice this season in the Celtic League and would be looking at setting the pace in the group over the next two weeks in their double header with the Scottish side.
With the group on a knife edge, and with Llanelli and Agen playing back to back games too over the next two weekends, by the time we go to France we could have a clearer picture of exactly what needs to be done. I’m sure the team will go into the game with confidence but not in the least underestimating Borders as I’m sure we all remember that last minute dropgoal that gave the then lowly Edinburgh a win at the Gardens three years ago.
FIXTURE PROBLEMS (yet again)
I wrote several weeks ago about various clubs supporters, and indeed the clubs themselves, being inconvenienced with late fixture changes in the European Cup due to the demands of TV broadcasters.
But being the eternal half glass full optimists we all booked up for a weekend in Agen in three weeks time covering both Saturday and Sunday safe in the knowledge that they never ever play games in France on a Friday night.
Yes you’ve guessed it. In Christmas week we received news that the game was indeed switching to Friday night at the request of French TV channel Sport+ (yes as much as you’d like too you cannot blame Rupert Murdoch and Sky for this one).
On checking our arrangements our group of ten found that we actually arrive in Agen less than an hour before kick off so not wishing to tempt fate, especially given its mid-January, we have had to rejig the whole weekend. Instead of a leisurely tootle down to France via Eurostar we have had to opt to fly to Toulouse a day earlier losing both money on the original train fare and hotel.
And yes I know at the end of the day we’ve probably got no-one else to blame but ourselves but I know we are not the only supporters to have been caught out by this including some that cannot afford that extra expense or the time off work for the new date.
It seems that in future, unless the powers that be see sense and have a change of heart (don’t hold your breath) people will be expected to book five day excursions to cover all eventualities or risk booking it late and paying premium prices.
Yet again those hit in the pocket are the ones given least thought, the humble old rugby supporter but hey when have we ever been considered in the big scheme of things?
SAINTS INTERNATIONALE
What a cosmopolitan bunch we are. When Tevita Taumoepeau took the field for the Saints last Sunday he, by my reckoning, became the 13th full international player in recent years from a different nation to don the Gold Black n Green. However I’m sure there must be someone I have missed over the years that played open side flanker for Tawain or flyhalf for Outer Mongolia so please let me know if you can improve on this list.
England – Wally, Ben, Daws, Grays et al
Scotland – Budge, Wee Tam, Big John Leslie et al
Wales – Allan Bateman, Steve Williams
Ireland – Jonny Bell, Allen Clarke
France – Olivier Brouzet
Italy – Luca Martin
Spain – Oriol Ripol
Argentina – Freddie Mendez, Martin Scelzo
South Africa – Garry Pagel, Johann Ackerman
Australia – Mark Connors, Jorgy.
Samoa – Pat Lam, Shem Tatupu
New Zealand – Andy Blowers, Bruce Reihana, Sharky, Buck et al
Tonga - Tevita Taumoepeau
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