Despite certain people whinging from the West Country that they had lost the game rather than us winning it, a bonus point win against the team that topped the table last season is an ideal way to kick off Alan Solomons tenure at the Saints.
Yes our fellow supporters from Bath can moan all they want about missed opportunities and Saints living off their scraps but the last time I looked the way the object of the game is to get the ball over the whitewash.
For all their lions share of possession we won this game fair and square on defence rather than attack. They may have had ball in hand for long periods but they just couldn't unlock us till it was all but over and done.
They have a saying at Wasps that goes something like ‘Attack sells tickets, defence wins titles’.If we can defend like that all season we will not be far off the mark both domestically and in Europe.
The four tries were the icing on the cake, built on the foundation of that defence and what crackers they were.
A try apiece for the Rhino and the Coyote on the break before half time set out our stall before Mark Tucker added a third early in the second half but the best was left till last.
I always wince a bit when we run the ball out from under our posts, remembering Harvey flying headlong into one of the uprights a few years back to gift Sale an easy try, but this time the decision and precision were top drawer with the quartet of Stcherbina, Tucker, Rudd and Reihana storming upfield in an interchange of passing and elusive running that put Bruce in under the posts.
It was quite simply the best try I’ve ever seen at the Gardens and no doubt over the years, just like Nick Beals ever lengthening drop goal at Tigers last season, this one will be talked and reminisced about for years to come.
As Geoff Allen said “If this is the new look Saints, I like it!”
I’ll second that.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday sees the Gold, Black and Green army take to the road for the first time this season with the trip to south west London to play Harlequins. We certainly owe them one for the trip down there last season when we went with high hopes but were ripped apart as sadly the after effects of that bruising Gloucester encounter left a physically and mentally deflated Saints side floundering. I’m tipping the boys to up their game this time though and I expect us to edge it by an odd score with the battle of the backrows proving crucial.
I’ve no doubt Mr Vos and Mr Krige will be saving their exchange of pleasantries till after the game, it should be a good one.
With so few away games now played at 3:00pm on a Saturday afternoon, and Quins having the second best bar in the league, it’s a chance for a good social day out with like minded people and if the weather holds a lunchtime or evening spent by the Thames chewing the cud.
After the recent railworks all should be fine traveling down to Twickenham and remember traveling via Willesden and Richmond does make for a cheaper option.
The Saints Supporters Club will be running coaches to Quins.They will be leaving Franklin’s Gardens (from the VIP car park) at 11am. The prices are: Adults: £11, Children/Students/OAPs: £7. To book places call Jean Collingwood on 01604 583283, after 6pm, with your name, telephone number and the number of seats.
FAREWELL SIR CLIVE
I’m sure like most people I was a bit dumbfounded by the Woodward affair last week. Now I have the utmost respect for what Sir Clive did for England, we would never have got within a street of winning the World Cup without him but last week he increasingly looked like a chap rapidly losing the plot.
One minute the ZP clubs were the very devil themselves, the next the best thing since sliced bread. He contradicted himself so much at every turn that he reminded me of the character in televisions Fast Show who puts himself in such mental turmoil trying to agree with each side of every argument that in the end he forgets what his name is and where he is.
The press conference on Friday was a veritable comedy of errors too, and may well have been written by the Fast Show cast as well. While Clive lamented that everyone had it in for him the body language of RFU representative Graeme Cattermole spoke volumes as it looked like at any second he was going to bound out of his seat and throttle the hapless Sir Clive mid whinge.
So thank you Mr Woodward for all you’ve done but when it came down to wanting your cake and eating it with us the supporters (and of course the owners) of the clubs you want to plunder every other week picking up the tab its thank you but there’s the door.
At the end of the day you have to consider what the club is there for. For us? Its success to be enjoyed by each and every one of us, player, supporter owner alike or just there to serve the ‘greater good’ of Team England?
Of course in an ideal world there should be a balance and we should be nurturing English talent but Sir Clive wanted to forever further tip the scales of that balance that little bit further forcing clubs like the Saints to actively NOT sign current internationals because they spend half their life away from the Gardens.
Lets hope Andy Robinson, or whoever takes the England job long term builds on the good work already put in place before Sir Clive went off at more demanding tangents and once again there is a climate where its an attractive prospect to have an odd English international complimenting your side. We won a World Cup with that balance and surely can do again but if that balance goes and it means watching a team with players from all over the globe making a better Saints side then give me ‘East Midlands Tribe’ anyday.
Yes our fellow supporters from Bath can moan all they want about missed opportunities and Saints living off their scraps but the last time I looked the way the object of the game is to get the ball over the whitewash.
For all their lions share of possession we won this game fair and square on defence rather than attack. They may have had ball in hand for long periods but they just couldn't unlock us till it was all but over and done.
They have a saying at Wasps that goes something like ‘Attack sells tickets, defence wins titles’.If we can defend like that all season we will not be far off the mark both domestically and in Europe.
The four tries were the icing on the cake, built on the foundation of that defence and what crackers they were.
A try apiece for the Rhino and the Coyote on the break before half time set out our stall before Mark Tucker added a third early in the second half but the best was left till last.
I always wince a bit when we run the ball out from under our posts, remembering Harvey flying headlong into one of the uprights a few years back to gift Sale an easy try, but this time the decision and precision were top drawer with the quartet of Stcherbina, Tucker, Rudd and Reihana storming upfield in an interchange of passing and elusive running that put Bruce in under the posts.
It was quite simply the best try I’ve ever seen at the Gardens and no doubt over the years, just like Nick Beals ever lengthening drop goal at Tigers last season, this one will be talked and reminisced about for years to come.
As Geoff Allen said “If this is the new look Saints, I like it!”
I’ll second that.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday sees the Gold, Black and Green army take to the road for the first time this season with the trip to south west London to play Harlequins. We certainly owe them one for the trip down there last season when we went with high hopes but were ripped apart as sadly the after effects of that bruising Gloucester encounter left a physically and mentally deflated Saints side floundering. I’m tipping the boys to up their game this time though and I expect us to edge it by an odd score with the battle of the backrows proving crucial.
I’ve no doubt Mr Vos and Mr Krige will be saving their exchange of pleasantries till after the game, it should be a good one.
With so few away games now played at 3:00pm on a Saturday afternoon, and Quins having the second best bar in the league, it’s a chance for a good social day out with like minded people and if the weather holds a lunchtime or evening spent by the Thames chewing the cud.
After the recent railworks all should be fine traveling down to Twickenham and remember traveling via Willesden and Richmond does make for a cheaper option.
The Saints Supporters Club will be running coaches to Quins.They will be leaving Franklin’s Gardens (from the VIP car park) at 11am. The prices are: Adults: £11, Children/Students/OAPs: £7. To book places call Jean Collingwood on 01604 583283, after 6pm, with your name, telephone number and the number of seats.
FAREWELL SIR CLIVE
I’m sure like most people I was a bit dumbfounded by the Woodward affair last week. Now I have the utmost respect for what Sir Clive did for England, we would never have got within a street of winning the World Cup without him but last week he increasingly looked like a chap rapidly losing the plot.
One minute the ZP clubs were the very devil themselves, the next the best thing since sliced bread. He contradicted himself so much at every turn that he reminded me of the character in televisions Fast Show who puts himself in such mental turmoil trying to agree with each side of every argument that in the end he forgets what his name is and where he is.
The press conference on Friday was a veritable comedy of errors too, and may well have been written by the Fast Show cast as well. While Clive lamented that everyone had it in for him the body language of RFU representative Graeme Cattermole spoke volumes as it looked like at any second he was going to bound out of his seat and throttle the hapless Sir Clive mid whinge.
So thank you Mr Woodward for all you’ve done but when it came down to wanting your cake and eating it with us the supporters (and of course the owners) of the clubs you want to plunder every other week picking up the tab its thank you but there’s the door.
At the end of the day you have to consider what the club is there for. For us? Its success to be enjoyed by each and every one of us, player, supporter owner alike or just there to serve the ‘greater good’ of Team England?
Of course in an ideal world there should be a balance and we should be nurturing English talent but Sir Clive wanted to forever further tip the scales of that balance that little bit further forcing clubs like the Saints to actively NOT sign current internationals because they spend half their life away from the Gardens.
Lets hope Andy Robinson, or whoever takes the England job long term builds on the good work already put in place before Sir Clive went off at more demanding tangents and once again there is a climate where its an attractive prospect to have an odd English international complimenting your side. We won a World Cup with that balance and surely can do again but if that balance goes and it means watching a team with players from all over the globe making a better Saints side then give me ‘East Midlands Tribe’ anyday.
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