So, much change at the Gardens since the last column, this week we enter into a new era at the Saints. The short reign of Alan Solomons is over after just a few months following the eighth Zurich Premiership defeat at home to Worcester on Saturday.
Just why and how it all went wrong is still a bit of a mystery but I have to say I feel a bit sorry for Solly. He came here with a good track record at both club and national level and the comments from some that he was out of depth were way off beam but for whatever reasons his methods bore little fruit at the Gardens and ultimately he has paid the price. I am sure he will find another position, get back on his feet and prove all us doubting Thomas’s wrong. I for one wish him well.
A new coaching panel has been put in place with Budge Pountney and Paul Grayson moving upstairs to join Paul Larkin, Frank Ponissi and Adrian Kennedy in the collective hotseat while the club scours the world for Solly’s replacement. It’s a great opportunity for Larry and Budge though and with a strong internal structure to support these two fledgling coaches they might just be the guys here for many years to come. It would be nice to say lets give these guys some time but time is something we do not have a lot of at the moment so it is straight in at the deep end for the new boys.
The Saints now sit just one point off the bottom of the table and it looks like we are in for one hard slog but to use a very well worn cliché if the lads just take one game at a time I’m sure we have the potential and the personnel to get this season back on track. Number one priority must of course be safety. We’ve proved we can do it in the wins over Bath, Quins and Llanelli, now it’s a matter of adding a heavy dose of positive consistency to the mix starting at Newcastle on Sunday
I am sure you will all remember a trip to Newcastle on a December Sunday three years ago. The Saints were again in the doldrums and John Steele had stepped aside to allow Wayne Smith to take over the mantle of coach. Wayne only arrived in the country that morning from New Zealand but headed straight up the North East and the lads put in the performance of the season winning 28-13 the start of a run that saw us eventually reach a Twickenham final and qualify for Europe by season end. It’s a tall order buts there’s still a lot of rugby out there to be played but I’m certainly more optimistic writing this column than I was this time last week. So its good luck to Budge, Larry and the lads, we’re all behind you, take a deep breath I’ve a feeling we have some exciting times ahead.
The Saints Supporters Club will be running coaches to Newcastle. To get further details and book places call Jean Collingwood on 01604 583283, after 6pm, with your name, telephone number and the number of seats required.
GET SHIRTY FOR TOULOUSE
On our last trip to Toulouse you may well remember the Toulouse ‘Le Trek’ T-shirts we had run up for the occasion with the proceeds going to rugby charities. Sales on the shirt in 2003 allowed us to contribute over £1,000 to the PRA
(Professional Rugby Players Association) Benevolent fund. This year we have produced the ‘Le Trek 2’ shirt for the weekend an image of the Moulin Rouge cancan girls playing rugby (see message board for pic), just the thing for the fashion conscious Saints supporter on the avenues and boulevards of Toulouse. You can order the shirts via the Jimmies End T-Shirt Company website at www.jetsco.org
Paul Shaddick is also trying to organize a ‘Toulousain’ night at ‘The End’ at Southbridge for any French supporters in town for the weekend on the Friday before the home game, more details next week.
AWAY WITH THE LIONS?
So whatever happened to Matt Sansome? Matt was the little lad that was born to Saints supporting parents on the day of the European Cup Final in 2000. Matt along with Mum and Dad, Chris and Beth and little sister Lucy have now moved to Matt’s Mums native New Zealand. Dad Chris who is Gold, Black and Green to the core stills keep up with events at the Gardens from afar and still instills the faith in Matt. Now I know it is a few months off yet but I know a few of you out there are looking forward to going to New Zealand for the Lions tour at season end. Chris now owns a car rental business in the land of the long white cloud and has been in touch offering reduced rates to any Saints supporters who may be in need of wheels on their trip down south. You can contact Chris in NZ on 06 757 5255 or email him at newplymouth@rentalcars.co.nz.
Chris is also organizing a ‘Saints Night’ while we are all in Auckland for the last test where it is hoped several familiar ex-Saints will be in attendance. All traveling Saints are of course invited and I’ll let you know details nearer the time. We are also hoping to organize a get together this side of the equator before everyone travels down to New Zealand so people can make contact while they are on tour. We know a lot of people travel in small groups or even alone and a network of Saints might help cut those costs for those day trips, nights out etc, and of course car hire!
WANDERERS
A date for your diaries. According to Chris Wearmouth who covers the Wanderers for the club the much awaited rematch between Saints and Tigers 2nd XV’s takes place on Monday evening (29th) at the Gardens. With over 9,000 turning up to the return game at Welford Road it just goes to prove how popular these games can be so why not pop along and give the lads a cheer.
A new coaching panel has been put in place with Budge Pountney and Paul Grayson moving upstairs to join Paul Larkin, Frank Ponissi and Adrian Kennedy in the collective hotseat while the club scours the world for Solly’s replacement. It’s a great opportunity for Larry and Budge though and with a strong internal structure to support these two fledgling coaches they might just be the guys here for many years to come. It would be nice to say lets give these guys some time but time is something we do not have a lot of at the moment so it is straight in at the deep end for the new boys.
The Saints now sit just one point off the bottom of the table and it looks like we are in for one hard slog but to use a very well worn cliché if the lads just take one game at a time I’m sure we have the potential and the personnel to get this season back on track. Number one priority must of course be safety. We’ve proved we can do it in the wins over Bath, Quins and Llanelli, now it’s a matter of adding a heavy dose of positive consistency to the mix starting at Newcastle on Sunday
I am sure you will all remember a trip to Newcastle on a December Sunday three years ago. The Saints were again in the doldrums and John Steele had stepped aside to allow Wayne Smith to take over the mantle of coach. Wayne only arrived in the country that morning from New Zealand but headed straight up the North East and the lads put in the performance of the season winning 28-13 the start of a run that saw us eventually reach a Twickenham final and qualify for Europe by season end. It’s a tall order buts there’s still a lot of rugby out there to be played but I’m certainly more optimistic writing this column than I was this time last week. So its good luck to Budge, Larry and the lads, we’re all behind you, take a deep breath I’ve a feeling we have some exciting times ahead.
The Saints Supporters Club will be running coaches to Newcastle. To get further details and book places call Jean Collingwood on 01604 583283, after 6pm, with your name, telephone number and the number of seats required.
GET SHIRTY FOR TOULOUSE
On our last trip to Toulouse you may well remember the Toulouse ‘Le Trek’ T-shirts we had run up for the occasion with the proceeds going to rugby charities. Sales on the shirt in 2003 allowed us to contribute over £1,000 to the PRA
(Professional Rugby Players Association) Benevolent fund. This year we have produced the ‘Le Trek 2’ shirt for the weekend an image of the Moulin Rouge cancan girls playing rugby (see message board for pic), just the thing for the fashion conscious Saints supporter on the avenues and boulevards of Toulouse. You can order the shirts via the Jimmies End T-Shirt Company website at www.jetsco.org
Paul Shaddick is also trying to organize a ‘Toulousain’ night at ‘The End’ at Southbridge for any French supporters in town for the weekend on the Friday before the home game, more details next week.
AWAY WITH THE LIONS?
So whatever happened to Matt Sansome? Matt was the little lad that was born to Saints supporting parents on the day of the European Cup Final in 2000. Matt along with Mum and Dad, Chris and Beth and little sister Lucy have now moved to Matt’s Mums native New Zealand. Dad Chris who is Gold, Black and Green to the core stills keep up with events at the Gardens from afar and still instills the faith in Matt. Now I know it is a few months off yet but I know a few of you out there are looking forward to going to New Zealand for the Lions tour at season end. Chris now owns a car rental business in the land of the long white cloud and has been in touch offering reduced rates to any Saints supporters who may be in need of wheels on their trip down south. You can contact Chris in NZ on 06 757 5255 or email him at newplymouth@rentalcars.co.nz.
Chris is also organizing a ‘Saints Night’ while we are all in Auckland for the last test where it is hoped several familiar ex-Saints will be in attendance. All traveling Saints are of course invited and I’ll let you know details nearer the time. We are also hoping to organize a get together this side of the equator before everyone travels down to New Zealand so people can make contact while they are on tour. We know a lot of people travel in small groups or even alone and a network of Saints might help cut those costs for those day trips, nights out etc, and of course car hire!
WANDERERS
A date for your diaries. According to Chris Wearmouth who covers the Wanderers for the club the much awaited rematch between Saints and Tigers 2nd XV’s takes place on Monday evening (29th) at the Gardens. With over 9,000 turning up to the return game at Welford Road it just goes to prove how popular these games can be so why not pop along and give the lads a cheer.
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