One big problem with that though, I forgot to fax the script to the team in time for kick-off.
Forgetting Saturdays abberation though, which hopefully was just a timeful reminder that we’re not there yet, there is no denying Saints are getting back on the straight and narrow and heading bit by bit in the right direction. A bit of the passion and the collective pride in the shirt looks to have returned instilled no doubt by Messrs Pountney and Grayson straight from the coaching manual of Wayne Smith. With a squad that is almost back to full strength and just the small diversion of a trip to France in early April I for one still have faith in the lads to stay on track and start moving upwards, one small step at a time, to safety.
The run in is not kind to us though. We still have four of the top five teams on our travels starting at Sale on Saturday. As Saints proved in the win over Toulouse on their day they can be a match for anyone and they will certainly have to be on the top of their game at Edgely Park. However Sale have been blowing hot and cold and have on occasion lost games at home they should have won so putting Saturday behind them its not outside the realms of possibility that Saints can grind something out of this game.
AN UNLIKELY RETURN..........
Some of you may be surprised to see this column appearing again. Its no secret that after the Chrons reporting of certain incidents on the clubs trip to Toulouse and their subsequent refusal to print my column the following week because it somewhat contradicted the papers version of events, I resigned.
Once the dust had settled I was asked to return and I agreed with the proviso that I could finally say my piece on the matter. It may well be water under the bridge now but as a club I am sure we have not heard the end of it. Only this week on hearing we were returning to Toulouse it was enquired by supporters of another club if boxing gloves would be packed.
Oh how we laughed..........
The initial Chron story came across as a brawl between a divided squad, a hangover from the Solomons era. Having bumped into the players earlier that evening I knew this was far from the truth. They were, despite the defeat, in high spirits (no not the alcoholic type) and out as the proverbial band of brothers to enjoy the night on the town. Now there is no denying an ‘incident’ took place, the club have admitted this, but on reading the Chron banner headline you would have thought WW3 had broken out yet despite not leaving Toulouse till two days later we heard barely a whisper of the massed brawl you would been believed took place. What we did hear was a very minor disagreement between individuals which others quickly dealt with. I am quite sure we would have heard from the many people we talked to over the following 48 hours some of whom were very close to what actually happened if it had been anything more sinister. But then hey that doesn’t sell papers.
Of course once the nationals had pounced on the half story and embroidered their own spin on things there was no going back but I do think if someone at the paper had just held their hands up and admitted, look perhaps we got certain aspects wrong it may have stopped the clubs name being dragged through the dirt to such an extent.
At the end of the day it did no one involved, the paper or the club, any favours and the cliché that what goes on tour stays on tour was probably never more apt. Sadly I can see people lying in wake to rake the whole thing up in April. I hope I’m wrong.
A GALLIC RAY OF SUNSHINE OR TWO.
With my faith in the media dented my faith in the rugby fraternity was somewhat restored by the friendship shown to us yet again by the Toulousain supporters. On arriving at the ground we were quickly summoned to join a gathering of Stade fans and before you could say Jaques Robinson they were plying us with free food and drink as we discussed the game through one of their number a local English teacher. It was a very kind gesture and again one that confirms what a great game we follow. They did not know us from Adam but welcomed us in as old friends.
During the game Stade did make an effort to be quiet at kicks and some sections of the crowd even adopted our ‘sssshhhhhh’ at penalties which given what they are normally like was a big plus for them. Later on one of them told us “it is known in France, we Toulousains cannot keep our mouths shut for long” but that they tried to do so to return the respect we had shown their team, especially Fred Michalak, in England the week before
Even more suprising at game end someSaints in with the hardcore ‘Le Huit’ fans reported the Stade faithful singing a song in our honour, great praise indeed.
On leaving the ground, as usual, our group of nine managed to get ourselves lost. As the back roads got darker we gave up all hope and started to thumb lifts back to town and to their credit the Stade supporters picked up all nine of us and got us back into Toulouse.
The chap who took us back to within a short walk of our hotel commented on both sets of support again praising the numbers Saints took away and that respectful silence.
On leaving his car we gave him with a spare circa 2000 Saints shirt we had with us and after cheering wildly for a minute or two about his gift he just looked at the shirt and said “ Rugby……..you know……..it’s like a worldwide family.”
And that simple statement just about summed up the whole weekend for me. Lets hope we can repeat it in April.
Forgetting Saturdays abberation though, which hopefully was just a timeful reminder that we’re not there yet, there is no denying Saints are getting back on the straight and narrow and heading bit by bit in the right direction. A bit of the passion and the collective pride in the shirt looks to have returned instilled no doubt by Messrs Pountney and Grayson straight from the coaching manual of Wayne Smith. With a squad that is almost back to full strength and just the small diversion of a trip to France in early April I for one still have faith in the lads to stay on track and start moving upwards, one small step at a time, to safety.
The run in is not kind to us though. We still have four of the top five teams on our travels starting at Sale on Saturday. As Saints proved in the win over Toulouse on their day they can be a match for anyone and they will certainly have to be on the top of their game at Edgely Park. However Sale have been blowing hot and cold and have on occasion lost games at home they should have won so putting Saturday behind them its not outside the realms of possibility that Saints can grind something out of this game.
AN UNLIKELY RETURN..........
Some of you may be surprised to see this column appearing again. Its no secret that after the Chrons reporting of certain incidents on the clubs trip to Toulouse and their subsequent refusal to print my column the following week because it somewhat contradicted the papers version of events, I resigned.
Once the dust had settled I was asked to return and I agreed with the proviso that I could finally say my piece on the matter. It may well be water under the bridge now but as a club I am sure we have not heard the end of it. Only this week on hearing we were returning to Toulouse it was enquired by supporters of another club if boxing gloves would be packed.
Oh how we laughed..........
The initial Chron story came across as a brawl between a divided squad, a hangover from the Solomons era. Having bumped into the players earlier that evening I knew this was far from the truth. They were, despite the defeat, in high spirits (no not the alcoholic type) and out as the proverbial band of brothers to enjoy the night on the town. Now there is no denying an ‘incident’ took place, the club have admitted this, but on reading the Chron banner headline you would have thought WW3 had broken out yet despite not leaving Toulouse till two days later we heard barely a whisper of the massed brawl you would been believed took place. What we did hear was a very minor disagreement between individuals which others quickly dealt with. I am quite sure we would have heard from the many people we talked to over the following 48 hours some of whom were very close to what actually happened if it had been anything more sinister. But then hey that doesn’t sell papers.
Of course once the nationals had pounced on the half story and embroidered their own spin on things there was no going back but I do think if someone at the paper had just held their hands up and admitted, look perhaps we got certain aspects wrong it may have stopped the clubs name being dragged through the dirt to such an extent.
At the end of the day it did no one involved, the paper or the club, any favours and the cliché that what goes on tour stays on tour was probably never more apt. Sadly I can see people lying in wake to rake the whole thing up in April. I hope I’m wrong.
A GALLIC RAY OF SUNSHINE OR TWO.
With my faith in the media dented my faith in the rugby fraternity was somewhat restored by the friendship shown to us yet again by the Toulousain supporters. On arriving at the ground we were quickly summoned to join a gathering of Stade fans and before you could say Jaques Robinson they were plying us with free food and drink as we discussed the game through one of their number a local English teacher. It was a very kind gesture and again one that confirms what a great game we follow. They did not know us from Adam but welcomed us in as old friends.
During the game Stade did make an effort to be quiet at kicks and some sections of the crowd even adopted our ‘sssshhhhhh’ at penalties which given what they are normally like was a big plus for them. Later on one of them told us “it is known in France, we Toulousains cannot keep our mouths shut for long” but that they tried to do so to return the respect we had shown their team, especially Fred Michalak, in England the week before
Even more suprising at game end someSaints in with the hardcore ‘Le Huit’ fans reported the Stade faithful singing a song in our honour, great praise indeed.
On leaving the ground, as usual, our group of nine managed to get ourselves lost. As the back roads got darker we gave up all hope and started to thumb lifts back to town and to their credit the Stade supporters picked up all nine of us and got us back into Toulouse.
The chap who took us back to within a short walk of our hotel commented on both sets of support again praising the numbers Saints took away and that respectful silence.
On leaving his car we gave him with a spare circa 2000 Saints shirt we had with us and after cheering wildly for a minute or two about his gift he just looked at the shirt and said “ Rugby……..you know……..it’s like a worldwide family.”
And that simple statement just about summed up the whole weekend for me. Lets hope we can repeat it in April.
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