Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
Well if they say you make your own luck I think we used up our quota of ingredients in the last minute of the game against Quins on Saturday. Mark Tuckers last gasp try with Shane’s match winning conversion took the roof off the stands and edged the Saints a little bit nearer safety but with Leeds surprisingly beating the Tigers it still isn’t over till the fat lady sings.
We can now however put thoughts of survival on the back burner for a week or so as thoughts once again turn to Europe and the Heineken Cup. On Friday Saints take on Toulouse in the quarter finals of the premier northern hemisphere competition and despite just about everyone writing off our chances it still fifteen against fifteen and as we know from previous experience just about anything can happen in this competition at this stage.
It is of course still a tall order and Toulouse warmed up for the game with a 71-3 Top 16 win over Brive at the weekend and understandably also given home advantage go into the game as favourites but in these high pressure games you just never can discount the Saints chances as out of hand. On the day you just never know, so its crossing everything, finding that lucky rabbits foot (that wasn’t so lucky for the rabbit), avoiding ladders, touching wood and its off to France we go.
Again there are a large contingent of Saints supporters making the journey to La Ville Rose with the club having sold well over a 1000 tickets while many more have made independent arrangements to get there this weekend.
As always the games in France are a great social occasion for many apart from the rugby and I am sure we will be seeing gold black and green around the city all weekend. If you are travelling out and want a change scenery and some fresh air on the Saturday, English rugby league club Wath Brow Hornets, giant killers in this years Challenge Cup take on the Toulouse Olympique RL side in the competition kick off 6.00pm local time at the Stade des Minimes at 107, Avenue Frédéric Estèbe. Why not go along and give them a cheer.
If you want to pick up another union game while you are out there, a train ride on the Saturday to either Montauban or Albi will enable you to pick up a French second division game while more locally our friends in Toulouse tell us the Blagnac v Oloron game on the Sunday at the Stade Ernest Argeles - Chemin des Ramiers out near the airport is the pick of the action. See you there!
POOR OLD TOULOUSE
One Toulouse supporter made me smile last week when in all seriousness he was bemoaning the fact that Benoit Baby got a four week ban for headbutting in the Six Nations and misses Fridays game. The Stade fan was aggreived that their backline might now be Poitrenaud, Clerc, Jauzion, Fritz, Heymans
Michalak, Elissalde. Some international sides would kill for a back seven like that. Poor old Toulouse eh?
STICKY BEAKS
I am sure most of you will have seen or heard about Keith Barwell’s programme notes on Saturday. Quite rightly our chairman is up in arms about comments made by RFU press officer Simon Mills in an email before Budges ‘Landergate’ hearing to HQ stating that, “in my opinion the potential is there for a referee to be assaulted at Franklins Gardens”. Now of course Keith, ever the diplomat, has asked Mills for a right to reply but just exactly what has Mills based this judgement on?
Week after week we are commended by visiting supporters on our sporting attitude and fairness, here are just a couple of online comments from Quins supporters this week who, given the nature of our win, might feel disgruntled towards us, far from it as you can see.
“I really enjoyed the atmosphere at Franklins Gardens, the Saints supporters are amongst the best crowd I have seen this season. The passion they showed when they were behind and the respect showed when Arwel (Quins flyhalf) kicked was second to none.”, from another “As for the Saints. It is always a pleasure to visit a true home of Rugby Football. Franklin Gardens, I applaud you.” And finally “It was my first visit to Franklins Gardens and, result apart, I enjoyed the stadium, the facilities and the friendly Saints fans around me who commiserated at the final whistle”
Now does this really sound like the rabid bunch that Mills would have you believe we are or does he have some other agenda?
Now whilst yes the ref might get stick if a decision goes against a team this happens at every club, the chap claims to go to 50 games a season, I take it Gloucester, Leicester or Bath are never visited then? And as for the ‘booing’ at the start when the referee is announced, as KB said, this is a long running joke and almost a seal of approval in some respects and I have yet to see a ref not take it in the manner it is meant, even Steve Lander himself just shrugged his shoulders and smiled when this happened so what exactly is Mills problem?
But finally if the Gardens were such a un-hospitable place do you think Zurich Premiership referee Ashley Rowden would spend his days off on the Gordon Terrace watching our games, I very much doubt it!
As for Mr Mills, there’s 12,000 people queuing up to sue him for defamation of character. We deserve an apology.
A WORD OF SUPPORT FOR WALLY
The calls for Steve Thompson’s culling from the England team because of his perceived bad throwing became quite ridiculous by the end of the Six Nations.
As Wally sad himself, if the throw goes wayward they say it was down to him but if it hit its target it was a good catch. However at tournament end the stats for the competition told a totally different story. Far from the cows backside and banjo thrower Messrs Butler and Guscott would have you believe England were actually only one percent off being the top lineout side out of the six teams on their own throw. Now as Steve was hooking for the majority of time do these stats not shoot these doubters down in flames once and for all?
Ireland 89%
France 89%
England 88%
Scotland 84%
Italy 83%
Wales 82%
Wednesday, 30 March 2005
Wednesday, 23 March 2005
March 23 2005
Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
So after a week out for everything to get done and dusted in the Six Nations its back to the real business this week and Saints next ‘cup final’ against Harlequins at the Gardens on Saturday. It is again a must win game and a victory could all but see us safe should Leeds go down at home to the Tigers on Sunday. Of course I am not counting any chickens just yet, the job still has to be done, but that scenario, whilst given Leeds still a mathematical chance, would I am sure see us playing Zurich Premiership rugby next season.
Quins have themselves been edging to safety but have yet to win a game on a non-international weekend. Like us though they are scrapping for their ZP lives and cannot be taken lightly but I’m taking the lads to take the form from the Gloucester victory into this game and come away with the spoils.
Should we prevail another bonus from this is that it could see us still within striking distance of a wildcard place something that was unthinkable a month ago. Whatever the outcome it looks like we have something to play for right up to the very last week of the regular season.
Indeed with just four games left every team in the ZP has something to play for, not only making every game competitive but adding spice up to the very end and interest for all supporters. That being the case I am surprised the spectre of ringfencing of the ZP has reared it ugly head again in recent weeks.
Now don’t get me wrong I have great sympathy for any club that faces the drop, (indeed it could still be us this season), after they have invested heavily in facilities and staff but I do feel a decision which would cause the ZP to be ringfenced by whatever means would be a business decision over a sporting one. Simply a protection of own interests over the spirit of competition.
Call me old fashioned but I still believe promotion and relegation are the very lifeblood of our game and doesn’t the end of this coming season just prove that with a handful of clubs in both the ZP and National Div One still fighting it out for death or glory?
Now obviously the bigger the game the bigger the interest and the more people through the gates. Already it looks like there will be a lot of disappointed punters for Saints final four games of the season and only the lucky few will get to see the final game at Worcester such is the demand. Were the ZP to be ringfenced would this be the case?
Should this ringfencing happen you could easily see some clubs season over by February at the latest. Would there really be this demand for tickets if this were the case, with supporters knowing that whatever happened their team was safe to fight the next season and would we really be interested in turning up to watch two teams go through the motions at season end?
And lets face it if it’s about business decisions would there not be a danger that some clubs, knowing they were not in with a shout with a couple of months to go, maybe ending a few contracts early to save a few shillings hence unbalancing the level of fairness across the whole season?
Remember results by those fighting the drop have in recent weeks affected things not only at the base of the table but those scrapping it out for the championship and European places. Would it really be fair all round for four or five teams at season end to have nothing to play for but pride while those lucky enough to play them at season end having a distinct advantage over rivals further up the table who may have played them when they had something to play for?
But more importantly is ringfencing really fair on the clubs in divisions below who aspire to join the elite. Would it not kill the real sporting competitiveness of National Div One at a stroke? Remember not too long ago we were one of that fold.
Now I am sure some of you will think I am just being a doom merchant but cast your mind back five seasons and this scenario has already happened. With a promotion/relegation playoff system then in place it was clear with several weeks to go that Bedford were going to end up bottom of the pile. By their own admission they ‘prepared for the playoffs’ sending out second string sides for the intervening weeks. Bristol that year missed out on a Heineken Cup place by a single point a situation that might have been very different had Bedford been competitive to the very end. How would we have felt about Bedford had that been us?
So if people are making business decisions would it not be better to preserve a system that not only bred a World Cup winning squad which increased interest in the game as a whole in England but also a system that puts bums on seats at every ground till the end of season and pounds shillings and pence in those clubs coffers. Rather this than a stale competition for a large section of supporters at season end.
Perhaps the real business decision should be how do we make Div One stronger to make movements between the top two divisions more seamless.
BUDGE
Well done to Budge, he’s certainly learning to handle the media. It seems that our new coach has changed tack after his recent fine and ban for his outburst at Steve Lander and injected a bit more humour in his missives to the press. Two soundbites this week I am sure raised more than a few smiles. On talking about Matt Lord extending his current contract Budge commented “Lordy is a fantastic player both on and off the pitch, and has been a vital part of our squad for the past few seasons. The only thing we have any doubts about is his hair do!”
To top this, our friends in France pointed out an interview with French media this week ahead of the Toulouse game in which Budge was asked if had a plan to beat Stade (as if he would tell them the grand masterplan?).
Budge simply replied that we would pay off the referee. Luckily he told them he was joking which may be a good thing should the lads perform miracles and scrape a win a week on Friday.
So after a week out for everything to get done and dusted in the Six Nations its back to the real business this week and Saints next ‘cup final’ against Harlequins at the Gardens on Saturday. It is again a must win game and a victory could all but see us safe should Leeds go down at home to the Tigers on Sunday. Of course I am not counting any chickens just yet, the job still has to be done, but that scenario, whilst given Leeds still a mathematical chance, would I am sure see us playing Zurich Premiership rugby next season.
Quins have themselves been edging to safety but have yet to win a game on a non-international weekend. Like us though they are scrapping for their ZP lives and cannot be taken lightly but I’m taking the lads to take the form from the Gloucester victory into this game and come away with the spoils.
Should we prevail another bonus from this is that it could see us still within striking distance of a wildcard place something that was unthinkable a month ago. Whatever the outcome it looks like we have something to play for right up to the very last week of the regular season.
Indeed with just four games left every team in the ZP has something to play for, not only making every game competitive but adding spice up to the very end and interest for all supporters. That being the case I am surprised the spectre of ringfencing of the ZP has reared it ugly head again in recent weeks.
Now don’t get me wrong I have great sympathy for any club that faces the drop, (indeed it could still be us this season), after they have invested heavily in facilities and staff but I do feel a decision which would cause the ZP to be ringfenced by whatever means would be a business decision over a sporting one. Simply a protection of own interests over the spirit of competition.
Call me old fashioned but I still believe promotion and relegation are the very lifeblood of our game and doesn’t the end of this coming season just prove that with a handful of clubs in both the ZP and National Div One still fighting it out for death or glory?
Now obviously the bigger the game the bigger the interest and the more people through the gates. Already it looks like there will be a lot of disappointed punters for Saints final four games of the season and only the lucky few will get to see the final game at Worcester such is the demand. Were the ZP to be ringfenced would this be the case?
Should this ringfencing happen you could easily see some clubs season over by February at the latest. Would there really be this demand for tickets if this were the case, with supporters knowing that whatever happened their team was safe to fight the next season and would we really be interested in turning up to watch two teams go through the motions at season end?
And lets face it if it’s about business decisions would there not be a danger that some clubs, knowing they were not in with a shout with a couple of months to go, maybe ending a few contracts early to save a few shillings hence unbalancing the level of fairness across the whole season?
Remember results by those fighting the drop have in recent weeks affected things not only at the base of the table but those scrapping it out for the championship and European places. Would it really be fair all round for four or five teams at season end to have nothing to play for but pride while those lucky enough to play them at season end having a distinct advantage over rivals further up the table who may have played them when they had something to play for?
But more importantly is ringfencing really fair on the clubs in divisions below who aspire to join the elite. Would it not kill the real sporting competitiveness of National Div One at a stroke? Remember not too long ago we were one of that fold.
Now I am sure some of you will think I am just being a doom merchant but cast your mind back five seasons and this scenario has already happened. With a promotion/relegation playoff system then in place it was clear with several weeks to go that Bedford were going to end up bottom of the pile. By their own admission they ‘prepared for the playoffs’ sending out second string sides for the intervening weeks. Bristol that year missed out on a Heineken Cup place by a single point a situation that might have been very different had Bedford been competitive to the very end. How would we have felt about Bedford had that been us?
So if people are making business decisions would it not be better to preserve a system that not only bred a World Cup winning squad which increased interest in the game as a whole in England but also a system that puts bums on seats at every ground till the end of season and pounds shillings and pence in those clubs coffers. Rather this than a stale competition for a large section of supporters at season end.
Perhaps the real business decision should be how do we make Div One stronger to make movements between the top two divisions more seamless.
BUDGE
Well done to Budge, he’s certainly learning to handle the media. It seems that our new coach has changed tack after his recent fine and ban for his outburst at Steve Lander and injected a bit more humour in his missives to the press. Two soundbites this week I am sure raised more than a few smiles. On talking about Matt Lord extending his current contract Budge commented “Lordy is a fantastic player both on and off the pitch, and has been a vital part of our squad for the past few seasons. The only thing we have any doubts about is his hair do!”
To top this, our friends in France pointed out an interview with French media this week ahead of the Toulouse game in which Budge was asked if had a plan to beat Stade (as if he would tell them the grand masterplan?).
Budge simply replied that we would pay off the referee. Luckily he told them he was joking which may be a good thing should the lads perform miracles and scrape a win a week on Friday.
Thursday, 17 March 2005
March 17 2005
Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
If someone had told me three weeks ago that Saints would be eight points to the good after the Tigers and Gloucester games I would have probably given them a look that suggested they were a pasty short of a West Country picnic.
After the heavy loss at Wasps even the wildest optimist would be thinking ‘now if we can get a bonus point or even two out of these games we will have done well’.
So its quite a welcome surprise that here we are with two wins and those eight very valuable points that have lifted us five points clear of the bottom of the Zurich Premiership table and an air of confidence about the place that we have a better than average chance of beating the drop and playing ZP rugby next season.
It is still of course all in our own hands and we are not out of the woods yet but a win in our next match against Quins at the Gardens in two weeks could see us sitting pretty given who basement side Leeds still have to play. The Yorkshire club have the daunting task of playing three teams fighting for the top three, Tigers, Bath and Gloucester plus fellow strugglers Harlequins and I am I sure they would snatch your hand off if you offered them a swap of our run in of Quins, Bath, Newcastle and Worcester. Indeed there is a distinct possibility that by the time of the Worcester game on the last day of the season both sides might already be safe, and as tickets are already as rare as hens teeth, that might not be such a bad thing.
However as they say it’s not over till the fat lady sings and there may well be a few more twists and turns yet but, like probably a lot of you Saints supporters out there, I have been sleeping far better over the last few nights.
To the game itself it was again a week when each and every player stood up to be counted, the forwards fought tooth and nail while the defence kept the Cherry and Whites at bay for most of the afternoon. Special mention has to go to Shane Drahm who controlled the game with confidence, lets hope he puts his name on that dotted line to remain a Saint in the coming days.
As for the crowd on Saturday it’s not that often that the Shed are silenced but entering the last quarter they had all but given up trying to drive on their team.
They livened up slightly for their two late tries but by then the writing was on the wall and the Saints had the points secure. The Glos supporters were magnaminous in defeat though and many leaving the ground and in the bars afterwards commented how well Saints had played. Though they were disappointed in their own teams display they were gracious enough praise the opposition which given the one eyed reputation of the Kingsholm crowd is something a minority of fans from certain other clubs should take note of.
There still is however no love lost from Gloucester to their local West Country rivals. One Glos fan commented to me in the pub afterwards “You were lucky today”, feeling slightly aggrieved that he might be suggesting our victory was not well deserved I asked him why, his reply made me chuckle. “Well if you had come here last week this pub was full of blooming Barf supporters!”
They do seem to have an affinity with us though and Saints supporters also did themselves proud on Saturday with groups in both the Shed and the new Buildbase Stand and various other small pockets cheering the lads on to the very end of the well deserved victory. It was of course well worth the journey and fingers crossed one we will be making again next season.
MOBBS - A RETURN 'HOME'?
Tonight (Wednesday) the Mobbs Memorial game between the East Midlands and the Barbarians takes place at Bedfords, Goldington Road. KO 7:00pm if you can make it. Old Northamptonians centre Adam Civil, who played in last year's game and Kettering centre Paul Baird make up the local contingent in a largely Bedford Blues dominated side while the big attraction of the night will be Bobby Skinstad playing for the BaaBaas. Proceeds from the game are used to develop youth rugby in East Midlands.
As is the tradition before the game their will be a wreath laying at the Bedford War Memorial on the Embankment at 4:00pm. It being the first time the Mobbs game has been held at Bedford since 1957 there will be no service at the actual Mobbs Memorial statue in Abington Square and it is probably just as well as last week due to continued vandalism the council were left with no option but to seal this area off. I’ve always thought over the last few years as the traffic has steadily built up to isolate the island where the Garden of Remembrance now stands that for most people it has become a forgotten part of town, not only for Saints & England captain Edgar Mobbs but for the hundreds of other names listed as Northampton war dead.
It’s a sad reflection of the times we live in and maybe it is time for a rethink and with regards to the Mobbs Memorial statue wouldn’t it be an ideal opportunity to bring Edgar ‘back home’ so to speak. With the current Gardens War Memorial being moved this summer for the new building work would it be possible to have the two combined to not only commemorate Saints fallen but those of Edgar Mobbs sportsman battalion in which so many local me served in the First World War.
Of course there would be some financial cost involved but the original Mobbs Memorial itself, which at that time stood on Market Square, was paid for by public donations. It is surely not outside the realms of possibility that such a subscription fund be set up again?
So its quite a welcome surprise that here we are with two wins and those eight very valuable points that have lifted us five points clear of the bottom of the Zurich Premiership table and an air of confidence about the place that we have a better than average chance of beating the drop and playing ZP rugby next season.
It is still of course all in our own hands and we are not out of the woods yet but a win in our next match against Quins at the Gardens in two weeks could see us sitting pretty given who basement side Leeds still have to play. The Yorkshire club have the daunting task of playing three teams fighting for the top three, Tigers, Bath and Gloucester plus fellow strugglers Harlequins and I am I sure they would snatch your hand off if you offered them a swap of our run in of Quins, Bath, Newcastle and Worcester. Indeed there is a distinct possibility that by the time of the Worcester game on the last day of the season both sides might already be safe, and as tickets are already as rare as hens teeth, that might not be such a bad thing.
However as they say it’s not over till the fat lady sings and there may well be a few more twists and turns yet but, like probably a lot of you Saints supporters out there, I have been sleeping far better over the last few nights.
To the game itself it was again a week when each and every player stood up to be counted, the forwards fought tooth and nail while the defence kept the Cherry and Whites at bay for most of the afternoon. Special mention has to go to Shane Drahm who controlled the game with confidence, lets hope he puts his name on that dotted line to remain a Saint in the coming days.
As for the crowd on Saturday it’s not that often that the Shed are silenced but entering the last quarter they had all but given up trying to drive on their team.
They livened up slightly for their two late tries but by then the writing was on the wall and the Saints had the points secure. The Glos supporters were magnaminous in defeat though and many leaving the ground and in the bars afterwards commented how well Saints had played. Though they were disappointed in their own teams display they were gracious enough praise the opposition which given the one eyed reputation of the Kingsholm crowd is something a minority of fans from certain other clubs should take note of.
There still is however no love lost from Gloucester to their local West Country rivals. One Glos fan commented to me in the pub afterwards “You were lucky today”, feeling slightly aggrieved that he might be suggesting our victory was not well deserved I asked him why, his reply made me chuckle. “Well if you had come here last week this pub was full of blooming Barf supporters!”
They do seem to have an affinity with us though and Saints supporters also did themselves proud on Saturday with groups in both the Shed and the new Buildbase Stand and various other small pockets cheering the lads on to the very end of the well deserved victory. It was of course well worth the journey and fingers crossed one we will be making again next season.
MOBBS - A RETURN 'HOME'?
Tonight (Wednesday) the Mobbs Memorial game between the East Midlands and the Barbarians takes place at Bedfords, Goldington Road. KO 7:00pm if you can make it. Old Northamptonians centre Adam Civil, who played in last year's game and Kettering centre Paul Baird make up the local contingent in a largely Bedford Blues dominated side while the big attraction of the night will be Bobby Skinstad playing for the BaaBaas. Proceeds from the game are used to develop youth rugby in East Midlands.
As is the tradition before the game their will be a wreath laying at the Bedford War Memorial on the Embankment at 4:00pm. It being the first time the Mobbs game has been held at Bedford since 1957 there will be no service at the actual Mobbs Memorial statue in Abington Square and it is probably just as well as last week due to continued vandalism the council were left with no option but to seal this area off. I’ve always thought over the last few years as the traffic has steadily built up to isolate the island where the Garden of Remembrance now stands that for most people it has become a forgotten part of town, not only for Saints & England captain Edgar Mobbs but for the hundreds of other names listed as Northampton war dead.
It’s a sad reflection of the times we live in and maybe it is time for a rethink and with regards to the Mobbs Memorial statue wouldn’t it be an ideal opportunity to bring Edgar ‘back home’ so to speak. With the current Gardens War Memorial being moved this summer for the new building work would it be possible to have the two combined to not only commemorate Saints fallen but those of Edgar Mobbs sportsman battalion in which so many local me served in the First World War.
Of course there would be some financial cost involved but the original Mobbs Memorial itself, which at that time stood on Market Square, was paid for by public donations. It is surely not outside the realms of possibility that such a subscription fund be set up again?
Thursday, 10 March 2005
March 10 2005
Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
With the Saints season, and their Zurich Premiership future, still hanging in the balance it is off to Kingsholm, Gloucester on Saturday for that next ‘cup final’ on the road to safety.
The Cherry and Whites of course went through that epic Powergen semi final last Sunday against fiercest rivals Bath and by their own admission after the game were ‘empty ,drained and absolutely exhausted’.
Now whether they can turn things round in six days and hit us with the backlash remains to be seen but the Saints have their backs to the wall themselves and, as they proved against Leicester, can come out fighting and I’m expecting yet another toe to battle and maybe the Saints longer recuperation period may be crucial in the last quarter if they are to get something out of this game.
We have not won at ‘Castle Grim’ since Christmas 2000 and might just be due one, now all we need is Andy Hazell to tell the Gloucester local press they are going to push us all over the park. It did us wonders last time.
The Saints Supporters Club are running coaches to Gloucester.They will be leaving Franklin’s Gardens, at 9am. The prices are: Adults: £13, Children/Students/OAPs: £8. To book places call Jean Collingwood on 01604 583283, after 6pm, with your name, telephone number and the number of seats. If you’re opting for the train there is service changing at Birmingham but remember to allow yourself plenty of time as the game kicks off at 2:00. And don’t rush off home after the final whistle, England v Italy kicks off at four and will be shown in the clubhouse and all local hostelries. See you there.
YOUNG TALENT
I wrote a couple of weeks back about the increased number of young players who seem to be making headway into the club since the appointment of Budge Pountney as head coach. Whether this is a coincidence or not I do not know but there was further evidence of our increased showing of local talent when three young Saints, Charlie Beech, Tom Laws and Simon Pitfield, were all named in the England Under 18 squad for the Home Unions tournament. Several players from the highly successful Wellingborough School U15 side, who gallantly fought their way to the Daily Mail national semi finals, are also associated with the club through one of the Saints Academy elite player development centres based at the school.
This, along with signing of prospect Adam Barnard to an Academy contract this week, shows that we may be turning the tide and not letting our nearest rivals over the border have their own way on Midlands recruitment. Indeed we may even be about to put a further one over the Tigers if young Luke Myring keep up that early promise and progresses through to the Saints 1st XV after, quite wrongly in some Leicester supporters eyes, being discarded by the Welford Road club. Long may it continue.
Talking of young Myring, he had a good game against his old club on Friday night as the Wanderers were edged by the Tigers second string 15 –12 at the Gardens. Next Monday the Wanderers travel up to Coventrys new ground to take on a combined Cov and Rugby Lions side, the Mercians so if you have the time there is no shortage of live action this week, England U21’s v Italy U21’s at the Gardens on Friday, Saints at Gloucester on the Saturday and that Wanderers game on the Monday. Given all that you might just want to spend Sunday in bed.
EQUALITY
Was it just me or did anyone else think the decision by the RFU not to take action against Andy Robinson smacked of double standards. Now Robinson is an experienced national coach who should know the games protocols inside out yet in making comments about referee Jonathan Kaplans handling of the Ireland v England game he committed exactly the same offence (as stated in IRB rulings on criticising referees) as our own Budge Pountney.
So did Robinson receive a six week ban and a £2000 fine? No of course not, he got a very light slap on the wrist, something perhaps that was more fitting to a rookie coach half a dozen games into his career than someone of Robinsons standing. If the authorities were serious about these offences, high profile, experienced Robinson should have been hung out to dry then perhaps others will take note but now it seems by their inaction the RFU have set a precedent or will it be do as we say, not as we do. It seems on the face of it that in rugby its not just referees that are untouchable. Of course being an Englishman I always thought we were above this kind of thing and played with a straight bat. I used to think that those outsiders that accused England of underhand tricks such as ending English player bans the day before internationals either had chips on their shoulders or were anti-English. After the Robinson decision I’m starting to think maybe they might have a point.
PROS AND CONS
They say it never rains but it pours and Ben Cohens fractured cheekbone in Saturdays Tsunami Relief game was not only a personal blow to Ben but to the Saints too. Bens try against Tigers showed he still has this club at heart and we sure could do with him on the run in but a cruel twist of fate means that it is not to be.
However at the moment it is all swings and roundabouts as far as that ZP run in is concerned. Leeds win over London Irish on Sunday may have put them through to their first Twickenham final but added to the fact that they have to play a two legged European semi final as well they still have to play at least three more games than the Saints, including three in eight days. If you cast your minds back to April and May 2000 you may well remember the Saints fight on three fronts as we were in with a chance of winning the treble of League, Tetley and Heineken Cups. Those extra games took their toll and but for a supreme effort on an afternoon at Twickenham in May we could have come away with nothing. Each game was a game too far, a predicament Leeds could well find themselves in which could play to our advantage.That said we still have to bag those points on offer and whilst its still in our own hands we should still be grateful for any edge we can get.
Now whether they can turn things round in six days and hit us with the backlash remains to be seen but the Saints have their backs to the wall themselves and, as they proved against Leicester, can come out fighting and I’m expecting yet another toe to battle and maybe the Saints longer recuperation period may be crucial in the last quarter if they are to get something out of this game.
We have not won at ‘Castle Grim’ since Christmas 2000 and might just be due one, now all we need is Andy Hazell to tell the Gloucester local press they are going to push us all over the park. It did us wonders last time.
The Saints Supporters Club are running coaches to Gloucester.They will be leaving Franklin’s Gardens, at 9am. The prices are: Adults: £13, Children/Students/OAPs: £8. To book places call Jean Collingwood on 01604 583283, after 6pm, with your name, telephone number and the number of seats. If you’re opting for the train there is service changing at Birmingham but remember to allow yourself plenty of time as the game kicks off at 2:00. And don’t rush off home after the final whistle, England v Italy kicks off at four and will be shown in the clubhouse and all local hostelries. See you there.
YOUNG TALENT
I wrote a couple of weeks back about the increased number of young players who seem to be making headway into the club since the appointment of Budge Pountney as head coach. Whether this is a coincidence or not I do not know but there was further evidence of our increased showing of local talent when three young Saints, Charlie Beech, Tom Laws and Simon Pitfield, were all named in the England Under 18 squad for the Home Unions tournament. Several players from the highly successful Wellingborough School U15 side, who gallantly fought their way to the Daily Mail national semi finals, are also associated with the club through one of the Saints Academy elite player development centres based at the school.
This, along with signing of prospect Adam Barnard to an Academy contract this week, shows that we may be turning the tide and not letting our nearest rivals over the border have their own way on Midlands recruitment. Indeed we may even be about to put a further one over the Tigers if young Luke Myring keep up that early promise and progresses through to the Saints 1st XV after, quite wrongly in some Leicester supporters eyes, being discarded by the Welford Road club. Long may it continue.
Talking of young Myring, he had a good game against his old club on Friday night as the Wanderers were edged by the Tigers second string 15 –12 at the Gardens. Next Monday the Wanderers travel up to Coventrys new ground to take on a combined Cov and Rugby Lions side, the Mercians so if you have the time there is no shortage of live action this week, England U21’s v Italy U21’s at the Gardens on Friday, Saints at Gloucester on the Saturday and that Wanderers game on the Monday. Given all that you might just want to spend Sunday in bed.
EQUALITY
Was it just me or did anyone else think the decision by the RFU not to take action against Andy Robinson smacked of double standards. Now Robinson is an experienced national coach who should know the games protocols inside out yet in making comments about referee Jonathan Kaplans handling of the Ireland v England game he committed exactly the same offence (as stated in IRB rulings on criticising referees) as our own Budge Pountney.
So did Robinson receive a six week ban and a £2000 fine? No of course not, he got a very light slap on the wrist, something perhaps that was more fitting to a rookie coach half a dozen games into his career than someone of Robinsons standing. If the authorities were serious about these offences, high profile, experienced Robinson should have been hung out to dry then perhaps others will take note but now it seems by their inaction the RFU have set a precedent or will it be do as we say, not as we do. It seems on the face of it that in rugby its not just referees that are untouchable. Of course being an Englishman I always thought we were above this kind of thing and played with a straight bat. I used to think that those outsiders that accused England of underhand tricks such as ending English player bans the day before internationals either had chips on their shoulders or were anti-English. After the Robinson decision I’m starting to think maybe they might have a point.
PROS AND CONS
They say it never rains but it pours and Ben Cohens fractured cheekbone in Saturdays Tsunami Relief game was not only a personal blow to Ben but to the Saints too. Bens try against Tigers showed he still has this club at heart and we sure could do with him on the run in but a cruel twist of fate means that it is not to be.
However at the moment it is all swings and roundabouts as far as that ZP run in is concerned. Leeds win over London Irish on Sunday may have put them through to their first Twickenham final but added to the fact that they have to play a two legged European semi final as well they still have to play at least three more games than the Saints, including three in eight days. If you cast your minds back to April and May 2000 you may well remember the Saints fight on three fronts as we were in with a chance of winning the treble of League, Tetley and Heineken Cups. Those extra games took their toll and but for a supreme effort on an afternoon at Twickenham in May we could have come away with nothing. Each game was a game too far, a predicament Leeds could well find themselves in which could play to our advantage.That said we still have to bag those points on offer and whilst its still in our own hands we should still be grateful for any edge we can get.
Thursday, 3 March 2005
March 3 2005
Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
Wahey! Faith restored and in the best possible manner against the auld enemy. When the points are tallied up at season end it could well be the result of the 100th East Midlands derby played at the Gardens that proves crucial for the Saints.
Not many gave us a snowball in hells chance of getting anything out of this game but the lads stood up to be counted and battled it out toe to toe, quite literally in Simon Emms case, to come away with the spoils.
Now I know people over the border in Tiger country and most of the media have been pointing out that Leicester lost about three thousand players to national duties, however closer inspection of the stats tells a different story. Tigers in fact only made five, yes five, changes to the starting lineup that demolished Newcastle 83-10 the week before (Goode, Deacon, Corry,Rowntree and Smith), not the fifteen or so changes that has been bandied about since Saturday. Saints were only two short of that figure themselves losing Paul Diggin, Steve Thompson and Tom Smith from the side defeated at Wasps. So while Tigers admittedly do have a greater strength in depth they were not weakened to the extent some would have you believe.
Contrary to these devaluing comments it was refreshing to hear Tigers coaching team of Pat Howard and Jon Wells being gracious in defeat by admitting on the day they had the team to do it but were outplayed by a more hungry Saints side.
Whilst I still personally think it’s daft to play Zurich Premiership games on international weekends its seems all too easy to trundle out excuses like this but on the face of it the Saints team that played at the Causeway last week was a pale imitation of the one that ran out on Saturday. The lads have worked hard on motivation this week and it just shows what a spot of firewalking can do for you!
While it was also said Saints could only beat what was in front of them the importance and the turnaround in belief and passion cannot be underestimated given our position in the league.
Matt Lord, Bruce Reihana, Shane Drahm and Andy Blowers were hailed the pick of the bunch on Saturday but each and every man played their part and the unsung heroes like Dan Richmond and Darren Fox deserve the plaudits too.
The highlight of the day for me was Ben Cohens try, not only did it seal the deserved victory but the move put everyones pantomime villain/clown Austin Healey on his backside too. Priceless!
All in all a good day to be a Saint but we should not kid ourselves the jobs over yet. The form has to be carried over for the next ‘cup final’ at Kingsholm Gloucester in two weeks, 12th March.
RUGBY NOT SO SPECIAL
Whilst it was good to see the Gardens selected as a venue for the latest round of BBC’s Rugby Special I really don’t think the corporation does the programme justice anymore. The late timeslot, this weekend’s programme aired at five past midnight Monday morning is not an ideal time for those who have early starts and smacks of me of either the Beeb have no confidence in their product or they have no regard for the watching audience.
While John Inverdale is usually the consummate broadcaster he looked ill informed (Bruce going back to NZ?), scriptless and at unease (though the presence of Bernie might excuse the last one).
Perhaps I’m showing my age when I hanker back for Sunday teatime viewing with Nigel Stamer-Smith, wonky graphics and ‘action’ in a mudpath as Fylde play Waterloo but it seems to me that they have tried to fix something that wasn’t broke to bring it up to date and it just hasn’t worked.
The only interest for me this week was that the programme was from FG and whilst its amusing to see a few recognisable faces in the audience and hear a friend use long words like ‘parochial’ I don’t think I’ll be staying up late to watch next week.
I’m well aware that Sunday rugby throws a spanner in the works but if BBC Wales can show ScrumV in the early evening slot why can’t the other regions get their house in order. You can bet your bottom dollar if it was football they would be falling over backwards to accommodate it but it seems we are just the poor relation.
And it’s not just Rugby Special that comes up short on the BBC this week. Some comments made by Jeremy Guscott about Steve Thompson verged on the ridiculous considering Wally ‘won’ 16 out of his 18 throws and overall the commentary left a lot to be desired.
So as much as people give Stuart Barnes and Dewi Morris stick every week, give me Sky’s rugby coverage anyday.
FRIDAY NIGHT IS RUGBY NIGHT
With no game for the 1stXV I am sure a lot of you will be kicking your heels this weekend and whilst on the television there is the North v South Tsunami Relief game on Saturday and both Powergen Cup semi finals on Sunday, fear not there is still live rugby at the Gardens on Friday night. The Wanderers play their long awaited game against Leicester 2nds on the main pitch at 7:30. The Saints 2nd XV are the only side to have beaten their local rivals this season in a game that attracted over 9,000 people on a Monday evening to Welford Road. So why not pop along, it’s a quiet week in Coronation Street..
Fridays game sees a run of three consecutive Friday night games at the Gardens, after Fridays Tigers game it’s the return of the England U21s who play the Italian U21s on the 11th and the Scottish U21s on the 18th.
SPRUCE BRUCE NOT SETTING LOOSE
Although belated, I couldn’t finish the column this week without a word for Bruce Reihana. I have said here before that he is quite simply the best back I have ever seen playing for the Saints and his decision to stay at the Gardens for a further three years is not only a real boost for all but speaks volumes about the club itself and its ambitions. Yes we might be in a lowly position at the moment but when the likes of Ben Cohen, Tom Smith and Bruce commit to staying here whatever the outcome of this season there is hope for the future and a return to those high flying days for all in Gold Black and Green. Do you know, this optimists glass is getting more than half full.
Now I know people over the border in Tiger country and most of the media have been pointing out that Leicester lost about three thousand players to national duties, however closer inspection of the stats tells a different story. Tigers in fact only made five, yes five, changes to the starting lineup that demolished Newcastle 83-10 the week before (Goode, Deacon, Corry,Rowntree and Smith), not the fifteen or so changes that has been bandied about since Saturday. Saints were only two short of that figure themselves losing Paul Diggin, Steve Thompson and Tom Smith from the side defeated at Wasps. So while Tigers admittedly do have a greater strength in depth they were not weakened to the extent some would have you believe.
Contrary to these devaluing comments it was refreshing to hear Tigers coaching team of Pat Howard and Jon Wells being gracious in defeat by admitting on the day they had the team to do it but were outplayed by a more hungry Saints side.
Whilst I still personally think it’s daft to play Zurich Premiership games on international weekends its seems all too easy to trundle out excuses like this but on the face of it the Saints team that played at the Causeway last week was a pale imitation of the one that ran out on Saturday. The lads have worked hard on motivation this week and it just shows what a spot of firewalking can do for you!
While it was also said Saints could only beat what was in front of them the importance and the turnaround in belief and passion cannot be underestimated given our position in the league.
Matt Lord, Bruce Reihana, Shane Drahm and Andy Blowers were hailed the pick of the bunch on Saturday but each and every man played their part and the unsung heroes like Dan Richmond and Darren Fox deserve the plaudits too.
The highlight of the day for me was Ben Cohens try, not only did it seal the deserved victory but the move put everyones pantomime villain/clown Austin Healey on his backside too. Priceless!
All in all a good day to be a Saint but we should not kid ourselves the jobs over yet. The form has to be carried over for the next ‘cup final’ at Kingsholm Gloucester in two weeks, 12th March.
RUGBY NOT SO SPECIAL
Whilst it was good to see the Gardens selected as a venue for the latest round of BBC’s Rugby Special I really don’t think the corporation does the programme justice anymore. The late timeslot, this weekend’s programme aired at five past midnight Monday morning is not an ideal time for those who have early starts and smacks of me of either the Beeb have no confidence in their product or they have no regard for the watching audience.
While John Inverdale is usually the consummate broadcaster he looked ill informed (Bruce going back to NZ?), scriptless and at unease (though the presence of Bernie might excuse the last one).
Perhaps I’m showing my age when I hanker back for Sunday teatime viewing with Nigel Stamer-Smith, wonky graphics and ‘action’ in a mudpath as Fylde play Waterloo but it seems to me that they have tried to fix something that wasn’t broke to bring it up to date and it just hasn’t worked.
The only interest for me this week was that the programme was from FG and whilst its amusing to see a few recognisable faces in the audience and hear a friend use long words like ‘parochial’ I don’t think I’ll be staying up late to watch next week.
I’m well aware that Sunday rugby throws a spanner in the works but if BBC Wales can show ScrumV in the early evening slot why can’t the other regions get their house in order. You can bet your bottom dollar if it was football they would be falling over backwards to accommodate it but it seems we are just the poor relation.
And it’s not just Rugby Special that comes up short on the BBC this week. Some comments made by Jeremy Guscott about Steve Thompson verged on the ridiculous considering Wally ‘won’ 16 out of his 18 throws and overall the commentary left a lot to be desired.
So as much as people give Stuart Barnes and Dewi Morris stick every week, give me Sky’s rugby coverage anyday.
FRIDAY NIGHT IS RUGBY NIGHT
With no game for the 1stXV I am sure a lot of you will be kicking your heels this weekend and whilst on the television there is the North v South Tsunami Relief game on Saturday and both Powergen Cup semi finals on Sunday, fear not there is still live rugby at the Gardens on Friday night. The Wanderers play their long awaited game against Leicester 2nds on the main pitch at 7:30. The Saints 2nd XV are the only side to have beaten their local rivals this season in a game that attracted over 9,000 people on a Monday evening to Welford Road. So why not pop along, it’s a quiet week in Coronation Street..
Fridays game sees a run of three consecutive Friday night games at the Gardens, after Fridays Tigers game it’s the return of the England U21s who play the Italian U21s on the 11th and the Scottish U21s on the 18th.
SPRUCE BRUCE NOT SETTING LOOSE
Although belated, I couldn’t finish the column this week without a word for Bruce Reihana. I have said here before that he is quite simply the best back I have ever seen playing for the Saints and his decision to stay at the Gardens for a further three years is not only a real boost for all but speaks volumes about the club itself and its ambitions. Yes we might be in a lowly position at the moment but when the likes of Ben Cohen, Tom Smith and Bruce commit to staying here whatever the outcome of this season there is hope for the future and a return to those high flying days for all in Gold Black and Green. Do you know, this optimists glass is getting more than half full.
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