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.
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