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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