Well by the skin of our teeth, or a wayward kick that proved Jonny Wilkinson isn’t quite yet a deity, we are still alive and kicking in the Zurich Premiership. Friday’s game wasn’t pretty by any stretch of the imagination but it was full of drama.
Or should that be ‘Drahma’ after Shane’s winning kick? So we still live on to fight another day.
Our future may still in the balance but we are sitting a bit more easy than we were last week and currently even occupy a wildcard place so Heineken Cup rugby next season is still an, albeit distant, possibility. It will now however all go down to that last game against Worcester at Sixways on Saturday week and with a handful of teams still in danger of filling that bottom spot it is going to be an afternoon for radios and calculators as well as trying to keep one eye on the pitch.
Indeed as I sit writing this all12 ZP teams still have either the Championship, a Heineken spot, a wildcard place and/or relegation to fight for so that final afternoon could yet see some interesting twists and turns. As for relegation, I may be tempting fate but I think the two London clubs, Harlequins and Irish are the one in the deepest mire. Both still have two games to play to Saints one but given their opposition both may struggle to secure a win and bonus points or lack of them could seal their fate. That fat lady might not be singing yet but she’s getting ready to draw breath and for me the 30th cannot come round quick enough. Bring on Worcester.
FRIDAY NIGHT NERVES
Talking this week I understand that the whole emotion of the occasion and the possible ramifications had we lost on Friday got to some people in the crowd, indeed one friend even commented he was numb the whole evening, but as for me I enjoyed every minute. From the opera singer before the start, the antics of Bernie, the game itself and the wild celebrations at that final whistle, all round I had one very good evening.
I know we are all different but personally for excitement I would rather watch half a dozen of these knife edge all at stake games than a whole procession of cakewalk victories and while its probably not too good for the blood pressure I don’t think I’d have it any other way.
And yes had we lost I would have probably gone home cursing under my breath and kicking the cat (if I had one) but I think on reflection I would still have enjoyed the evening. Perhaps I’m mellowing in my old age but without those lows there certainly would not be the highs to celebrate and maybe seasons like this are in the big picture all part of the rich tapestry of being a supporter and certainly they are more character forming. That’s not being defeatist just realistic and maybe the old adage that what goes around comes around rings true. Maybe even Kipling (not the exceedingly good cake man) was onto something when he wrote ‘If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same’.
So for those of you that found yourselves in mental turmoil on Friday remember there must be some morsel of enjoyment in it, or why would so many of us be trying to get ourselves to Worcester for 80 minutes more 'torture'. If it really was such purgatory we'd off in our thousands taking up fishing, birdwatching or gardening instead. Now where did I put that trowel?
WELL DONE AGAIN WALLY
A belated well done to Steve Thompson for being selected for the coming British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. I wrote a couple ago about the media giving Wally a hard time so it was quite refreshing to see him named in the majority of predicted starting lineups named by ex Lions players.
Steve is the 21st Saint to be named to tour with the Lions an honored list that stretches back to Blair Swannell in 1899 who later became an Australian international and died at Gallipoli in WW1 and includes other such famous names from the club over the years as Jeff Butterfield, Dickie Jeeps and David ‘Piggy’ Powell and more recently the likes of Tim Rodber, Matt Dawson and Gregor Townsend in thre Lions last series win in South Africa in 1997.
I’m sure Steve will carry on that fine tradition.
Talking of the Lions, the planned pre tour get together for those of you traveling South will take place at The End public house South Bridge on Friday 20th May.
It will be an informal gathering and kicks off around 8.00pm.
DO THEY EVER LET UP
Not content with letting Robbie Kempson air his rather one eyed grievances about the Saints Mark Keohanes South African rugby website (keo.co.za) now has Nick Mallet in on the act bleating about how those nasty English players ousted Alan Solomons. Now I don’t profess to know the full story of actually what went on but all those reports coming out of SA fail to acknowledge one simple truth, Solly’s playing record as coach of the Saints.
While they will happily blame English players for all the problems under the sun they quickly turn a blind eye to the fact that Solly took us on a nine game losing streak in a 22 game season and turned a top three side into a bottom of the table one almost overnight. But then like a lot of articles on this site closer inspection always uncovers a few anomalies.
To back up his argument Mallet mentions how well Solly did with Ulster and their Heineken Cup win. Yes all very good till you realize that Solly actually joined Ulster AFTER the HC win and in his time at Ravenhill he never even got them past the group stage. But then when has this website been a good bedfellow with the truth where the Saints are concerned.
Our future may still in the balance but we are sitting a bit more easy than we were last week and currently even occupy a wildcard place so Heineken Cup rugby next season is still an, albeit distant, possibility. It will now however all go down to that last game against Worcester at Sixways on Saturday week and with a handful of teams still in danger of filling that bottom spot it is going to be an afternoon for radios and calculators as well as trying to keep one eye on the pitch.
Indeed as I sit writing this all12 ZP teams still have either the Championship, a Heineken spot, a wildcard place and/or relegation to fight for so that final afternoon could yet see some interesting twists and turns. As for relegation, I may be tempting fate but I think the two London clubs, Harlequins and Irish are the one in the deepest mire. Both still have two games to play to Saints one but given their opposition both may struggle to secure a win and bonus points or lack of them could seal their fate. That fat lady might not be singing yet but she’s getting ready to draw breath and for me the 30th cannot come round quick enough. Bring on Worcester.
FRIDAY NIGHT NERVES
Talking this week I understand that the whole emotion of the occasion and the possible ramifications had we lost on Friday got to some people in the crowd, indeed one friend even commented he was numb the whole evening, but as for me I enjoyed every minute. From the opera singer before the start, the antics of Bernie, the game itself and the wild celebrations at that final whistle, all round I had one very good evening.
I know we are all different but personally for excitement I would rather watch half a dozen of these knife edge all at stake games than a whole procession of cakewalk victories and while its probably not too good for the blood pressure I don’t think I’d have it any other way.
And yes had we lost I would have probably gone home cursing under my breath and kicking the cat (if I had one) but I think on reflection I would still have enjoyed the evening. Perhaps I’m mellowing in my old age but without those lows there certainly would not be the highs to celebrate and maybe seasons like this are in the big picture all part of the rich tapestry of being a supporter and certainly they are more character forming. That’s not being defeatist just realistic and maybe the old adage that what goes around comes around rings true. Maybe even Kipling (not the exceedingly good cake man) was onto something when he wrote ‘If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same’.
So for those of you that found yourselves in mental turmoil on Friday remember there must be some morsel of enjoyment in it, or why would so many of us be trying to get ourselves to Worcester for 80 minutes more 'torture'. If it really was such purgatory we'd off in our thousands taking up fishing, birdwatching or gardening instead. Now where did I put that trowel?
WELL DONE AGAIN WALLY
A belated well done to Steve Thompson for being selected for the coming British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. I wrote a couple ago about the media giving Wally a hard time so it was quite refreshing to see him named in the majority of predicted starting lineups named by ex Lions players.
Steve is the 21st Saint to be named to tour with the Lions an honored list that stretches back to Blair Swannell in 1899 who later became an Australian international and died at Gallipoli in WW1 and includes other such famous names from the club over the years as Jeff Butterfield, Dickie Jeeps and David ‘Piggy’ Powell and more recently the likes of Tim Rodber, Matt Dawson and Gregor Townsend in thre Lions last series win in South Africa in 1997.
I’m sure Steve will carry on that fine tradition.
Talking of the Lions, the planned pre tour get together for those of you traveling South will take place at The End public house South Bridge on Friday 20th May.
It will be an informal gathering and kicks off around 8.00pm.
DO THEY EVER LET UP
Not content with letting Robbie Kempson air his rather one eyed grievances about the Saints Mark Keohanes South African rugby website (keo.co.za) now has Nick Mallet in on the act bleating about how those nasty English players ousted Alan Solomons. Now I don’t profess to know the full story of actually what went on but all those reports coming out of SA fail to acknowledge one simple truth, Solly’s playing record as coach of the Saints.
While they will happily blame English players for all the problems under the sun they quickly turn a blind eye to the fact that Solly took us on a nine game losing streak in a 22 game season and turned a top three side into a bottom of the table one almost overnight. But then like a lot of articles on this site closer inspection always uncovers a few anomalies.
To back up his argument Mallet mentions how well Solly did with Ulster and their Heineken Cup win. Yes all very good till you realize that Solly actually joined Ulster AFTER the HC win and in his time at Ravenhill he never even got them past the group stage. But then when has this website been a good bedfellow with the truth where the Saints are concerned.
