No doubt the Corporal Jones are insisting we don’t panic, don’t panic but in my mind there was not a whole lot to be gleaned from the weekends effort that’s going to define our season.
A new side in their first competitive game, away to our biggest rivals, was hardly going to be a cakewalk and there’s not many, hand on heart, who thought a victory was on the cards. However the manner of the defeat and seeing our club described as ‘woeful’, ‘deplorable’ and ‘playing like 15 Tommy Coopers’ in the national press is bound to sow seeds of doubt in some minds and a repeat performance this Saturday at Bath will start to set a few alarm bells ringing but while Budge and Grayse may be regarded as inexperienced they’re no fools and will know what they saw on Saturday was not an acceptable standard and is not going to win us a whole lot this season.
At the end of the day though it’s their job to put it right but one I believe they are fully capable of doing as part of a long term plan.
For sure, there is still a lot of work to be done, some of it in the very short term, progress does have to be made, but it is maybe better we get this early kick up the backside, however galling it is to get it at Welford Road, than potter along like we did last year, week in week out, clutching at straws believing the bounce of the ball, the rub of the green and a gypsy curse was at the root of our problems till nearly all was lost. I am sure if action needs to be taken Budge and Grayse, being club guys through and through, will take them, whatever peoples reputation or standing.
We have seen this already with the selection of the likes of Dylan Hartley on Saturday (one of the few shining lights), for once we do have coaches that believe if you are good enough you are old enough. Given our current squad, competitiveness for every position across the board could be key to our season.
I also think the pair will be upfront and straight in their communication, more like Wayne Smith instead of the stock in trade ‘Sollyisms’ we suffered last year when the chips were down.
Budges comments may have got him in hot water before now but there’s nothing us supporters like more than to hear bluntly how it is rather than the soundbite. (Although Budges ‘marathon not sprint’ comment raised a few eyebrows on Saturday I’d like to think this was more down to his wicked sense of humour rather than a serious quip him knowing full well how much his predecessor was taken to task for using the very same words last season).
So the guys should be given time, although of course its not a commodity in great supply. Bath on Saturday will again be a tough one but like most people I’m expecting to see a few strides forward when Rob Andrew’s Newcastle visit in two weeks.
VICTORY OR THROWN AWAY WITH THE BATH WATER?
Whilst, as I mentioned earlier, our defeat at Tigers was not totally a surprise, one result that did make people sit up and take notice was new boys Bristol beating local rivals Bath. The team from the Rec will be smarting and looking to get back on track and I’m sure will have seen what Tigers pack did to us on tape this week. It is again a tough proposition for the lads but could be another step along that rapid learning curve and who knows if that backline clicks, given Baths performance on Sunday, it’s not totally outside the realms of possibility that something more concrete might be taken from this game. Certainly the pressure is on the home side.
The Saints Supporters Club are running coaches to Bath, they will be leaving Franklin’s Gardens at 9am.The prices are: Adults: £13 Children/Students/OAPs: £8. To book places on the SSC coaches, please call Jean Collingwood today (Wednesday) on 01604 583283, after 6pm, with your name, telephone number and the number of seats. Alternatively you can now book seats, by texting 07771918245 with your name, the number of seats & the match.
YEP I'M BORING YOU WITH NZ STORIES STILL
Having spent a few weeks in New Zealand for the Lions tour I had the chance to gauge what the Kiwis thought of our new signings. For King Carlos it seems there is no middle ground. Down in ‘Mehrtens country’, Canterbury it seems Carlos isn’t their cup of tea while the further we headed north the more that opinion thawed until we hit Auckland where the guys nothing less than a legend. One ‘Orc’ told us ‘You’ve not only signed Carlos, you’ve also got me as a supporter for life, if its good enough for Carlos it’s got to be good enough for me mate’. The Cantabs were more effusive about Sam Harding, several of their supporters said he’d do a good job for us and what a fine addition to our squad once he heads north after the NPC.
Talking of the NPC its good to see two ex-Saints doing so well early in their coaching careers over in New Zealand. Brendon Ratcliffes Hawkes Bay head Division Two undefeated, taking maximum bonus points all the way so far while Pat Lams Auckland (not to be confused with the Blues) head Division One having just dropped one point this season. With Wayne Smith helping mastermind the All Blacks Lions series win and the Tri Nations success it seems we are well represented down in the Land of the Long White Cloud.
Certainly a lot of NZ rugby supporters we talked to had heard of Northampton, maybe even more so in the Mount Eden area of Auckland. On the Friday before the last Lions test the Saints night arranged in a local bar certainly went down a storm. Ex-pat Saint Chris Sansome had booked a table for 16 while I though maybe a couple of dozen might turn up as we had been spreading the word not only back here in the UK but all over NZ. We were both however slightly taken aback when around 150 people turned up at various stages of the night in Saints shirts taking the place over. A good night was had by all and we’ll see you all again in Cape Town in 2009.
A new side in their first competitive game, away to our biggest rivals, was hardly going to be a cakewalk and there’s not many, hand on heart, who thought a victory was on the cards. However the manner of the defeat and seeing our club described as ‘woeful’, ‘deplorable’ and ‘playing like 15 Tommy Coopers’ in the national press is bound to sow seeds of doubt in some minds and a repeat performance this Saturday at Bath will start to set a few alarm bells ringing but while Budge and Grayse may be regarded as inexperienced they’re no fools and will know what they saw on Saturday was not an acceptable standard and is not going to win us a whole lot this season.
At the end of the day though it’s their job to put it right but one I believe they are fully capable of doing as part of a long term plan.
For sure, there is still a lot of work to be done, some of it in the very short term, progress does have to be made, but it is maybe better we get this early kick up the backside, however galling it is to get it at Welford Road, than potter along like we did last year, week in week out, clutching at straws believing the bounce of the ball, the rub of the green and a gypsy curse was at the root of our problems till nearly all was lost. I am sure if action needs to be taken Budge and Grayse, being club guys through and through, will take them, whatever peoples reputation or standing.
We have seen this already with the selection of the likes of Dylan Hartley on Saturday (one of the few shining lights), for once we do have coaches that believe if you are good enough you are old enough. Given our current squad, competitiveness for every position across the board could be key to our season.
I also think the pair will be upfront and straight in their communication, more like Wayne Smith instead of the stock in trade ‘Sollyisms’ we suffered last year when the chips were down.
Budges comments may have got him in hot water before now but there’s nothing us supporters like more than to hear bluntly how it is rather than the soundbite. (Although Budges ‘marathon not sprint’ comment raised a few eyebrows on Saturday I’d like to think this was more down to his wicked sense of humour rather than a serious quip him knowing full well how much his predecessor was taken to task for using the very same words last season).
So the guys should be given time, although of course its not a commodity in great supply. Bath on Saturday will again be a tough one but like most people I’m expecting to see a few strides forward when Rob Andrew’s Newcastle visit in two weeks.
VICTORY OR THROWN AWAY WITH THE BATH WATER?
Whilst, as I mentioned earlier, our defeat at Tigers was not totally a surprise, one result that did make people sit up and take notice was new boys Bristol beating local rivals Bath. The team from the Rec will be smarting and looking to get back on track and I’m sure will have seen what Tigers pack did to us on tape this week. It is again a tough proposition for the lads but could be another step along that rapid learning curve and who knows if that backline clicks, given Baths performance on Sunday, it’s not totally outside the realms of possibility that something more concrete might be taken from this game. Certainly the pressure is on the home side.
The Saints Supporters Club are running coaches to Bath, they will be leaving Franklin’s Gardens at 9am.The prices are: Adults: £13 Children/Students/OAPs: £8. To book places on the SSC coaches, please call Jean Collingwood today (Wednesday) on 01604 583283, after 6pm, with your name, telephone number and the number of seats. Alternatively you can now book seats, by texting 07771918245 with your name, the number of seats & the match.
YEP I'M BORING YOU WITH NZ STORIES STILL
Having spent a few weeks in New Zealand for the Lions tour I had the chance to gauge what the Kiwis thought of our new signings. For King Carlos it seems there is no middle ground. Down in ‘Mehrtens country’, Canterbury it seems Carlos isn’t their cup of tea while the further we headed north the more that opinion thawed until we hit Auckland where the guys nothing less than a legend. One ‘Orc’ told us ‘You’ve not only signed Carlos, you’ve also got me as a supporter for life, if its good enough for Carlos it’s got to be good enough for me mate’. The Cantabs were more effusive about Sam Harding, several of their supporters said he’d do a good job for us and what a fine addition to our squad once he heads north after the NPC.
Talking of the NPC its good to see two ex-Saints doing so well early in their coaching careers over in New Zealand. Brendon Ratcliffes Hawkes Bay head Division Two undefeated, taking maximum bonus points all the way so far while Pat Lams Auckland (not to be confused with the Blues) head Division One having just dropped one point this season. With Wayne Smith helping mastermind the All Blacks Lions series win and the Tri Nations success it seems we are well represented down in the Land of the Long White Cloud.
Certainly a lot of NZ rugby supporters we talked to had heard of Northampton, maybe even more so in the Mount Eden area of Auckland. On the Friday before the last Lions test the Saints night arranged in a local bar certainly went down a storm. Ex-pat Saint Chris Sansome had booked a table for 16 while I though maybe a couple of dozen might turn up as we had been spreading the word not only back here in the UK but all over NZ. We were both however slightly taken aback when around 150 people turned up at various stages of the night in Saints shirts taking the place over. A good night was had by all and we’ll see you all again in Cape Town in 2009.
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