When all is said and done though we still fought it out to the end and Carlos secured a losing bonus point in the last move of the game.
I would not be too hard on the forwards though, yes they had the runaround for most of the second half but in one flash of inspiration we did see what they were capable of. With the grunt of the Sarries bearing down on our line in yet another maul there was a collective will to not only stop them on our line but to knock them back a full ten metres. In they can apply that grit, drive and determination for long phases we could well be on to something. It was there to see, they can do it, and I’m sure it’s something the forward coaches will be building on this week in the run up to Saturday’s game.
Its back home again this week, and an early kickoff, for the game against Wasps.
As we all know the current champions seem to have a problem with Saints and especially our recruitment over the last few years. First Warren Gatland then Lawrence Dallaglio and lately David Davies feel they have to stick their collective noses into our business and bleat into the bargain about how brilliant they are in helping the greater cause for England. Of course it has been mentioned before in this column that it is a case of do what we say not do what we do as Wasps recruited exclusively from abroad this summer while Saints packed their academy with English stock. And yes we did add a couple of overseas players but then as Budge Pountney says, we embrace all cultures rather than reject people just because of their birthplace.
However I’m sure I’m not the only one who had a wry smile when they saw the starting lineup for England against Australia on Saturday. Both Saints and Wasps have two starters, ours, two homebred boys in Ben and Wally, theirs Josh Lewsey signed from Bristol and Matt Dawson, a product of that club who only invests in overseas talent, yes Northampton.
Even on a bad day though Wasps are a danger and still have class players throughout their side led by Dallaglio. Again it’s a tall order for the lads but I’ve a feeling that the verbal attacks from Wasps over the last year or so might just be about to come back and haunt the team from High Wycombe.
THE SOUND OF DISTANT DRUMS
Although we have had some great days out and performances over the years, Vicarage Road has never exactly been the most hospitable and welcoming of grounds. Just like the Madejski at Reading when its less than half full, as it was on Saturday, it can be a bit soulless and despite what the supporters try and do to get behind their team it always comes across as a bit flat. That’s not to lay anything at the door of the Sarries supporters they try as hard as the next set of fans to get behind their team, it’s just not a good theatre to perform in. To (pardon the pun) drum up a bit of fervour some bright spark has decided to imitate the French clubs and have a drum section installed in the crowd.
The only problem is they are missing the point that in France the likes of Toulouse and Montferrand use the drums to compliment and time the chants and the singing not replace them. For me, and I know a lot of people around me, and they were not all Saints supporters, it was just noise for noise’s sake and not only drowned out the away support but at times the home support too when their team was on the up. Now I know to some this sounds like sour grapes because we lost, and as much has been said when it was mentioned to Saracens supporters this week but when used properly they can add to the atmosphere there’s no doubt about it.
Certainly having seen Saints win just the once in France in eight visits it’s not a case of sour grapes just a case of enjoying the atmosphere, whatever side provides it, rather than the incessant bang, bang, bang of a drums over everything else that adds absolutely nothing to the match day enjoyment.
CIVIL STRIFE AGAIN
So yet again both sides are lining up for the latest skirmish in the clubs v RFU row.
As was pointed out by a friend this week yes the RFU do, do a lot for the game at grass root level that produces the future stars for the Guinness Premiership clubs but this time round I think the RFU have totally lost the plot.
In a quite bizarre press release last week they firstly announced an eight man committee to negotiate with the clubs, then stated that a new initiative that funds 50% of the PRA, the players association, then almost as an afterthought they mentioned towards the end of the document that they were cancelling the 2001 Long Form Agreement because changes they decided on alone, yes alone, in 2004 were not being heeded by the clubs.
Now that sounds a bit to me like wanting your cake and eating it but yet again they state that the clubs not giving adequate access to players for England, despite these days being higher than when we won the World Cup. It does not seem the standard excuse with little relation to reality.
In my view it’s getting down to the last few desperate throws of the dice by men on who it has gradually dawned who actually holds the balance of power in the game. It was the clubs that drove the game forward in both this country and to some extent Europe when the game went professional. Meanwhile during this the RFU went through a series of infighting and self preservation on some people’s part that did little for the health of the game. As more clubs move into profit they will come to rely less on the paymasters at HQ nor be dictated to by committee’s that in some respects have moved on little from Will Carlings 57 varieties.
As someone mentioned this week arbitration may be the only answer, rather that than lengthy court cases such as are planned over the 11 week rest period payments at present.
I can only see it ending in tears.
I would not be too hard on the forwards though, yes they had the runaround for most of the second half but in one flash of inspiration we did see what they were capable of. With the grunt of the Sarries bearing down on our line in yet another maul there was a collective will to not only stop them on our line but to knock them back a full ten metres. In they can apply that grit, drive and determination for long phases we could well be on to something. It was there to see, they can do it, and I’m sure it’s something the forward coaches will be building on this week in the run up to Saturday’s game.
Its back home again this week, and an early kickoff, for the game against Wasps.
As we all know the current champions seem to have a problem with Saints and especially our recruitment over the last few years. First Warren Gatland then Lawrence Dallaglio and lately David Davies feel they have to stick their collective noses into our business and bleat into the bargain about how brilliant they are in helping the greater cause for England. Of course it has been mentioned before in this column that it is a case of do what we say not do what we do as Wasps recruited exclusively from abroad this summer while Saints packed their academy with English stock. And yes we did add a couple of overseas players but then as Budge Pountney says, we embrace all cultures rather than reject people just because of their birthplace.
However I’m sure I’m not the only one who had a wry smile when they saw the starting lineup for England against Australia on Saturday. Both Saints and Wasps have two starters, ours, two homebred boys in Ben and Wally, theirs Josh Lewsey signed from Bristol and Matt Dawson, a product of that club who only invests in overseas talent, yes Northampton.
Even on a bad day though Wasps are a danger and still have class players throughout their side led by Dallaglio. Again it’s a tall order for the lads but I’ve a feeling that the verbal attacks from Wasps over the last year or so might just be about to come back and haunt the team from High Wycombe.
THE SOUND OF DISTANT DRUMS
Although we have had some great days out and performances over the years, Vicarage Road has never exactly been the most hospitable and welcoming of grounds. Just like the Madejski at Reading when its less than half full, as it was on Saturday, it can be a bit soulless and despite what the supporters try and do to get behind their team it always comes across as a bit flat. That’s not to lay anything at the door of the Sarries supporters they try as hard as the next set of fans to get behind their team, it’s just not a good theatre to perform in. To (pardon the pun) drum up a bit of fervour some bright spark has decided to imitate the French clubs and have a drum section installed in the crowd.
The only problem is they are missing the point that in France the likes of Toulouse and Montferrand use the drums to compliment and time the chants and the singing not replace them. For me, and I know a lot of people around me, and they were not all Saints supporters, it was just noise for noise’s sake and not only drowned out the away support but at times the home support too when their team was on the up. Now I know to some this sounds like sour grapes because we lost, and as much has been said when it was mentioned to Saracens supporters this week but when used properly they can add to the atmosphere there’s no doubt about it.
Certainly having seen Saints win just the once in France in eight visits it’s not a case of sour grapes just a case of enjoying the atmosphere, whatever side provides it, rather than the incessant bang, bang, bang of a drums over everything else that adds absolutely nothing to the match day enjoyment.
CIVIL STRIFE AGAIN
So yet again both sides are lining up for the latest skirmish in the clubs v RFU row.
As was pointed out by a friend this week yes the RFU do, do a lot for the game at grass root level that produces the future stars for the Guinness Premiership clubs but this time round I think the RFU have totally lost the plot.
In a quite bizarre press release last week they firstly announced an eight man committee to negotiate with the clubs, then stated that a new initiative that funds 50% of the PRA, the players association, then almost as an afterthought they mentioned towards the end of the document that they were cancelling the 2001 Long Form Agreement because changes they decided on alone, yes alone, in 2004 were not being heeded by the clubs.
Now that sounds a bit to me like wanting your cake and eating it but yet again they state that the clubs not giving adequate access to players for England, despite these days being higher than when we won the World Cup. It does not seem the standard excuse with little relation to reality.
In my view it’s getting down to the last few desperate throws of the dice by men on who it has gradually dawned who actually holds the balance of power in the game. It was the clubs that drove the game forward in both this country and to some extent Europe when the game went professional. Meanwhile during this the RFU went through a series of infighting and self preservation on some people’s part that did little for the health of the game. As more clubs move into profit they will come to rely less on the paymasters at HQ nor be dictated to by committee’s that in some respects have moved on little from Will Carlings 57 varieties.
As someone mentioned this week arbitration may be the only answer, rather that than lengthy court cases such as are planned over the 11 week rest period payments at present.
I can only see it ending in tears.
