May 12 2006

Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
By Chris Gleadell
May 12 2006

So there it goes in a flash, another season has passed us by. Overall, and considering what went before I think we can file this one away in the remarkable success folder.

Okay no silverware this time round but given the disarray we were in at the end of the Solomon’s reign and the way we only just clung on to top flight status last season this term has to be viewed as a huge plus.

To be back as a top six of the Guinness Premiership and by that placing qualify for the 2006/2007 Heineken Cup the Saints are back up where they belong but more importantly the foundations and building blocks for what looks like an exciting future have been put in place.

We’ve seen some great games, the recent clashes with Leicester and Bath at the Gardens spring to mind whilst I’m sure no one there will ever forget Carlos and his overhead kick in the demolition of Saracens.

Of course it wasn’t all plain sailing. Looking at the results it was a season of two halves. Whilst we were playing some entertaining rugby at the start of the season we were more often than not shipping more points than we were scoring and the serial whingers and moaners were having a field day (where are they now eh?). For me the seeds of the turning point came in early December in the Powergen Cup game against Tigers at Welford Road . Yes maybe another defeat but for the first time of the season we saw forward play overshadow what our backs were doing. The pack somewhat came of age that day as they fought toe to toe with the Leicester eight and for most of the game gave as good as they got.

On this platform our season gradually improved and indeed as someone pointed out this week, if the season had started at Christmas we would have topped the table a momentum it is hoped we will take into next September and the following months.

As for the players, each and every one has acquitted themselves well. In the front row Pat Barnard just looks like he may be our Garry Pagel whilst Tom Smith had one of his best seasons for the club and just like Gary Pearce may go on and on and on, on his current form. Chris Budgen also had his best season for the club. At hooker Wally takes the summer off to recharge those batteries but next season it could be a battle royal to be his understudy with the ever able Dan Richmond and young Dylan Hartley going head to head.

In the second row Damo Browne has come on leaps and bounds this season and is twice the player he was last year. Matt Lord, ever dependable and still a bit of an unsung hero always gives his all whilst I have a suspicion we may see a lot more of Frenchman David Gerard next season and it will be a welcome sight to see James Percival back on the paddock at some time.

A completely new backrow has come into its own in recent weeks. The other Browne, Daniel has made the No.8 shirt his own whilst alongside him fellow Kiwi Sam Harding and Ben Lewitt vie for the openside slot. At blindside we have what could be the most astute signing of the season in Paul Tupai. He is seen somewhat by most supporters as the ‘enforcer’ that Saints have been missing in recent years. His hard nosed no nonsense attitude shouldn’t detract from the fact that he’s a fair ball player too when needed and I think the guys well on the way to being a new Gardens favourite.

At halfback we had the former All Black combination of Sharky and Carlos.

The pair look to have a great understanding and Sharky looks like he enjoys playing inside his old team mate.

Carlos of course came with a huge reputation but not only did he live up to it but in some respects even exceeded it. As an entertainer there is none better, some of the things we have seen this year defy belief but the guy also has an astute rugby brain and his timing and vision that makes him in my mind the best player I’ve ever seen in the gold, black and green.

At centre Dave Quinlan looked solid and the kind of organiser we missed so much when John Leslie left whilst outside him young Jon Clarke has been a revelation. JC had somewhat disappeared down the pecking order as a back three player but hats off to Paul Grayson who switched him to outside centre where he has been one of the form players of the season and been touted as a future international.

And to that back three of Ben Cohen, Bruce Reihana and Sean Lamont. Well at full tilt they must scare the hell out of the opposition and in the last few weeks it looks like the trio are building a rappore and understanding (even if they do keep nicking each others tries), I’m expecting big things next year.

With the likes of Seamus Mallon, Robbie Kydd also to return we look like we have a squad to compete and whilst there may be minor tinkering over the summer we have the backbone of a potentially great Saints side, time will tell. I have not mentioned all the players and apologies to those I didn’t but each and every one of you did us proud this season.

And so in signing off for another season, thanks to all of you for reading these ramblings for the last few months. Enjoy your summer, we have a lot o look forward too come September.

May 4 2006

Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
By Chris Gleadell
May 4 2006

What a day it was for Saints and their followers on Sunday? To use the old clichés it was victory grabbed from the jaws of defeat and not so much a game of two halves but a game of 70 and 10 minutes as Saints stormed back in the late, late show to overturn a 16-0 deficit into a remarkable 16-19 win.

Now whether it was as suggested a flurry of substitutions that unsettled the home side or the lads finally sensing blood and upping it a gear at the death is open to argument but two quickfire tries from Wally and Monty set up the finale to a memorable game, unless of course you discount the first hour or so where Saints could just not get the blend to mix.

That was all forgotten though when young Mr Cohen stormed over the whitewash seven minutes into injury time to seal the win that secured Saints second objective of the season.

The first, survival in the Guinness Premiership, was secured a month ago but what looked like mission impossible just before Christmas is now mission accomplished as Saints again take a seat at the top table with qualification for next seasons Heineken Cup with a whole six days of the regular season to spare. Worthy as the European Challenge Cup may be it will be good to back mixing it with the big boys of Northern Hemisphere rugby next term as watching the tournament over the last few weeks you get that feeling that there is a great party going on elsewhere that someone forgot to invite you to.

IT AINT OVER TILL....

Trying to be totally PC, they say it aint over till the slightly larger than average female bangs out a tune, something I’m sure a few Saints supporters will be bearing in mind in future after Sunday. Given the quality of performance at the Memorial Ground a small number of supporters gave up the ghost late in the game and traipsed off dejectedly to steal a march on the others heading home up the M4. Some we hear were not even aware that Saints had won till they got home later in the evening, shocked to hear they not only missed the victory but the post match celebrations too.

Of course it is their choice, everyone can come and go as they please but one day it was sure to happen and on Sunday it did. I guess now a few more might think twice before upping sticks.

WELL DONE TO THE COBBLERS

I know this is a rugby column but I couldn’t let the occasion go by without saying well done to Northampton Town for sealing their promotion on Saturday. As a lad in the 70’s I spent many a winter’s afternoon watching the likes of Paul Stratford, Jim Hall and Derrick Christie weaving their magic from the terraces of the Hotel Ground at the old County Ground so it is good to see the Cobblers climbing once more. In David Cardoza they look to have their own fledgling Keith Barwell, a guy that’s trying to make things happen for the club which in turn benefits the whole community.

There’s been a lot of daftness lately by a small but vociferous element trying to drive a wedge between the Cobblers and the Saints exploiting the perceived differences between the club, the sports and the supporters. Some would have you believe the rugby crowd are aloof and arrogant and that all the footie set are unruly oiks. Not true, people from all walks of life follow both clubs. We all have our good, bad and ugly. Fair enough if one code is not the sport of your choice then so be it but do people really have to go to such lengths in attacking each other as we have seen on message boards and in the Fan Zone section of this paper. In fact in recent weeks I’ve read things from both sides of the fence that would even confirm the above statements should you not know better. And supporters of both clubs are as guilty as the other of fuelling the fire.

In my mind the only difference between us is the shape of our balls and whilst there is debate if Northampton is a rugby or a football town surely with the Cobblers getting promotion, the Saints qualifying for the Heineken Cup and even the cricket side having their first international in a while in Monty Panesar would it not be far better to be known purely as a ‘sporting’ town. Whilst we are all hitting the heights can’t we all just get along and the whole town reflect in the glory rather than magnify these petty, childish divisions that this small minority are trying to inflame.

LOOKING AHEAD

So on to Saturday, the last game of the season sees the visit of Sale to the Gardens.

It is somewhat of a dead rubber as far as the Guinness Premiership is concerned, sale have already secured top spot and a home semi final championship spot, Saints cannot rise any further than sixth in the league nor can they be overtaken. So its pride at stake.

It is anyone’s guess what the starting lineups will be. With a greater target ahead I guess Phillipe Saint-Andre may be tempted to rest his walking wounded for a few more days though he may opt for momentum going into the semis. For Saints it would be good to see us go out in a blaze of glory, not risk anyone unduly but I suspect after the last couple of seasons I guess we owe Sale one. More than anything though, whatever the result it will be a time to celeberate. Given how the club was 12 months ago and where we stand now I think theres plenty of reason for that. See you there.

April 13 2006

Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
By Chris Gleadell
April 13 2006

I made a point of not touching on this issue but circumstances and accusations have forced my hand. There has been some discussion in recent weeks about individuals questioning the commitment of certain players. Quite rightly a family member took exception to some remarks and commented on them.

In reply the main rugby writer of this paper, Terry Morris, clearly stated the source of these grumblings as the clubs official (that’s ‘official’) website, a statement that was repeated in this paper on Saturday. In his original article on the matter Terry went as far as to call those comments by the family member ‘mystifying’, ‘remarkable’ and ‘an astonishing attack’

How very strange then that the very same writer chose to reprise the subject again last week turn it on its head and besmirch the contributors of the Saints unofficial (that’s ‘unofficial’) website comeonyousaints.com and by inference suggest that three named writers were responsible for written attacks on players when it only takes a little bit of research to find this is totally untrue.

As one of those people named by Terry to say I was extremely angry at his ‘scurrilous accusations’ would be putting it lightly. Fair play, Terry can call me a socially challenged cyber saddo, in fact he can call me what he wants I’m past caring, though just like he suggests with the players, I’d like to see him say it to my face. But mostly his insults are water off a ducks back, however what is not on is Terry suggesting in print that I, and the others named, are guilty of attacking players online. Untrue, totally untrue.

My views online pretty much reflect what I say on here. I may say collectively the lads had an off day and things did not work out but I never ever single out a player for individual criticism either in the Chron or on comeonyousaints.com.
To be honest I do not feel it’s my place, I’m not paid to be controversial, I write this column as a follower of the club, nothing more nothing less. I may have criticised the club in the past for some of the off field activities the closing of bars etc but I’m not about to mud sling against people who put their bodies on the line each week for my entertainment, heck I was even the guy that pleaded through these pages for supporters to cut Robbie Kempson a bit of slack when all and sundry were on his case.

Of course Terry would tell you that that is sycophancy but I’m not here to be objective I’d prefer to think it’s that word support in supporter. To slate is just not my style.

In fact I feel so strongly on the matter that I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is. If Terry can find one instance of me, either online or in this paper, giving a member of the Saints playing staff individual unwarranted stick I’ll pay £1000 to a rugby charity of his choice. If he cannot find that evidence, and don’t bother Terry I know its not there, I expect an apology.

As for the comeonyousaints.com site itself I also think Terry is doing it a great disservice. I’ve picked out several of his missives and replied by way of explanation.

TM: “posters ceaselessly trawl the internet for stories created by news agencies and other media they don't pay for”

I am not sure if this is a basic misunderstanding of how the internet actually works or the writer is suggesting something darker. If there is news about the Saints that is of interest to the readers of the site someone links to it. The work is not copied and produced elsewhere it is merely directed too, that’s how the internet works. The ironic thing is we link to the Chron site which contains Terry’s work, and I’m willing to bet we are one of their highest traffic suppliers, which in turn sells their advertising. And guess who the Chron links too in return, yes comeonyousaints.com. Are we complaining, no not in the least. It is pretty fair to say if there is Saints related news out there, it will be linked to via the site before you read it in print, but that’s the power and speed of the medium. You might read it first online but that’s the nature of the beast.

Of course if this statement is instead a hint of plagiarism or breach of copyright again it’s not correct. We have always been red hot on this subject since some of our own work was taken lock stock and barrel and reproduced elsewhere and we had to get legal advice on the matter. What does appear on the site is either totally original work or on very odd occasions accredited press releases with the total permission of the agency concerned.

TM:“a certain poster has sent in more than 10,000 messages”

Yep hands up, that’s me. Though suggesting this was over a twelve month period was again factually incorrect. The sites now in its tenth year, and at its current location shows that I’m guilty of posting an average of a whole eight, yes eight messages a day. Given that for many of the years I was the moderator of the message board, stopping some of the crimes we have been accused of carrying out, then it does not seem that over the top even to a cyber saddo like me.

TM: “they communicate in short, slangy half-sentences.”

Incorrect, responses may be a single word or twenty sentences long. We are not writing novels we are conversing and we do insist on the Queens English, no text speak.

TM: “they hide behind the anonymous cloak of often ludicrous nicknames”

Open your ears Terry, people call each other by nicknames in all walks of life.
Ask the players what they call each other sometime.
Suggesting its some kind of sinister cloak is ludicrous in itself. Certainly as one of those you named I have nothing to hide (if in doubt that’s my name in big letters at the top of the page), Everyone that reads the site knows my identity as they do the others you named, Simon Robinson and Phil Hollis. A little research from anyone could have told you that.

TM: “they appear to be small, tightly knit groups of friends”

Again not true.
Here are some figures for you. In March the site had over 30,000 individuals visiting it, around 400 individuals posting messages and it has a yearly hit count approaching 5.5 million. Small tight knit group? Not quite. Granted some readers are friends, two Mark and Lorraine even met via the site, got spliced and have just had their first child Mathew, but that’s not the case across the board. We have readers and contributors from all round the world, from Moscow to Taranaki from Bahrain to Ecton Brook. It’s a broad church.

TM: “a refuge for the socially challenged”
Well again lets look at the facts.
In the past comeonyousaints.com has organised the meeting places for supporters on trips to Agen, Biarritz, Narbonne and Toulouse. They have organised several quiz nights one of which, for Jon Phillips testimonial, attracted over 120 people to the club. The sites charity walk that’s getting near triple figure participation and it is supported by all 12 Guinness premiership teams and their fans. Apart from the other various other nights out, events etc there’s the case of a little get together organized by the site on the other side of the planet during the recent Lions tour when over one hundred people turned up on a cold night in Auckland. It might also interest Terry to know the site also has one or two tables at the various club dinners. What an unsocialable bunch eh?

But at the end of the day what annoyed me most about Terry’s rant was the muddying of a good name that has done some good work since its inception and mud tends to stick.

Perhaps people will now overlook the fact that in the last ten years the comeonyousaints.com community has raised over £70,000 for charity. Only this week, Simon Robinson, another of those named by Terry, raised over a thousand pounds for St Johns Ambulance equipment to be used at the Gardens. What is also overlooked is a community support structure that has helped members of the online community in times of trouble or ill health.

Concerns have also been raised this week about how these allegations affect our relationship with the club itself. As a group at comeonyousaints.com we club together each year to raise a couple of thousand pounds to sponsor a player. In the past we has sponsored Gary Pagel and Chris Budgen, this year its Luke Myring. The great and the good at the club have also supported our charity efforts some even taking a very active part. Terry by his inference has somewhat damaged that relationship.

I wrote this article, not as an attack on Terry, he has a job to do as he see’s fit but the record did need putting straight, however, apology forthcoming, when this becomes tomorrows chip paper, lets hope it can be put behind everyone concerned.

March 31 2006

Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
By Chris Gleadell
March 31 2006

So just about the perfect weekend for Northampton. The five try, five point victory over the Falcons up at Newcastle on Sunday, and with other results going our way, saw the Saints shot from tenth to sixth in the Guinness Premiership table in a matter of a couple of hours.

The aim now will be to consolidate that position and with a bit of luck climb higher given the erratic form of Gloucester and London Irish immediately above us. It’s a tall order with just four games left and some matters are pretty much out of our hands but even a top four finish and a championship semi final spot is not outside the realms of possibility given the run in of the two aforementioned clubs. It may be counting chickens a little early but in the topsy turvey world of the GP you just never know. One thing is for sure, now this team has gelled and has built its confidence over the last few months, (still just one defeat in 2006) come next season we will be hitting the ground running and will be a match for anyone.

It’s a break away from the GP this week. Before we take on Bath at the Gardens in two weeks time we have the European Challenge Cup quarter final against Worcester at the same venue this Saturday. The EEC still has high importance. Even given Saints rise to sixth place the winner of this competition rates higher in the criteria for Heineken Cup qualification than ending fifth or sixth in the GP so progress is essential. Worcester have been having an erratic time of it themselves lately. Two weeks ago they hammered champions Wasps at Sixways yet last week lost by a similar margin at lowly Saracens. They are no mugs though and having already sneaked a win at the Gardens this season they will be looking to repeat the feat.
I think on current form though that we will have the edge on them and progress to the semi finals.

Just who our semi opponents will be should we overcome Worcester is open to question. We are due to play the winners of the Gloucester v Brive quarter final away. Given the form of Brive, and the history of French teams not travelling well in Europe I am sure like most of you I had this down as a trip to Kingsholm. However at time of writing it is not clear if Gloucester can fulfil the fixture on Saturday due to an injury crisis that leaves them short of registered players for Europe. Should this be the case, or should the fixture take place and Brive prevail, instead of a journey to darkest Gloucestershire on the weekend of 22nd/23rd of April it could be a trip to the Limousin region of France. Should this be the case I’ll have more details on Brive and how to get there (and hopefully back) for you next week.

After Saturdays game the Saints Supporters Club, with the help of matchday sponsors Mira, have arranged for some post match entertainment in the shape of band The Big City All-Stars in the Rodber Suite from 6:00 till 8:00. All welcome.

EUROPE OR WORLD?

And so to this weeks political rumblings in the game. Further to last weeks report that there are suggestions that both English and French clubs will be boycotting the Heineken Cup after the final in 2007 when the current agreement runs out, French league president Serge Blanco has added further fuel to the fire by suggesting a World Club championship is the way forward. Apart from his own countries clubs Blanco, the chairman of Biarritz, claims he already has the backing of the English and some Super14 sides including the Crusaders. Of course this may just be pie in the sky and may only be a bargaining tool for the French and English clubs to get their own way on a revamped European Cup but it certainly whets the appetite. If it did happen and Saints secured themselves a place in this new competition I am sure no one would turn down the chance to see the the team play a competitive game in the likes of Auckland, Sydney or Cape Town every other year. Now will the supporters club be running a bus?

FRIDAY NIGHT

What a good evening it was on Friday at the Gardens. Although I guess there were a few aching limbs from some of the Old Boys and Legends on Saturday morning the guys put on a great display that was enjoyable to watch. Well done.
Hats off to the Saints Academy and their Leicester counterparts too. In a hard fought game Northampton lads overcame our rivals from down the road. As this was a fund raiser for young player who will never play rugby again I thought the game was a fitting spectacle and in a week where the hierarchy at the RFU were questioning the quality of players at this level a sign that at least at both Saints and Tigers we are heading in the right direction as far as youth is concerned.
And a third and final well done for those that organised the evening and especially the SSC who organised a bucket shake that added a further £2795 to the appeal funds.

AND THANK YOU PETER WALTON

And a huge thank you to Peter Walton. I am sure the Newcastle forwards coach’s comments about certain Saints players living outside the laws of the game were well noted at the club and may well have been pinned on the dressing room wall pre-match. It did make me smile though when ex-Saint Pete said he would be having a word with the referee before the game pointing out our perceived n’er do wells and how he should handle them. Given that the referee was Tony Spreadbury, probably the most experienced of all English referees, I thought it was a bit like me trying to tell Michaelangelo how to paint his kitchen.
On a serious point though, do we really need this in the game. Other sports have only dragged themselves through the mud once the whinger and bleater becomes the norm.
I thought rugby’s answer to Jose Mourinho and Alex Ferguson had been sacked by Sarries a few weeks ago, we don’t really need anyone in the game to follow his lead

March 20 2006

Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
By Chris Gleadell
March 20 2006

A close run thing on Saturday at the Gardens but the lads held out to secure the four points that keeps us in a handy place in the league. The win sees us just three points off that elusive sixth place in the Guinness Premiership.

A close run thing on Saturday at the Gardens but the lads held out to secure the four points that keeps us in a handy place in the league. The win sees us just three points off that elusive sixth place in the Guinness Premiership and whilst Paul Grayson insists we must still be looking over our shoulder in the remaining five games bottom placed Leeds would have to secure 11 more of the 25 points available to topple the Saints, not impossible maybe but a very tall order for any club.

As for the game itself well I think Saints did just enough to deserve the victory, even looking round the Gloucester websites on Sunday there were no supporters claiming “we woz robbed”, (which after a one point loss it has to be said was a refreshing change, yes even from the two Saints sites). Overall the pack had them under the cosh for long periods, with both veteran Tom Smith and the new boy on the block, Pat Barnard outstanding and whilst we never quite fired in the backs this week Gloucester only really dominated the game in the closing moments when they came back within an inch of stealing it.

Again there was talk afterwards amongst supporters about refereeing decisions but to give Mr Pearson his due he treated both sides in exactly the same manner when their scrum began to creek though some might question how many penalties on the line result in a penalty try being awarded. To be fair though from a Saints perspective, in reflection it was a timely way to see the countdown clock run down in those last few minutes.

Having been shown on Sky’s Rugby Club as being one of the worst form teams over the last few months on international weekends we can now look forward to welcoming back Ben, Wally, Dylan and Monty for the trip to Newcastle in two weeks time and for the run in to season end.

SIX NATIONS

Saturday sees the culmination of the Six Nations with three back to back games which will decide if France or Ireland win this years championship. As an Englishman this years 6N has been nothing to shout about. After the false dawn in the dismantling of Wales there has been little of cheer and after the heavy defeat by France talk of axes being wielded and further changes to the structure of the game in this country are being suggested.

I wrote last week about the rumour of a ringfenced premiership and suggested at the time that maybe it was just that, a rumour, however a quote from Martyn Thomas, the chairman of the Rugby Football Union's management board on Monday seemed to confirm something is on the table. Thomas stated that “What should also be taken into account is that our players are playing too much. Added to that is the attritional style of play in the Premiership which makes it harder for Andy (Robinson) to realise his vision of a bolder game.
"We have to sort out the structure of our season. The clubs say that the fear of relegation inhibits them, but if there is to be a change in that the RFU would want a greater say in the management of elite players as a quid pro quo."

If you are a regular reader of this column you will know my views on this, the structure we have at present is the same structure that won a World Cup and ringfencing would in my book soften the competition somewhat with a whole raft of meaningless games but it looks like we may well see that closed shop in the near future. Of course it would be all too simple to point to the obvious and say sorry but Andy Robinsons not up to the job.
The question is if England continue to fail what excuse or solution will they come up with post RWC 07. I’d almost put money on the word ‘draft’ coming into rugby vocabulary before the decades out with the centrally contracted elite farmed out to clubs as England see fit.

Then would we see the likes of England’s first choice and the England U21 hooker playing at the same club? I guess not...

There are rumblings from Europe this week too with a threatened boycott by French and English clubs of the Heineken Cup over the inequality of qualifiers between the three main leagues, The Celtic League, The Guinness Premiership and Frances’s Top14. At present virtually every Celtic team qualifies while only half the GP and T14 have this season. Given how the French and English clubs dominate the competition I think they have a point.
There is of course one simple solution. The two best runners up spots for the quarter final places (although we have qualified ourselves through this route) could be axed and a further two groups of four created. To placate the CL you could use two of the places for Connact and Borders, who always seem to miss out, and award three extra places each to England and France. As for the runners up in each group, why not a knockout Heineken Shield as compensation? The Challenge Cup could continue as before with the inclusion of more teams from ‘smaller’ nations which would in turn expand the game.
But then again this whole exercise might just be about people flexing their collective muscles.

ON THE BOX

A new sports channel appeared on the airwaves on Monday. ESPN Classic, which those of you with Digital can find on channel 442, has a fair smattering of rugby on offer. There are games from the last few world cups in the first couple of weeks schedules featuring all the top nations whilst further ahead they will be featuring classic British Lions tours. 

March 3 2006

Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
By Chris Gleadell
March 3 2006

Well back to earth with a bump somewhat. After the eight try landslide victory over Saracens at the Gardens last week it was more of an uphill battle in the defeat at Reading on Sunday at the hands of London Irish.

It was said, even by some Exiles supporters, that the 30-3 scoreline was not really a true reflection of the game but Saints had one of those days, where despite almost a parity in possession things just did not fall right for them on the day. Sadly, just to rub salt into the wound just about everything Irish tried bore fruit.

Making no excuses, losing the back three of Ben, Bruce and Monty was bound to effect our strike rate though other aspects of the game I am sure will be focused on in training in the two weeks running up to the Gloucester game at the Gardens a week on Saturday when we will again be losing players to international calls.

With six games to go now in the Guinness Premiership the weekend’s results leave a lot of final placings finely in the balance. From a Saints point of view despite Sundays loss we still sit just three points off that all important sixth place in the GP table that could, (although it is not definite) secure a place in next years Heineken Cup. With a tightening up in the middle of the table after last weeks round, and with five teams sitting below that sixth position all within four points, the scramble could well go down to the wire. In Saints favour four of those six games are at home albeit with three of them against top five sides while the two away games at Newcastle and Bristol might be the kind of games we might get something out of and every point come that last game of the season may prove crucial.

Elsewhere at the top of the table Sale and Wasps now look almost certs for the championship semis while Gloucester, Tigers and this years dark horses Irish fight it out for the last two spots. At the basement Leeds look like they are timing their Houdini act to perfection once more while Saracens look to be in freefall and in real trouble. One thing is for sure, with all twelve GP teams fighting for various objectives there is a lot of mileage left in this season yet and plenty more twists and turns no doubt on the way. Come the 6th of May and our last game of the season again Sale at the Gardens things might look a lot different but here’s hoping we are aiming for something a bit higher than we were at lasts years finale at Worcester.

With interest for all teams in the table still strong it has come as somewhat of a surprise that the subject of ringfencing has been mentioned once more. The latest ‘leaked’ plan is for a 14 team Guinness Premiership with the existing participants joined by Harlequins and the Cornish Pirates in a 14 team closed shop competition.
Now of course this plan might just have been dreamed up on a rugby journalists typewriter but when you hear rumblings yet again from within the RFU and the England set up about how relegation is affecting the national side, and marry that to Premier Rugby Chief Executive Mark McCafferty waving a piece of paper this week saying we have peace in our time between the RFU and the PRL with not a sabre rattled in court, the conspiracy theorists amongst us start to suspect that someone somewhere is discussing this behind closed doors.

I hope not. Whilst I am sure, like most followers of the game, I would welcome a visit to the hotbed of rugby in Cornwall I’m not sure that’s a fair trade for potentially watching half a season of meaningless games where the only object would be securing a bigger slice of the prize money cake. With clubs investing in ground improvement and increased capacities, only this week Keith Barwell suggested the Gardens would be expanded to 17,000 places, some might find themselves playing in front of an awful lot of empty seats come season end.

February 23 2006

Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
By Chris Gleadell
February 23 2006

Another win for the Saints on Saturday at the Gardens and what a victory it was. The game against Saracens looked like a potential banana skin before the off but once we lulled them into a false sense of security by giving them a ten point start it was Gold, Black and Green non-stop traffic.

For the next hour or so the lads rattled up eight tries and 58 points in one of the best displays we have seen from a Saints side in the last few years, if ever. It was a display that had always looked like being on the cards over the last few weeks and on Saturday it all slotted into place.

The record books will show Sean Lamont had the highest points tally with his four tries but I am sure the moment of the game that will live longest in the memory was the sublime bit of wizardry from Maestro Spencer that almost resulted in what would have surely been the Guinness Premierships try of the season, if not decade, century, millennia. For those of you that have not seen it, and a reminder for those that have, Carlos took a Chris Budgen pass that was high and behind him which left the New Zealander facing our posts deep in our half. Now usually that would mean a short pass back to a supporting player but no, not for Carlos. Instead there was an audacious backward flick over his head with his boot, a spin on a sixpence then an incredible taking of the ball after a single bounce in one hand then a popped pass inside to Sharky Robinson.

Unfortunately after the ball was quickly sent to the wing via Steve Thompson it was knocked from Ben Cohen’s grasp as he was about to go over in the corner. The try would have been a fitting reward for those few seconds of Kiwi magic, it wasn’t to be but when most of what the Saints XV did attempt did reap rewards over the afternoon it would be churlish to complain, it was worth the admission price alone.

So while it was the backs who were weaving all the magic a special mention has to go to the forwards. After the game at Vicarage Road earlier this season where the Sarries pack strangled the life out of the game there was always a danger that the same could happen again especially given what the Watford based team had done to Bath in the second half the previous week. Our lads did not let them settle though and harried the likes of Yates and the cornerstone Visagie all afternoon. The lineout was assured and the back row of Paul Tupai, Dan Browne and Sam Harding all over the shop not letting their opposite numbers get a look in. On this platform the game was won and not tempting fate, it really does look like the Saints are back.

ON TO IRISH

The good work can continue at the ‘Madstad’ Reading on Sunday when the Saints travel south for an early 1:00pm kick off against London Irish. The Exiles are having one of their best seasons for the last few years. They currently sit fifth just three points off a Championship semi final spot but as always (and I write this each and every season) you never quite know which London Irish is going to turn up. It must be very frustrating for their support, and lord knows after last season we know all about that, but it must be irritating seeing your team win at places like Gloucester one week then lose to lowly Newcastle at home the next. Having said that a look at the stats shows they have won only three of their seven home games in the GP this season and given that in all competitions the Saints have won seven of the nine games they have played at the Madejski getting something out of this game is certainly attainable, especially given last weeks form. Could we pull off the win and Leeds, who pushed table toppers Sale so close last week, defeat Worcester then we will be in a top six spot and that elusive Heineken Cup spot that little bit closer. Not counting any chickens yet but things are starting to get that little bit more interesting in outlook this season.

BUDGE ON THE LINE

I am sure a few of you reading this will have got the telephone call from Budge Pountney one evening last week. Like most I was slightly taken about to pick up the phone and hear ‘Hello Budge Pountney from the Saints here’. My first thought was, whoops, what on earth did I put in the paper last week that has caused the head honcho to ring me and complain and it took me a second or two trying to get a word in edgeways about how I even liked the music now though I’m still not happy about the bars shutting at Christmas before I realised it was a recorded message reminding me I had not ordered my ticket for the European quarter final. A good move by the club, like a few others it had completely escaped my mind about purchasing for the game. Two points, the club could have saved themselves a few quid if they had a comprehensive database of the many thousand of us now on email, perhaps we could register through the clubs website or something, and Budge if you’re reading this can you call my Dad in August and remind him of his wedding anniversary?

SIX NATIONS

It is Six Nations time again this weekend and the chance to Ben Cohen and Sean Lamont come face to face in the Calcutta Cup game in Edinburgh on Saturday. Being an Englishman I’m hoping ‘Monty’ has a quieter weekend than he had last week.
It was good to see Jon Clarke get a call to the full squad this week. Despite earlier reservations about his lack of experience in his new position and believing he should be given time to develop his continued improving form really deserves the call. Well done Jon.

February 17 2006

Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
By Chris Gleadell
February 17 2006

Whatever your point of view, whether you thought it was two points gained or two points lost on Sunday at the Causeway, it was still a great result for the lads and one I’m sure we would have taken with both hands had we been offered it earlier this season.

But as someone remarked this week, perhaps it shows a mark of our gradual improvement over the season that some people were a tad disappointed that the win was not in the bag even though we can now lose the ‘Lost’ prefix on Lost Causeway.

Given what we had been hearing all week from south Bucks, about how the Wasps team had been decimated by international calls, by the time the whistle blew the comparable difference in how each team had indeed been affected was slim. So all in all a very good result for the team and one they can build on for the visit of Sarries to the Gardens on Saturday.

We can only hope that the Fezheads from Watford play like their first half performance against Bath last Sunday rather than the second. Bath had the try bonus point secured on the half hour and at 31-3 up were cruising to a hefty win. Whatever they put in the halftime tea at Vicarage Road did the trick, well almost, as Sarries hit back and not only gained two bonus points (one for four tries, and one for being with seven points) but almost stole the game the final whistle saving Bath at 29-34. It was notable that two of Saracens scores were penalty tries and it looks as if in the second period they reverted to the type of game that secured them the points in the more than dull encounter against Saints earlier this season. It could well be maul, maul then maul some more if they get their hands on the ball.

Lets hope on Saturday we have an official who refs both aspects of that maul, both attack and defence, evenly, rather than what we saw at Vicarage Road where Saints were penalised for coming in at the sides yet the attackers were joining in at all kinds of angles. But then again who knows we might just see the totally legal tactic the Italians tried against England at the weekend with the defence not engaging and someone running round the back of the ‘maul’ and tackling the person with the ball. It might be worth a try but it would be a brave referee that lets you do it all afternoon, legal or not but then anything might be worth a try to stop the opposition strangling the life out the game.

Having said that though our pack is still improving week on week and with the addition of the likes of Paul Tupai have become a bit more streetwise than perhaps we were and at our best certainly a match for the Sarries eight. Behind the scrum, though Sarries have undoubted talent including the mercurial Thomas Castaignede, they have been a little blunt this season and I’m taking our backline, ably assisted by the forwards, to secure the game for us and move us nearer the top six.

THE SSC GOES WWW

There’s a new Saints presence on the World Wide Web this month with the Saints Supporters Club launching their own website. The site, which can be found at www.saintssupportersclub.com has details of various SSC activities including info on upcoming functions, a chance to buy SSC branded merchandise, travel details, the latest newsletter and even an online form to join the SSC if you are not a member yet. On the subject of travel the Supporters Club will be running coaches to London Irish, on Sunday 26th February, they will be leaving Franklin’s Gardens at 9:30am. The prices are: Adults: £12 Children/Students/OAPs: £7 To book places on the SSC coaches, please call their NEW number: 01604 751742, with your name, telephone number and the number of seats. Or you can book seats, by texting 07771918245 with your name, the number of seats & the match.

CLOCKING OFF

I see that yet again there was trouble with the official timekeeping on Sunday. After our game against Leeds, where everyone could clearly see the countdown clock ticking on after referee Tony Spreadbury had signaled time off, the same thing happened at the Causeway on Sunday. When the clocks were late in arriving at the start of the season we were told it was because technical glitches were being ironed out so it was somewhat surprising to find that the clocks are not directly controlled by the referees themselves but a separate timekeeper who turns the clock on and off on signal from the referee, exactly how ‘technical is that?.

Simple as it sounds though it is just not working. Whether it is misinterpretation between these two officials or plain human nature the referees watch and the countdown clock are clearly not in sync and this could potentially cause all kinds of problems and accusations of misuse once push comes to shove at season end when clubs Guinness Premiership future or Heineken Cup qualification are at stake. Is it just me or wouldn’t a far simply solution be, especially in these days of mobile technology, to have referee and countdown clock directly linked so that when he stops the clock stops. He only has to glance at the main clock to see all is well rather than rely on a third party, or is that too simple?

ALL RUGBIED OUT

Can you have too much of a good thing? There was some talk a while back about rugby not getting fair coverage on our TV screens, well Saturday was certainly the opposite. Rising early I watched Crusaders v Highlanders then Reds v Waratahs in the Super14. An hours break then it was the first half of France v Ireland before going to watch my local club, Milton Keynes play Gosford, prior to going to the pub to watch Italy v England. You might call me a glutton for punishment and by the end of the day I was truly all rugbied out. However I’ll look forward to doing exactly the same the week after next.

February 2 2006

Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
By Chris Gleadell
February 2 2006

Well there goes the month of January for the Saints and for the first time in a long while a month with a 100% playing record, or as ‘Monty Masters’ a fan with an 'alternative' view of things on ComeOnYouSaints.Com said, played four, won five (including Viadana), you can’t get much better than that.

The closeness of Saturdays score probably was not a fair reflection on the game itself. We dominated possession and territory in the first half allowing Leeds to enter our half on only a handful of occasions. However on three of those visits they came away with points and the lads must have been kicking themselves at halftime with just two scores from Sean Lamont and man of the match Jon Clarke to show for their efforts.

The second half started in pretty much the same vein until Justin Marshall, the key to a lot of what Leeds were doing well, took exception to a clattering tackle from Ben Cohen and set about rearranging Bens face with a couple of sharp punches. With Marshall given a yellow and ten minutes rest when probably a red would have been more the order of the day the Saints upped it another notch but still could not get the ball over the whitewash. As the game wore on Leeds came back into it and after a flurry of personnel changes Saints seemed to momentarily lose their shape and purpose allowing Leeds back in with a late score. Luckily Bruce, with a late, late penalty, saved the day but it could well have been one of those ‘Saints grab defeat from the jaws of victory’ headlines in Monday nights Chron.

But the potential banana skin was avoided and Saints gradually start the climb skywards. The Guinness Premiership table makes interesting reading. Saints now lie in ninth place but are nearer a potential Heineken Cup spot in five or sixth than they are the relegation trapdoor in twelfth. There is of course a lot of rugby still to be played yet and a few more twists and turns but we are certainly in much better shape than we were a few weeks back and once the drier tracks come into play come season end we could be a match for anyone. Before then lady luck might just have dealt us a good hand in the fixtures with a visit to Wasps a week on Sunday.

The players, those not involved in the Six Nations, have the weekend off before we look to the trip to High Wycombe. Whilst we will lose Ben, Wally, Sean Lamont and Jon Clarke to international duty Wasps are in danger of losing a whole rake of their team. Whilst they do have good strength in depth the likes of Dallaglio, Lewsey and Dawson will be sorely missed and maybe, just maybe we are in with a very good chance to finally beating that ‘Lost’ Causeway hoodoo. At a place where not many teams get a look in it could be an unexpected bonus getting something out of this game.

FRANCE

I’m sure, by the wonders of satellite television, some of you saw the conditions that the French Top14 games were played in last weekend. Some games could not take place at all due to snow, even coastal Narbonne having a foot of the white stuff on their pitch. Nearby Perpignan were not to be beaten, they opted for a bulldozer to clear their pitch, leaving not only a mudbath but tire tracks everywhere (I’m sure Piggy Powell was mightily impressed?). In the post match analysis there was talk of a fixture pileup elsewhere and the pressure to play such games but the French being the French just shrugged their shoulders and got on with it any way they could, even if it did mean reducing their hallowed turf to a quagmire. It has to be said the Biarritz & Perpignan players really looked like they enjoyed the game, even ending it in a mudfight to get those who still had a patch of clean linen showing completely muddied. This got me thinking, whilst over here we hear about player burnout, there being too many games and the national union seeing central contracts as the only way to protect players as the way forward, why don’t we hear the same from France where they play a comparable amount of games and go to such extremes to play them?

If you take that argument a step further, we also hear from some coaches at national and club level, Rob Andrew said it again this very week, the fear of relegation is affecting the way some clubs play, choosing a stilted 10 man game over the expansive game the likes of which the Saints are trying to develop such is the fear of relegation. That in turn affects how England plays.

Tell that to the French, they have a 14 team top division in which three are relegated either directly or via playoffs. Does it affect their flair or the way the national side plays? No of course not and if I was a betting man I’d be putting my money on France to win this years Grand Slam. So on the face of it, it seems one country is close to getting it right whilst another is still just looking for the next excuse or scapegoat and until us English get over that there will be little chance of hitting the heights like we did in 2003.

SIX NATIONS

So with no Saints game this week I’ve been lucky enough to get a ticket for England's opening Six Nations game against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday.
A while back there was a discussion on a New Zealand website (thesilverfern.com)
about the relative merits and quality of the 6N. In reply a French chap, a supporter of Castres, now resident in Ireland wrote the following which in my mind sums up what it’s all about.
“It's not about the teams you play, it's about tradition.
It's about Underwood diving in the corner, Thornburn tears and Castaignede's drop goal. It's about O'Driscoll dummies and Jeffrey's bloodied jersey.
It's about grand slams and Calcutta cups, triple crowns and wooden spoons.
It's about national anthems being sung by 80.000 people as one, from the top of their lungs. It's about some fields in Athenry, some flowers in Scotland and swinging chariots.
It's about the fervour of Cardiff and the barbecues of Twickenham, the train station at Lansdowne road and the sunshine of Flaminio. It's about the berets of St-Denis and the kilts of Murrayfield.
It's about goats and cockerels on the side of the pitch and St George crosses everywhere in the stands. It's about thistles, roses, shamrocks, leeks and daffodils.
It's about 93 years of blood, sweat and tears.
It's about Pride.”

I’ll drink to that!

January 26 2006

Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
By Chris Gleadell
January 26 2006

A frustrating time for those that travelled out to Italy to watch the Saints at the weekend. With the winter weather intervening and causing not one but two games to be abandoned before hosts Viadana opted to concede the rather than venture over the Apennines to Livorno for a third attempt.

You have to feel sorry for those supporters that spent their hard earned cash travelling out to support the team but from what I’ve heard the majority still had a good time in Italia though the temptation of the shops in Florence, Milan, Parma and Verona means a few people will be nursing bigger headaches over February’s credit card bill than they did over the weekend on the vino and grappa.

But when all is said and done the five full points award for the fixture by the ERC means we progress to the European Challenge Cup quarter finals with a game against Worcester on April 1st at the Gardens, let’s hope it’s Wuss who are left feeling the fool.

An added bonus in having no game last weekend is that the ever lengthening injury list did not get any longer. There was always a risk that a game on a barely passable pitch, that would have obviously deteriorated further during the evening, could have added to those already queuing for Cliff Eaton’s physio’s bench. Even worse we could have picked up injuries in a game that was abandoned once it had started. So despite a wasted journey for most still one or two silver linings to that foggy frosty cloud.

LOOKING AHEAD

Another benefit of last weekends cancellation was that the whole squad, including the walking wounded, got, apart from the obvious training, a weeks rest before the Guinness Premiership game against Leeds on Saturday at the Gardens.

The game is crucial for the Saints and given the Tykes position at the foot of the GP table probably even more so for the Yorkshire side. A win for Saints with other results going our way could take us to mid table, knocking on the door of that all important 6th place in the league whilst a loss would drag us back to the edge of the relegation trapdoor just a couple of points ahead of Saturdays visitors.

In spite of their league position Leeds should not be taken lightly. They have started to put some form together and as those of us that saw them almost pull off a famous victory in Perpignan on the recent Saints trip to Narbonne we know they can mix it with the best. Indeed on Sunday they were within a whisker of qualifying for the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup after their demolition of Cardiff. Whilst the quality of the Welsh opposition has to be questioned (even the January blues are not as bad as Cardiff Blues) there is talent throughout Leeds ranks but everything seems to revolve around scrumhalf Justin Marshall. There is no doubt he is there talisman, if he is on the top of his game, and he was on Sunday, then Leeds play well.

That’s not to say they are a one man show but I’ve got the feeling that if you can stop Marshall to a certain extent you can stop Leeds too. Sharky might just be about to have his busiest afternoon in a Saints shirt.
Of course the Saints are on a bit of a roll themselves, the only defeat in the last eight weeks being at table toppers Sale on Boxing Day. With extra non-European registered players being available this week and maybe a couple more returning from injury I’m backing the lads to edge this one and it to be the springboard of our GP season. We, the supporters, can also play our part and it has all the hallmarks of a good hell for leather game on a crisp winter afternoon. I’m looking forward to what could be the most important game of the Saints season so far, see you there.

THE HEINEKEN CUP

Like most that did not travel out to Italy I took the opportunity to watch some rugby on the television weekend. Not the same thing as standing on the touchline of course but plenty to keep you entertained. There were some superb displays from Munster, Biarritz, Leinster and Saturday’s opponents Leeds but my moneys still on our friends from Toulouse who scored (and nearly conceded) 50 points at Llanelli on Saturday. Despite the points gap at the end the result was never really in doubt and you get the feeling they are coasting with still another couple of gears to step up if needed and it will take a good, if not great, team to beat them this year.

On reflection it left me a bit flat though knowing that this season we are not up there battling with the big boys. The European Challenge Cup may be a fine competition and it may give us a chance to visit a few other places around Europe that we have not before but it’s just not the same as the Heineken is it? I’ve always thought that your two main aims for the season is firstly winning the European Cup, secondly making sure you qualify for the next seasons European Cup with domestic honours coming after that. I’d like to think now we seem to have turned the corner that we may well be in with a shout to be up there with the Toulouse’s the Munster’s and the Perpignan’s next year.
Here’s hoping.

MYSTIC CHRIS

Sometimes you just wish you were going to be way wide of the mark with your predictions when you put something into print. I know I am. When I said in last weeks column “But it could be the weather that plays a more crucial role in Viadana” I had not foreseen that I’d put the curse of Gleadell on everyone’s weekend. Apologies to all. So this week, to balance things up, I predict someone that goes to Franklins Gardens will win the lottery. I would give you all the numbers but it would be an abuse of my psychic powers, however if the winners reading this I’ll settle for the usual 10%.

January 19 2006

Marching On

Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
By Chris Gleadell
January 19 2006

The Saints revival continues. That’s now five out of six victories in the last half dozen games and confidence increasing by every game. People may point out that Bristol only sent a shadow of their normal 1st XV to the Gardens but you can only beat what is in front of you.

After a blistering start and three quick tries the lads took their foot off the gas for the middle section of the game but finally upped it a notch or two in the last quarter and put Bristol to the sword with a further four scores to retake the lead at the top of the group with a home quarter final game in the European Challenge Cup a real possibility. Firstly though the lads must overcome Viadana.

FORZA SAINTALIA

So on Friday night it’s the Italian Job Part Two for the Saints as they travel out to Italia to take on Super10 side Viadana. Whilst they lie at the bottom of our group they will still be going all out to pull off a famous victory. It may not be easy as it looks on paper especially given our long injury list and lack of players registered for the competition.

The Viadana website this week has mocked up pictures of Carlos confronting the Viadana Lion.
The poster states ‘No Saint can protect you from these Lions’
But it could be the weather that plays a more crucial role in Viadana. At the time of writing, according to the BBC online weather service, this morning it is snowing in nearby Parma and there are projected temperatures as low as minus ten. However after dealing with adverse conditions in Narbonne in a well earned victory in the competition before Christmas I’m taking the lads to buckle down and complete a job well done, cementing that quarter spot at the Gardens possibly against our old friends Worcester for the fourth time this season in early April.

Again the Saints will be well supported on their travels with a few hundred intrepid souls making the journey out to Italy. The club are taking a full contingent on the official trip while the bulk of support will again be the do-it-yourselfers who are heading to Viadana by the usual half dozen routes, flying into various airports in northern Italy, staying in three or four different locations and making it by hook or by crook to the game on Friday night.
Given the location and very limited access there is to Viadana itself (it is not served at all by public transport) a special mention has to go to the Saints Supporters Club for organising three coaches from Parma to the game on Friday night. I only wish I could join them but this one’s a game too far for me. On past trips I know those travelling will have a great time and will come back with stories galore. Given the conditions if you are going remember to pack your thermals and your best brandy in your hip flask and if any brass monkeys are thinking of travelling, don’t!

MUSIC TO OUR EARS

I’ve changed my mind about the music played before the game.
I was never against the tune itself, Vangelis’s Conquest of Paradise but like many did not like the timing of it as it drowned out the traditional greeting of the team onto the pitch with ‘Oh When the Saints’

On Saturday I think the timing was just about right, it ended as the team were about to emerge from the tunnel allowing ‘Oh Wendy’ to start in earnest and I think just about everybody was happy.
I do think it’s a tad ambitious though expecting the crowd to sing along to Conquest and I know a lot of people thought the lyrics were a bit over the top but starting in C Block the crowd have picked up instead on humming the tune along with synchronised (and some not so synchronised) swaying and continued the theme in the second half of their own accord. Now I know this is mostly tongue in cheek but it seems to have catched on and if indeed the tune does have an affect on the players (I’m sure a sports psychologist could explain how) then what better way than a spontaneous rendering from your own support every now and then?

Now if only we could get everyone singing the ‘Au Revoir’ song that a few hundred Saints were singing in France to each red and yellow card as well.

Saints with Heart IV

After a final totalling up of the cash Saints with Heart IV, the supporters sponsored walk, quiz night etc in aid of the British Heart Foundation, raised £22,000 in 2005. On Saturday at halftime Maggie Barwell, the SWH patron presented a cheque for that amount to the BHF making it over £55,000 raised for the charity since Richard Lindsley came up with the idea after three Saints supporters, now dubbed the Cardiac Club, suffered heart attacks four years ago.
Bob Stainsby, one of those trio is now the major driving force behind Saints with Heart. Plans are already afoot for SWH5, as ever, watch this space.

The RFU.........

And a final word on last weeks section of the column that reported an RFU official stating it was the clubs ‘killing the players’. This was picked up by a friend who supports Leicester, this is what he had to say on the matter.
“Consider an isolated and extreme example:
A club develops a young prop, that prop is selected for England U21s, whilst at England training, that prop suffers a life threatening and career stopping injury.
The club promises to support the player and his family for the rest of his life.
Fellow players donate signed stuff to be raffled.
Fans from many other clubs raise funds for the prop.
England RFU suggest that they donate half of the money that they are (alledgedly, potentially illegally) withholding from 3 clubs, its not even the RFU's money! as a way of getting out of a court case.
Great aren't they.”

January 13 2006

Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
By Chris Gleadell
January 13 2006

I’m starting to like 2006. One week in and we have two wins under our belt already. Saturday’s victory at Worcester could well have been a major turning point of the season.

Not counting any chickens yet, but the way in which we dominated the game on a day when conditions dictated it was not a day for running rugby shows that if we need to we can stand toe to toe against clubs who build their team on forward power and grind out wins against them.

Of course it is a bit of a double edged sword knowing you can win this way but I’m sure the coaching team and the players will be chomping at the bit to return to the expansive game once the weather improves but it must make a few people sleep a bit easier at night knowing that if our backs are to the wall we can shut up shop and let the forwards do the business.

As for those conditions, the rain, sleet and snow (and we encountered all three on Saturday) come as part of the English way of life but it does make me smile when before the game some people suggesting that the likes of Carlos Spencer cannot play in those conditions as it would be alien to him.

I don’t know if people get the impression from seeing Maori warriors in full regalia that the Land of the Long White Cloud is some kind of southern Pacific Hawaii but in their winter New Zealand get conditions as bad, if not worse in the South Island, than we do. Of course Carlos played most of his rugby in the north but on Saturday he proved he is a man for all seasons with a wet weather game and some nice pop passes and deft touch finders off the outside of his boot that were honed on the wet and windy playing fields of Auckland.

That’s not suggesting Saturdays victory was a one man show, far from it, each and every player played his part. Robbie Kydd made an assured and solid debut at inside centre and looks like he already has a good understanding with those inside and outside him. On his outside of course is the man of the moment Jon Clarke. He has been nothing short of a revelation after his switch from wing/fullback to outside centre this season. Whilst Saturdays display in front of the cameras put the spotlight on Jon and all and sundry are now touting him for England honours I hope he is not rushed into things too soon.

As Paul Grayson mentioned on Saturday he only has a handful of games in his new position and is still learning his trade and we have already seen what has happened to likes of Matthew Tait when he was thrown in the deep end too early. I doubt at the moment if there are that many better 13’s playing in the country at the moment but let Clarkey learn his trade, get a season under his belt and come next year with a World Cup in France on the horizon, well who knows but in a position where England have never really got it right in recent seasons if he progresses as he has been then Jon could find himself in pole position.

LOOKING AHEAD

So while the Guinness Premiership takes a back seat for a couple of weeks, for the Saints it’s back to Europe this week and a game against Bristol in the Challenge Cup.

After the win in Narbonne which put us in the driving seat in the group and having narrowly edged Bris on the first day of the year in the GP the lads will be looking to repeat the performance. The Bristol team have headed off to La Manga in Spain this week for some warm weather training and it is still unclear what type of side they are going to select for this game, I somehow think though that given the recent weather a week on the back pitches at Franklins Gardens in the rain (and possibly more snow) might prepare you better for Saturday than a sun kissed beach and I’m taking the team to secure the win, the points and virtually assure themselves a home quarter final spot.

HERE WE GO AGAIN

How’s this for a quote? “What concerns us most is that the clubs are killing the players". No this didn’t come from some misinformed, out of touch ignoramus instead it came from the mouth of RFU management board chairman Martyn Thomas.

I’ve said it in this column before and no doubt I’ll say it again (and again, and again) but some of the people coming out with these soundbites for the RFU should be representing the Cloud Cuckoo Land Rugby Football Union, not the English one. What planet are they on?

Do they live in some kind of fantasy world where international standard players are conveniently found under the nearest mulberry bush or flown in by stork when Andy Robinson needs them? Do they have any notion that the clubs they attack are actually the ones producing the players? No of course not, how ever could they control the players if they admitted such a thing.

To suggest that it is the clubs that are ‘killing’ the players is wide of the mark in the extreme and insulting to those who work to ensure that every player is catered and cared for 52 weeks of the year, through injury hardship and often post career, not just an elite squad for the period when the nation calls.

Now as has been pointed out to me before, the RFU do spend a lot of money on youth and junior rugby, this should not be forgotten but it is the senior clubs, those under attack, that take the rough diamonds that the junior system produces and hones and nurtures them into the potential international class players. Would it really be in the clubs, and lets face it a business, interest to systematically destroy your stock in trade through being an irresponsible employer as Thomas suggests? 

No of course not, but then I may have been right about the out of touch, misinformed, ignoramus bit all along.

January 5 2006

Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron
By Chris Gleadell
January 5 2006

So here’s to 2006. Let’s hope it’s a sunnier outlook than 2005. Having said that, although we are in a similar league position to a year ago, Saturday’s game showed one thing, we have regained a lot of heart in that twelve month period.

Although we did not play anywhere near what could be described as a good performance, we stuck at it till the bitter end and ground out the victory something I’m not too sure we would have done in the Solomons era.

So whilst the coaching team readily admit that we are “technically nowhere near where we want to be” it is not all gloom and doom on the horizon. Every cloud has a silver lining and whilst we have an injury list as long as your arm several players have stepped up from the academy to stake their claim and though things may not be too bright at the moment the future certainly looks assured should these youngsters continue to progress. Despite the loss at Sale on Boxing Day I thought there was no disgrace in the result given they are table toppers and the number of players we had out.

However the present is still far from certain and we sit just one place off the bottom albeit with a little bit of a breathing space over last placed Leeds, making the end of month games between the clubs at the Gardens a game of massive proportions for both teams. However we can ease ourselves a little clearer before that date starting with the trip down to Worcester on Saturday.

Saturdays visit to Sixways just shows how much the game has changed in the last couple of seasons. When Worcester came into the Zurich Premiership at the start of last season it was predicted by all and sundry (including myself) that they would just be another bunch of whipping boys and be well adrift by Christmas. To their credit the chaps from Wuss fought tooth and nail all the way last term and secured their future in the newly named Guinness Premiership with a last gasp win over the Saints in the final game of the season. This season they have stepped up once more and sit on the edge of Heineken Cup qualification.however in the last couple of weeks things have not gone all their way with losses at Newcastle and a home hammering by lowly Bath. It may of course just be a blip but what better time to play the Warrors knowing that they are on a low and that we won down there at a canter in the Powergen Cup earlier this season.

It is sure to be a tough one, Worcester’s wounded pride and us out to get anything we can to pull us clear of the mire. With luck on the injury front we may just have a couple of key players back and it could go down to the wire.
What better way to wash away those post Christmas blues. See you there.

EN FRANCE

Yet again the supporters did us proud again out in France with (by my estimates) around six hundred making the journey out to France to see the lads match our efforts on the windswept Narbonne turf to come away with a well earned victory. I don’t think I have ever watched a game in such windy conditions, indeed it was even hard at times to look directly into it such was the winds force as balls kicked to corners veered near the posts and vice versa.
The team however did not let it daunt them and for once everything clicked into place playing the French at their own game and muscling them off the park.
Whilst in the local papers the next day there was the odd grumbling about refereeing (just goes to show how close the French and English really are eh?) the Narbonne coach admitted that there was no way they could deal with the Saints superior technique and above all physique. For a team that has built its reputation on forward power in recent years that was somewhat of a compliment.

The compliments were not just reserved for the team though, a local bar owner told us on Sunday morning that the support was a real credit to the club. Not only did the owner of The Globe, an ex-pat Australian former Narbonne player praise the behaviour and friendliness of both the support and the first team squad that frequented his establishment on Friday night mingling, singing and dancing with locals (and strangely Santa and his dozen elves) but he was over the moon that he had had the biggest nights takings in the years he had owned the bar with not one hint of trouble, just everyone out to enjoy themselves. Such was he enamoured with the Saints he promised that if we got him a shirt it would replace the Leicester one in pride of place over the bar and he said the doors would always be open to Northampton people.

On Saturday our group travelled down to Perpignan for the day to see the Catalan side play Leeds in the Heineken Cup. Numbers were swelled with the official Saints party staying in the town and it was somewhat surreal sitting in a bar near the ground watching Saint after Saint traipsing past to the stadium. When Phil Davies and his team went by in the Leeds team bus some looked quite bemused as they saw a window full of people in Saints shirts, some wearing Perpignan scarves etc. The locals were even more bemused at these people in Gold, Black & Green but there were plenty of handshakes and greeting when they heard where we came from. We quickly learnt that the phrase, however bad the translation “Je suis Northampton, ce soir Catalan” earned us whole bunches of new friends. At a guess there was around double the number of Saints supporters at the game than Leeds but to their credit the small band of Tykes sang from start to finish and their team did them proud battling all the way and almost stealing a famous victory at the end.