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%.
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%.
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