With Quins making the final of the Parker Pen fourth place in the Zurich Premiership still does not guarantee Heineken rugby in 04/05 so securing third could now be imperative. The prospect of playing in the wildcard playoffs against he likes of a resurgent Tigers side does not bear thinking about especially when you think of the physiological effect just missing out may have. However I am sure the lads have enough in the tank to make sure that scenario never arises.
I am not however counting those chickens yet.
And we certainly want to steer clear of the wildcard because above all else it looks like somewhat of a pickle. This might sound a touch complicated but it is quite possible that the team that ends fourth in the ZP, for arguments sake Gloucester (yes I’m counting those hens now), could be in the wildcard final playing Quins on the 29th May for the last Heineken place. However if the week before Quins and Wasps both win their respective European competitions then not only would it make the wildcard final null and void as both teams would then qualify but England would then be awarded a seventh Heineken spot which would have to be played off by the wildcard semi final ‘lucky losers’. Clear as mud isn’t it?
Fingers crossed we will not have to worry about entering into what looks like bit of a nightmare and have that third place in the bag either at Leeds this weekend or against Quins at the Gardens in our final home game on May 8th. Then it’s a trip to either the Rec or the Causeway and maybe, just maybe, a trip to Twickenham on May 29th.
Like I said last week, think Agen, think Agen.
LOOKING AHEAD
First up though is Leeds. As I mentioned last week it looks like a there will be quite a sizable Gold, Black n Green convoy heading to Yorkshire at the weekend. The club are running coaches north, which are free to season ticket holders and members who purchase a match ticket via the club. The demand for places on the Saints Supporters Club bus has been high and they are now booking an extra vehicle. Phone Jean no later than today (Wednesday) for further details on 01604 583283. The SSC are having a Hawaiian themed trip but it is not compulsory to don garish coloured shirts, although it never did Harlequins any harm. So fear not if like one of our ‘older’ readers you have misplaced that grass skirt you can go along and party whatever you’re wearing. Its still not too late to make a weekend of it as many other supporters have as it’s a Bank Holiday on the Monday. We’ve heard of fans staying at all manner of locations from Harrogate to Whitby, from Bridlington to sunny Hull. Me, I’m sampling the delights of Leeds city centre for a couple of nights. Somehow I don’t think I will need my Bermuda shorts there.The sacrifices we make eh? See you there.
SUPER SHARKY AND SPRUCE BRUCE
A request. Could Wayne Smith please ignore this next paragraph and go on to the more exciting bits. Has he gone? Right.
It was good to see both Bruce Reihana and Mark Robinson nominated by their fellow pros as contenders for the Zurich Premiership player of the season. We all know that Spruce Bruce has set the ZP alight this year and there is constant reference to both he and Andy Blowers returning to chance their arm with the All Blacks once more, but having kept in touch with the game in New Zealand via the web it seems that Sharky may be the one most in demand with the fans. On several occasions I’ve read comments along the lines that he never got a fair crack at the nine jersey and it was a real travesty that he was allowed to leave New Zealand in the manner he did. Seems quite a few believe that Sharky, who has been a revelation for the Saints, could be the answer to a dearth of talent some supporters believe they have in that position. All in all the general opinion is that he was very hard done by and should still be plying his trade in the Land of the Long White Cloud and in contention for the All Blacks. Luckily for us all three, Bruce, AB and Sharky are here for at least another season and although Andy has stated he will return to NZ next summer hopefully the two ZP nominees will be around for a further few years to come, unless of course the New Zealand coaching panel get to hear about them, so shhhhhh, keep it under your hat. Okay Wayne, you can look now.
RUFFLED FEATHERS
Seems I ruffled a couple of feathers in expressing support for Toulouse for the Heineken Cup in the column last week. One visitor to our website was ‘astounded’ that I had plumped for a French side when there was still English sides in the competition. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m an Englishman born and bred and back both English and British national sides in everything from rugby to twiddlywinks but I just don’t hold with the view that I have to support a team I have little or no affinity with, because year in year out they are our more natural ‘rivals’. Or is it just not cricket (remember Norman Tebbitt?) to support a team because their ground might be in the country you were born in. If you were to stretch a point how far do you take this loyalty? I mean if you live in Northampton or the surrounding area you should support Saints whatever, yes? Well that’s a no brainer of course, but it makes you wonder why the person complaining about my choice lives in Northampton and supports Wasps, yes Wasps! Seems by example we can indeed support who we want, whatever our locality and/or nationality. So come European Cup final day I’ll be there at Twickenham giving my unwavering support. Allez Toulouse! (a historic enclave of Stony Stratford).
I am not however counting those chickens yet.
And we certainly want to steer clear of the wildcard because above all else it looks like somewhat of a pickle. This might sound a touch complicated but it is quite possible that the team that ends fourth in the ZP, for arguments sake Gloucester (yes I’m counting those hens now), could be in the wildcard final playing Quins on the 29th May for the last Heineken place. However if the week before Quins and Wasps both win their respective European competitions then not only would it make the wildcard final null and void as both teams would then qualify but England would then be awarded a seventh Heineken spot which would have to be played off by the wildcard semi final ‘lucky losers’. Clear as mud isn’t it?
Fingers crossed we will not have to worry about entering into what looks like bit of a nightmare and have that third place in the bag either at Leeds this weekend or against Quins at the Gardens in our final home game on May 8th. Then it’s a trip to either the Rec or the Causeway and maybe, just maybe, a trip to Twickenham on May 29th.
Like I said last week, think Agen, think Agen.
LOOKING AHEAD
First up though is Leeds. As I mentioned last week it looks like a there will be quite a sizable Gold, Black n Green convoy heading to Yorkshire at the weekend. The club are running coaches north, which are free to season ticket holders and members who purchase a match ticket via the club. The demand for places on the Saints Supporters Club bus has been high and they are now booking an extra vehicle. Phone Jean no later than today (Wednesday) for further details on 01604 583283. The SSC are having a Hawaiian themed trip but it is not compulsory to don garish coloured shirts, although it never did Harlequins any harm. So fear not if like one of our ‘older’ readers you have misplaced that grass skirt you can go along and party whatever you’re wearing. Its still not too late to make a weekend of it as many other supporters have as it’s a Bank Holiday on the Monday. We’ve heard of fans staying at all manner of locations from Harrogate to Whitby, from Bridlington to sunny Hull. Me, I’m sampling the delights of Leeds city centre for a couple of nights. Somehow I don’t think I will need my Bermuda shorts there.The sacrifices we make eh? See you there.
SUPER SHARKY AND SPRUCE BRUCE
A request. Could Wayne Smith please ignore this next paragraph and go on to the more exciting bits. Has he gone? Right.
It was good to see both Bruce Reihana and Mark Robinson nominated by their fellow pros as contenders for the Zurich Premiership player of the season. We all know that Spruce Bruce has set the ZP alight this year and there is constant reference to both he and Andy Blowers returning to chance their arm with the All Blacks once more, but having kept in touch with the game in New Zealand via the web it seems that Sharky may be the one most in demand with the fans. On several occasions I’ve read comments along the lines that he never got a fair crack at the nine jersey and it was a real travesty that he was allowed to leave New Zealand in the manner he did. Seems quite a few believe that Sharky, who has been a revelation for the Saints, could be the answer to a dearth of talent some supporters believe they have in that position. All in all the general opinion is that he was very hard done by and should still be plying his trade in the Land of the Long White Cloud and in contention for the All Blacks. Luckily for us all three, Bruce, AB and Sharky are here for at least another season and although Andy has stated he will return to NZ next summer hopefully the two ZP nominees will be around for a further few years to come, unless of course the New Zealand coaching panel get to hear about them, so shhhhhh, keep it under your hat. Okay Wayne, you can look now.
RUFFLED FEATHERS
Seems I ruffled a couple of feathers in expressing support for Toulouse for the Heineken Cup in the column last week. One visitor to our website was ‘astounded’ that I had plumped for a French side when there was still English sides in the competition. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m an Englishman born and bred and back both English and British national sides in everything from rugby to twiddlywinks but I just don’t hold with the view that I have to support a team I have little or no affinity with, because year in year out they are our more natural ‘rivals’. Or is it just not cricket (remember Norman Tebbitt?) to support a team because their ground might be in the country you were born in. If you were to stretch a point how far do you take this loyalty? I mean if you live in Northampton or the surrounding area you should support Saints whatever, yes? Well that’s a no brainer of course, but it makes you wonder why the person complaining about my choice lives in Northampton and supports Wasps, yes Wasps! Seems by example we can indeed support who we want, whatever our locality and/or nationality. So come European Cup final day I’ll be there at Twickenham giving my unwavering support. Allez Toulouse! (a historic enclave of Stony Stratford).
No comments:
Post a Comment