GLOUCESTER –V- NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

MATCH PREVIEW

KINGSHOLM - SATURDAY, 19^TH SEPTEMBER 2009

KICK OFF 3PM

It’s fair to say that Gloucester haven’t had the best of fortunes on the road over the last couple of seasons (a bit like Saints really) and they continued that form when they lost to London Irish last week 40-10.  Having beaten Bath the previous week, the Shed’s faithful could easily have expected more.  However, what they probably didn’t expect were the four sinbins to four separate Gloucester players which saw them reduced to 14 men for half of the match.  On top of that their Captain, Gareth Delve, was yellow carded for his part in fisty cuffs as the final whistle went. 

Having said goodbye at the end of last season to Iain Balshaw, Anthony Allen and Ryan Lamb, to name a few, Gloucester’s new Head Coach, Brian Redpath, has a much reduced squad to chose from each week.   Andy Hazel is banned for one week for stamping (yes, just one week), Luke Narraway is undergoing back surgery and it’s still doubtful if Mike Tindall will be fit for this weekend so it’s probably lucky for Bryan Redpath that the yellow Delve received was not a red.

Interestingly, Carlos Spencer was not even on the bench last weekend and here we were thinking he had moved from the Saints bench to Gloucester to get more first team play.  With Nicky Robinson running the show beautifully in the No.10 shirt against Bath (although his kicking suffered last week against Irish), I suspect we will see very little of the magical Carlos this weekend.

Saints will be hurting after the controversial TMO decision denied them the win at Wembley against Saracens last weekend.  But perhaps they only have themselves to blame.  Two weeks in a row, they have taken to the pitch only to be bullied by the other side for the first 40 minutes.  They pulled it off against Worcester but failed to convert all that pressure into winning points against Saracens.  Ben Foden, who would appear to have lost some of his sparkle at the moment, was heard to say sweary words at the start of the match on Saturday in the team huddle.  It’s a pity they didn’t heed his words that they need to be coming out firing on all cylinders from the very first whistle (or words to that effect).

Still missing Euan Murray, Jim Mallinder should have a fairly full squad to choose from with Stevie Myler likely to come back into the mix, although Geraghty stepped into those No. 10 boots very ably and we could see a real battle for the shirt again this week.  Downey was tireless at No. 12 and is likely to make good headway through what appeared to be weaknesses in Gloucester’s defence last week.  Scott Gray didn’t exactly shine at Wembley but is still the natural No. 7 and if anyone can learn from his mistakes it is Scotty.  We were given a tantalising taster of the ability of Mujati towards the end of the Sarries game and I’m hoping we may see a bit more of him this week as Bonorino seems to run out of puff quite early on in the game.  Our man of the match, Soane, should make up the front row alongside Dylan.

So to my Saints team prediction...

15.  Ben Foden

14.  Paul Diggin

13.  Jon Clarke

12.  James Downey

11.  Bruce Reihana

10.  Shane Geraghty

  9.  Lee Dickson

  8.  Roger Wilson

  7.  Scott Gray

  6.  Phil Dowson

  5.  Juandre Kruger

  4.  I F Lobbe

  3.  Santiago Bonorino

  2.  Dylan Hartley (Capt)

  1.  Soane Tonga’uiha

And on the bench:

16.  Matt Cairns
17.  Regardt Dreyer
18.  Brian Mujati
19.  Courtney Lawes
20.  Neil Best
21.  Alan Dickens
22.  Stevie Myler
23.  Chris Ashton

In this fixture last season, it was a bitterly cold November day and Saints succumbed to a 33–10 thumping.  This weekend promises warmer temperatures although I hope I can find another excuse to drink the excellent coffee with brandy sold at the stand inside the ground.  An away win for Saints will allay any fears and prove that we have shaken off those away-day jitters, taking us towards that much vaunted and hoped for top four finishing place.

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

Related Articles:

• Saints denied at Wembley - Saracens 19 - Saints 16
• News:Tractors no match for Digger - Saints 40 Goucester 22