I don’t think there will much change in the dominance at home of the two East Midlands sides this term.

It’s even harder than usual to preview a match so early in the season and as I’ve already said in my Season Preview I think that the Saints squad looks well balanced and with decent cover in most positions, however Courtney Laws in particular will need to nail down his position in the second row and Shane Geraghty will be wanting to re establish his international credentials at 10/12.

Both sides have redoubtable packs with Soane Tonga'uiha, already something of a legend at Franklin’s Gardens to be expected in an all international front row with Euan Murray and Dylan Hartley, however due to the fixture being played on a Sunday Murray will demur and I expect the twelve time capped South African Brian Mujati to step up.
This talented triumvirate should face Tigers’ first choice of Ayerza, Chuter and Castro who I think will make the front row contest a close one with the Tigers’ trio maybe getting the better in the tight exchanges while I expect the dynamic Saints to contribute more in open play.

I have already mentioned the talented Courtney Laws who will be looking to fill the large boots vacated by Kruger with the other second row berth falling to the newly arrived from Falcons, Kiwi  Mark Sorensen, that old Gloucester workhorse Adam Eustace or ex Shark Christian Day.  

The Tigers’ have well documented problems in the second row with injuries to Parling, Blaze and Deacon exacerbated by potential stand in Jordan Crane also now crocked leaving young Calum Green with a chance to “do a Dan Cole”.  I’m expecting to see him with new arrival George Skivington being put through his paces and repeat the fine form he showed at Wasps.  Tigers are fortunate in having Tom Croft as a go to man at line out time but still this is an area of potential difficulty should more injuries occur especially as it’s one in which Tigers dominated against many a side last season.

The cerebral Phil Dowson should once again lead the Saints’ back row trio and his absence from the international scene remains something of a mystery to me.

I expect Irishman Roger Wilson to resume his residence at #8 and continue where he left off last term in endlessly making  a mess of opposition defences and maybe we’ll see Tom Wood, another new signing, this time from demoted Warriors, at open side.
With the departure of Lewis Moody and the injury to Jordan Crane the Tigers’ back row looks a bit thin (and it’s not the only place that can be said!) however with the presence of Waldrom at 8, Croft at 6 and the versatile Newby a possible at 7, although my bet is that we will at last see the potential Ben Woods on display, in any event this looks another area where it will be a close contest.

At half back last year’s stand out arrival, Tigers’ Ben Youngs, will be with his international partner, Toby Flood and I see this pair giving the Saints’ likely pairing of Lee Dickson and Stephen Myler plenty to think about.  Myler is a real confidence player and if the Tigers’ can get “inside his head” early on then there could be some real capital here and even if Geraghty gets a run out in the #10 shirt he can drift in and out of games which will provide opportunities for the aggressive and focussed Youngs and Flood in the 9/10/12 channels.

At centre though is where I expect to see Shane Geraghty partnering the very excellent Jon Clarke who, had it not been for a career plagued by injury, would have surely seen international honours in a position where there’s a paucity of English talent.  I really rate this intelligent and strong back and the Tigers pair of Anthony Allen and Matt Smith will have to be on their mettle in defence although I am optimistic that Allen in particular, who had a fine debut season and showed well in the Saxons this Summer, will shimmy his way through around Geraghty to release the strongman Smith and the Tigers back three
In the centre of the park therefore I see some cause for restrained optimism.

Out wide will be the lethal Chris Ashton who, with Ben Foden, are arguably the most deadly finishing combination in the Premiership and it is essential that Foden and Clark do not have the opportunity to get Ashton under full steam as he and Foden can finish from anywhere as can his likely partner, the evergreen Bruce Reihana who is enjoyimg his bebenfit year and even though this Northampton stalwart has lost a bit of pace with the advancing years he remains hugely clever and influential in attack.
Tigers for their part have the magical Geordan Murphy who has also lost a bit of his youthful pace but now just works his sorcery instead and floats though gaps that are not there for ordinary mortals and he will be with the ever present and ever dependable Scott Hamilton who is usually rock solid in defence and also has alchemy in his DNA to produce scoring chances from nothing.

I wonder if Alex Tuilagi will make an early starting season debut or be held back until the second half when his appearance to a tiring opposition defence is often dramatic.  New boy Robinson, newly arrived from way out West, showed well in pre season and Agulla and Amorosino are also waiting their chance so a real surfeit of riches on the wing but they’ll need to be able to tackle a dnfiled the high ball,  both of which young Lucas looked ropey at last term, Alex is fond of the big and inaccurate hit and I don’t know about Agulla so given the potency of the Saints back three the defensive capabilities of their Tigers’ opposite numbers  will be as important as that shown in attack.
It will be a close “pipe opener” to the new season and for that reason I have to go with the home side to win – but only just!

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