Northampton currently lie tenth in the table, above Harlequins on points difference and a point ahead of Worcester. As we lie eight points above the Saints in seventh, we should be favourites for the win but the visitors will want to make sure they are not bottom of the table on Sunday night, and it will be a tough game, as this fixture has been very tight in the last couple of seasons.

The Saints’ last visit north was just after Christmas last year, and was notable because it was Jonny Wilkinson’s comeback match after an injury since the World Cup. Unfortunately he famously lasted less than an hour - the only hour he’d play for us last season. Our team lined up: Joe Shaw, Tom May, Jamie Noon, Mark Mayerhofler, Michael Stephenson, Jonny Wilkinson (David Walder 56), Hall Charlton, Ian Peel, Matt Thompson, Micky Ward (Marius Hurter 70) , Stuart Grimes, Mark Andrews, Epi Taione, Phil Dowson, Hugh Vyvyan ©. Despite early pressure from the visitors, two Wilkinson penalties gave us a 6-0 lead before Shane Drahm levelled things up with two of his own, but a third penalty from World Cup winner Wilkinson gave us a 9-6 half time lead.

The game remained pretty even in the second half, but John Leslie’s quick converted try put us 9-13 down. However, once David Walder came on at fly half our big players Mark Mayerhofler and Mark Andrews began to take control, and as Michael Stephenson set off on a run down the left he chipped over the Northampton defence, looked as though he’d lost the ball but managed to touch down for a vital try, which Walder converted to put us back into the lead. Then with 10 minutes left Walder, just like last week at Irish, stole the ball in our 22, ran the length of the field and scored the winning try, converting for a 23-13 lead.

Bruce Reihana cut the deficit with a penalty, and substitute Paul Grayson also kicked from the half way line with the last play of the match. We were fortunate he didn’t go for the corner, and we won a tense battle 23-19! Unfortunately this win only kept us eighth in the league, but it was vital as it was our last Premiership win for almost 5 months! Our 25-meeting record against the men from the Midlands reads like so:

There was a time, a long time ago, when both clubs were rooted in the second division of English rugby, the Saints gaining their last promotion a year before us in 1996. However, as previously stated, this season the 2000 European Champions are in a relegation battle after only ten matches with only two victories - at home to Bath and a six try demolition of Harlequins away at the start of September. Who’d have envisaged such problems then? However, their last two outings were shock home defeats by London Irish and Worcester.

Of course the Saints boast a squad that would be the envy of many, including England stars Ben Cohen, Paul Grayson and Steve Thompson. Not to mention British Lion Tom Smith, former All-Blacks Mark Robinson, Bruce Reihana and Andrew Blowers and former South Africa captain Corne Krige. However, the buck for the recent slump in form has stopped with the coach, Alan Solomons, who was sacked this week. Former Scotland captain Budge Pountney will take charge at Kingston Park on Sunday.

Thus the Saints will be keen to impress their new coach and prove they are much better than their Premiership position indicates. Therefore, we must not take anything for granted if we are to make up for last week’s late defeat at London Irish. Of course the main problem we have is away matches, but they only matter if we have the bread and butter home wins too. The Championship playoffs are nearly gone, but from this position we still have every chance of claiming a top 5 position and European Cup qualification for next season. So on Sunday, a win is vital for both teams. Because Northampton’s league place betrays their world-class squad, my head can’t split the sides. My heart says a 3 point victory for our Falcons.

Teams, Falcons first:-

15 Matthew Burke

14 Tom May

13 Jamie Noon

12 Epi Taione

11 Michael Stephenson

10 Dave Walder

9 James Grindal

1 Ian Peel (captain)

2 Andy Long

3 Micky Ward

4 Luke Gross

5 Andy Buist

6 Mike McCarthy

7 Cory Harris

8 Phil Dowson

Replacements:

James Isaacson

Marius Hurter

Semo Sititi

Craig Hamilton/Colin Charvis

Hall Charlton

Mark Mayerhofler

Joe Shaw/Mathew Tait

and Saints:-

15 Bruce Reihana
14 Wylie Human
13 Marc Stcherbina
12 Andy Vilk
11 John Clarke
10 Paul Grayson (captain)
9 Mark Robinson
1 Chris Budgen
2 Dan Richmond
3 Robbie Morris
4 Matt Lord
5 Ed O’Donoghue
6 Mark Soden
7 Andrew Blowers
8 Grant Seely

Replacements
16 Johan van Wyk
17 Brett Sturgess
18 Damien Browne
19 Brett McNamee
20 Johnny Howard
21 Shane Drahm
22 Ben Cohen

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