The Saints have gained a reputation for signing New Zealanders, however a glance of their squad shows that only four former All-Blacks are present, although they do represent considerable quality – the mercurial Carlos Spencer, inspirational Mark Robinson, powerful Bruce Reihana and Australian-born flanker Sam Harding.  Robinson and Spencer in particular are in good form at present, having orchestrated a massacre of Saracens at Franklin’s Gardens in February.

 

In the Six Nations Northampton were represented by two of England’s most-criticised players (which says a lot) – Ben Cohen and Steve Thompson – and Sean Lamont of a revived Scotland who had for me far the best tournament of the three.  England A included young up-and-coming Jon Clarke, whilst Andy Vilk was a team-mate of Mathew Tait’s in the Commonwealth Games sevens.  All of these players, with the exception of Vilk and Tait, will be available this weekend if fit.

 

Other internationals include England’s Geoff Appleford (currently suffering from a long term injury that has seen him yet to make his bow in Saints colours), Tom Smith and former Falcon Ross Beattie of Scotland, David Gerard (France), James Pritchard (Canada), David Quinlan (Ireland) and quality Samoan back-rower Paul Tupai.  Not to be outdone, Northampton’s non-internationals, especially in the pack, boost a strong mixture of talent and experience with Grant Seely, Dan Richmond, Matt Lord, Colin Noon and Darren Fox all available to be called upon when necessary.

 

Our visitors are a week away from a European Challenge Cup quarter-final at home to Worcester, having gained five points from a controversial postponement of their last match in Viadana.  A defeat at Bristol in their second match cost the Saints any chance of a home semi-final and a win over their Midlands rivals will probably bring a daunting semi at Kingsholm.

 

In the league, Northampton are quietly climbing the table having lost just in Reading since the new year, taking Saracens apart as previously mentioned 58-17 in February with Lamont scoring four tries, and even drawing at champions Wasps.  Two weeks ago, as we were losing our third match of 2006, Gloucester fell 21-20 at Franklin’s Gardens with Clarke and Mark Easter touching down, whilst both sides earned penalty tries.

 

Away from home this season the Saints have had a mixed year, losing twice at Leicester in league and cup, Gloucester, Leeds, Saracens and Bristol (see above), drawing at Wasps and winning at Bath and Worcester in the Premiership and the Powergen Cup.  They lie eighth in the league table, bang on 36 points alongside Newcastle, with us in 7^th on points difference.  A win for either side could potentially move one of us up to 6^th, should Worcester lose at Saracens.

 

In our last meeting with Saints, at Franklin’s Gardens in September, a David Walder try and two drop-goals, along with Matthew Burke’s boot helped us to a 16-9 victory, our first there since January 1998.  We are unbeaten at KP against Northampton since December 2001, although a tense afternoon in April 2003 could have seen an away win if Paul Grayson’s last-minute 62 metre penalty had gone over rather than hitting the crossbar.

 

Now head coach after the “interesting” season that Saints suffered last time around, Grayson has selected the following team:-

 

15 Bruce Reihana
14 Sean Lamont
13 Jon Clarke
12 David Quinlan
11 Ben Cohen
10 Carlos Spencer
9 Mark Robinson
1 Tom Smith
2 Steve Thompson
3 Pat Barnard
4 Damien Browne
5 David Gerard
6 Paul Tupai
7 Sam Harding
8 Mark Easter

 

16 Dan Richmond
17 Simon Emms
18 Matt Lord
19 Darren Fox
20 Johnny Howard
21 Robbie Kydd
22 John Rudd

 

We go into Sunday’s game having lost two games in three, after only one in ten before that.  A fortnight ago an underwhelming performance saw us go down in Bath 20-18, whilst our home form has been on the surface good since the New Year, however we have only scored three tries (two v Worcester and one v Saracens) in four home league games in 2006, and none in the last two games against Gloucester and Leicester.  This must be rectified if we are to finish strongly in the Premiership and look to the Heineken Cup next year.  Having our internationals available for the rest of the season, especially Jamie Noon and Mathew Tait, should help immensely.

 

Here is our Midland friends’ record in Newcastle, showing a mixture of wins, defeats and one cup draw which saw Northampton go through on the away team rule.

3/12/61         North Road       Club Match                      W9-6

1/2/86          North Road       John Player Cup 3^rd round   D6-6

1987/88        North Road       Courage League Division 2  Not played

31/3/90         Percy Park       Courage League Division 2  L15-22

11/12/93       Kingston Park   Courage League Division 1  L8-28

21/10/95       Kingston Park   Courage League Division 2  L9-52

8/10/97         Kingston Park   Allied Dunbar Premiership 1 W37-12

15/11/98       Kingston Park   Allied Dunbar Premiership 1 W45-35

21/5/00         Kingston Park   Allied Dunbar Premiership 1 L23-32

20/8/00         Kingston Park   Zurich Premiership            W27-21

2/12/01         Kingston Park   Zurich Premiership            L13-28

20/4/03         Kingston Park   Zurich Premiership            W22-20

28/12/03       Kingston Park   Zurich Premiership            W23-19

28/11/04       Kingston Park   Zurich Premiership            W27-16

 

And our post-WWI record on March 26^th, in case anyone’s interested (NSC=Northumberland Cup):

1921   North Durham (A)               L6-15

1927   Seghill (A) NSCR1               W30-9

1938   Percy Park (H) NSCR2          L14-23

1949   Redcar (A)                        W14-0

1966   Middlesbrough (H)               W22-14

1972   Middlesbrough (A)               W15-8

1977   Moseley (A)                       L0-15

1983   Moseley (A)                       W15-9

 

Rob Andrew has made only one change to the team which lost to Bath a fortnight ago, with Toby Flood replacing Mark Mayerhofler, who is relegated to the bench, at centre.  Jamie Noon has not recovered properly from his head injury sustained at Twickenham last week, whilst Mathew Tait is still absent with the England bit of fun, sorry Sevens, squad.  Colin Charvis is rested (just like last week by Wales, bizarrely), so Matthew Burke continues as captain, and Northampton old boys Robbie Morris and Joe Shaw both make the 22:

15 Matthew Burke (captain)
14 Anthony Elliott
13 Tom May
12 Toby Flood
11 Ollie Phillips
10 Dave Walder
9 James Grindal

1 Micky Ward
2 Andy Long
3 Robbie Morris
4 Andy Perry
5 Geoff Parling
6 Owen Finegan
7 Ben Woods
8 Andy Buist

16 Jonny Williams
17 Matt Thompson
18 Stuart Grimes
19 Mike McCarthy
20 Mark Mayerhofler
21 Hall Charlton
22 Joe Shaw

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