Coventry vs  Northampton Saints

Saturday, 5^th April 2008 - 3pm

Butts Park Arena

Match Preview

Jim, Dorian and Paul may think they have their work cut out for them at the moment, to maintain the hunger and desire to win every game now that Saints have secured promotion for next season.  And after last weeks showing against Nottingham, they may be right but I suspect the decision to blood a greater number of youngsters than usual will have had just as much of an effect.  Add to the fact Carlos was rested and, therefore, the magic he weaves was kept in the box for another day, we can perhaps understand why last weeks game lacked a spark.

The last time Saints met Coventry at the Gardens back in November, Carlos was very much in his rightful place at fly half and oh what magic he weaved.  With a final score of Saints 65 - Coventry 3, the 11,000+ crowd were entertained to some of the best running rugby we have seen at the Gardens for a very, very long time.  Will we see a repeat at the Butts Park Arena - probably not for many varied reasons.

To start with, Coventry at home are not going to be overawed by the Saints and the great arena in which they play.  We have seen the confidence the home advantage can give to teams (Bees, Esher, London Welsh, etc.)  Coventry come to this weekends game off the back of a good home win against Pertemps Bees (29-13) so confidence will be high.  Currently sitting comfortably 7^th in the table with 62 points, they have nothing to lose and everything to gain by throwing caution to the wind, playing some rugby and bringing the match, on their own terms, very firmly to the Saints.  Sadly, they will be without their 22 year old prop, Carl Rimmer, who is undergoing surgery for a prolapsed disc diagnosed after the Newbury game a couple of weeks ago and who will now be out for 6 months.

And then we have the officials.  I really don’t know how to tell you this but…………… the Referee (Sir to the team) for this weekend is…………………………Dale Newitt!  I know, I know, a lie down in a darkened room may now be required but, as Jim said in his post match interview last Saturday, “… sometimes the referee’s interpretation doesn’t assist us, but we have to work with that….”.  Well, Saints, you have the opportunity to work with it sooner than you had perhaps hoped or thought.  Just don’t expect high tackles to be picked up (or coming in at the side, or hands in the ruck, or not binding at the scrum or…….).

I’m not even going to attempt to second guess the squads for either team but suffice to say, I would hope to see one or two of the more regular senior squad make an appearance this weekend (if for no other reason than to keep them match fit for the following cup final weekend at Twickenham).  However, if, as we suspect Euan Murray and Dylan Hartley are carrying slight injuries, perhaps better if they save themselves for another day.

And so to the comfort factors of the day at Coventry.  The weather is set to be cool at 9^oc with sunshine and showers but that could change between now and then, so keep an eye on things here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?id=1564   There will be no car parking at the arena itself so perhaps think about letting the train take the strain or source another car park from one of many in the city on this map. http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/CoventryCarParks.pdf  Walking boots may be the order of the day. 

Suffice to say, if the players really believe the clichés they are uttering “Don’t look any further ahead than the next game”, “We want to win every match this season” etc., etc., they will have to make the very short trip (especially for this season) up the motorway with the right attitude firmly in place.  And we supporters will have to go with voices in tune and a willingness to make as much noise as possible in support of that 100% season record being attained.  And, let’s face it, contrary to the players platitudes about not looking further ahead, a win this weekend will set the team up nicely for Twickenham and a good sing will loosen our vocal chords to be right there with them.

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